Got my 1"x 30" belt sander, need some suggestions

[Buckfever]

My sander works fine.  I have put on a few belts and used some blending bar and felt and some 400-600 grit.  My first job is to sharpen about 20 knives, some real good steel and stainless some not.  None of them need to remove much metal if any.  I have 180, 280, 400, and 600 grit belts.  I have a few felt  belts and both a blending and a polishing bar.  Know that I have this stuff I thought I would ask the Pro's what logical steps to follow and about how long or how many times to do each.  After I turned 50 I realized what a great idea it is to ask questions before you ruin a lot of things during the learning process.   Am I to avoid that wax stuff covering the blending bar?   Please assume I know nothing because as far as this equipment and process I don't.  Thanks  Buckfever

[Joel]

Sounds like you're doing good.  The only belts I normally use for re-sharpening  are the 600/700 grit; except on machete's/axes which I start with a 220 and work up.  I use both a buffing wheel and a leather belt, and just use the polishing(white)bar with those.  Trick I found when removing the wire edge is to hold the blade at a slightly greater angle than what I sharpened it at.

[Buckfever]

It is amazing how shape your can get a good steel blade in a very limited time if it just needs sharpening with this final touch.  The blending bar is some fine abrasive in some jewlers rouge.  This would take forever with a hand shapening stone.  Even japanese water stones, I have one.  Buckfever.