2 x 72 belts
(VSM Ceramic belts made in Germany) inexpensive but good
TruGrit has, $5 - $7 ea
https://trugrit.com/
Start with
Ceramic 36 grit for fast removal
piece will tend to stay cooler
60 grit ceramic - initial shaping
piece will warm
100 grit ceramic
piece will get hot
Finishing
3M Trizact
Will need belt cleaner
a bit pricey, but last a long time
from TruGrit, about $10 each
120 grit
220 grit
Polishing
Scotchbrite
But alternative brand (Red Label)
Also good for mill scale
Red Label Abrasives 2 X 72 Inch Non Woven Surface Conditioning Sanding Belts for Knife Makers and Metal Fabricators - Coarse, Medium, and Fine Grits - 3 Pack Assortment. Set of three about $50 from Amazon
There is also an Extra Fine version
Norton Norax belts
pricey but good
Have to search to find but Texas Knifemaker's Supply regularly carries https://www.texasknife.com
Come in up to at least 3000 grit, about $12 per belt.
600 grit
1200 grit
Good for putting edge on a knife
I have belts up to 2000 grit. After that, for polishing steel (or aluminum), I use 3M Trizact disks in 35, 10, and 5 micron grits in a random orbital sander and final polish with 3M Fine Machine Polishing Compound on a buffing wheel. Gives a mirror finish. (But, as I've been told many times, avoid a 'mirror' finish - it shows every flaw. (but done right it's exquisite))
With coarser grits, the heat tends to leave the piece with the ground off pieces (chips and sparks). Higher grits tend to leave the heat in the piece. So, for the same grinding speed and pressure, something being ground with a 24 grit belt will not get as hot as something being ground with a 220 grit belt. This becomes especially true at grits above about 600.
Sources
Maverick Abrasives https://www.maverickabrasives.com/
Tru-Grit https://trugrit.com/
Texas Knifemakers Supply https://www.texasknife.com
Amazon www.amazon.com
Jantz https://knifemaking.com/
Pops Knife Supply https://popsknife.supplies/
Alpha Knife Supply https://www.alphaknifesupply.com/shop/