knotslip - No files or anything else, just the washer as a stop so I can get the plunge going evenly on both sides. The plunge was the most difficult for me when I first started, but after 4 sets of plunges, I learned a lot and improved more each time. Really it just takes time on the grinder.

southstar - They do not come heat treated, so it is required after grinding. People make simple little brick furnaces and use little toaster ovens to heat treat and temper O-1. Prices are not bad at KBC, for a 5/32 x 1 1/2 x 18" bar of A-2, it cost $22.90. At Pop's it cost $34 for the same size in O-1. Luckily, I live close enough to KBC that I can drive over and pick up the steel. Here's a full list of all the A-2 they carry: http://www.kbctools.com/usa/Navigation/NavPDF.cfm?PDFPage=784