Hey Dylan, hope you’re doing well! I’ve been struggling for over a year to get a perfect “brute du forge” etch on my san-mai blades (80CrV2 core, 15N20 cladding). I saw your knives and they look amazing—your 15N20 stays so bright while the core goes dark. I was chatting with “Knife Steel Nerds,” and he suggested the issue might be how I’m forging the billet—maybe scale or a transition layer is messing with the cladding. I’d love to hear how you do it.
Here’s my current process:
1.
Finish: I take the blade to about 2000 grit on oilstones (briefly touch 3000), then clean thoroughly with brake cleaner.
2.
Ferric Chloride: I do short dips (~3 minutes each), wiping off oxides with 0000 steel wool between cycles.
3.
Coffee Soak: Right after ferric, I’ll put the blade into strong coffee and leave it overnight, hoping to keep the 15N20 bright and the 80CrV2 dark.
Unfortunately, my 15N20 keeps getting dull or gray. Any advice on forging or finishing steps to get that crisp, bright cladding? Thanks so much—I really appreciate any tips!
