While all investment casters have been finishing castings with portable grinders for many years, how many of them have stopped to re-evaluate if they have the right abrasives for the job or see if there are any new products or techniques that would help improve their efficiency or reduce costs. The answer is “surprisingly few” because most fall into the trap of “that’s just how we’ve always done it” and most view abrasives as an inexpensive commodity. The truth behind abrasives for hand-held operations is that you can improve operational efficiency and enhance your quality, all while reducing costs, if you choose the right shape, formula or tool. The intent of this paper is to provide general training, specific to investment casting, on: abrasive basics, grinding applications, pitfalls to avoid, troubleshooting ideas and safety. After the basics are covered, the paper will delve into advanced finishing techniques that most investment casters have not been exposed to and some case studies showing improved efficiency, better surface finish and reduced costs.