3-17-12 In the shop

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I had a busy day yesterday completing more heat treating, grinding, acid etching and tons of hand sanding. I had two kiln running all day and went through a bunch of belts and paper!



Here are some smaller ones I'm working on, they are made from 1/8" O1 tool steel and have a thin full flat grind. The grind is plungeless and on both sides.

I'm keeping the top one, it is a reject because of an errant drill hole.

This one is a slightly bigger Pocket Fighter in thick W2 tool steel. W2 is a higher carbon steel like 1095 but has vanadium added for fine grain and is made to high specs, it is a premium material that I hope to use more of in the future.

You can still see clay from the coating I put on the blade to go for hamon. I brine quenched this one!

Here it is after a full day of grinding, hand rubbing and acid etching. I machine ground the blade to 320 grit then hand sanded ("hand rubbed") up to 1000 grit, after that I etched multiple times in vinegar. (lol spelled wrong in the photo!) After each etch I would sand more or clean the knife to reveal the hamon, this has to be done repeatedly to bring out the features.

The softer steel above the hamon line etches more than the hard steel below the line, after many etch/sand cycles the knife will really look good! (I hope!)

 

[sasquatch1]

gorgeous blades! when are you doing a batch of those pocket fighters?

 

[fast14riot]

Ooooo! Can't wait to see that develop! Are you using Nick wheelers instructions on how to develop a hamon? Do ou use lemon juice as well as vinegar to selectively etch? A hamon is true artistry in a blade, much respect to those who can pull it off! I still have a couple to try and bring out more, including a hatchett.

-X

 

[mykel m]

Wait a minute,grinds on both sides?WTF?

Hamon's looking good Dan.
You use plain ol' vinegar?Hmmm,didn't know that.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

gorgeous blades! when are you doing a batch of those pocket fighters?

Thanks!

It will be a little while before I do a batch, this was sort of a test blade for the hamon and I wanted to do another fighter. I'll keep you guys posted for sure! Legal EDC Batch very soon...

Ooooo! Can't wait to see that develop! Are you using Nick wheelers instructions on how to develop a hamon? Do ou use lemon juice as well as vinegar to selectively etch? A hamon is true artistry in a blade, much respect to those who can pull it off! I still have a couple to try and bring out more, including a hatchett.

-X

It is a bit of fun and is looking really good right now, I have been working on it most of the day. I read Nick's instructions and need to re-read them, I have been winging it. I have been etching the whole knife and sanding above and below the hamon. I am also using Flitz. I may try some selective etching as well.

The hamon is looking great and even shows up now after being sanded on.

Wait a minute,grinds on both sides?WTF?

Hamon's looking good Dan.
You use plain ol' vinegar?Hmmm,didn't know that.

I'm not really sure what happened on those, I must have woke up too early that day. I am considering sharpening them chisel style though...

Yes I heat up white vinegar, it etches very well. It will blacken a lot of steels completely like ferric chloride but isn't nearly as messy. I have also used lemon wedges and ferric chloride to bring out a hamon but the vinegar is bringing out the clouds so I will stick with it on this knife.


Thanks everyone!