Another Bo-Hi or Fuller question

SBranson

SBranson

Joined
Oct 29, 2006
Messages
2,912
I was wondering if anyone has tried milling in the bo-hi in a Japanese style blade before yaki-ire or quench. Probably not a good idea but since I got my little mini-mill I thought that milling them in while the spine is straight (no sori) would be a way to at least establish the basis for further work.

I keep reading about how modern steels do respond to traditional methods all that well and that they are more trouble than it's worth.
 
Thanks. I've seen that link. And I know milling them is done but my real question was about when. If the sword is straight before the quench it wouldn't be much to put it on the mill and make the bo-hi then clay it up and do the HT. I just wondered if anyone has tried it before the quench and if so whether it worked or was a disaster. I could imagine the bo-hi causing warping or seriously affecting the sori.

My comment about modern steels came from a comment by Howard Clark from this discussion. http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=6303

"Making bohi is a laborious PITA, no matter how you do it. I start with a jig and tool somewhat similar to what Don shows in his article, though I prefer HSS lathe tools. I do most of the roughing this way, then switch to cratez wheels to do the rough polishing of the groove, then finish with little bits of stone. There is no way I know of to do this "easy". Modern steels are a bitch compared to tamahagane blades to cut bohi in and I mostly just refuse to do it. There have been a few special blades, for special customers, but it is VERY expensive. This is one of those things that there is no easy way, as far as I know."
 
The Japanese smiths cut the Bo-Hi with a long cylindrical draw knife after heat treat and rough polish. They they polish the channel with hardened steel needles.
But like Howard says, tamahagane is softer than modern steels, and the spine where they're cutting the groove is pearlite.

Walter Sorrells says in his DVD that the steel needles don't work well on his W2 swords...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top