First Hamon

[J.D.]

Here is a knife with my first ever hamon. It is 1095 and was clay coated, etched in feric acid and 3 parts water. What do you think?

Thanks for looking, and any advice welcome.

 

[Robert Mayo]

I like the knife and the hamon well done.

Bob

 

[Bruce Bump]

I like it.
You have the ferric very strong IMHO. I use just a splash in water to give me way more time and less etching action. Even with my weak solution I only leave it in for about 5 seconds each dip.

 

[JTknives]

I like it.
You have the ferric very strong IMHO. I use just a splash in water to give me way more time and less etching action. Even with my weak solution I only leave it in for about 5 seconds each dip.

what grit do you finish to when etching. i get a good etch after taking the blade to around 2000 then a quick dip and resand and so forth.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Looks good.
I use a solution of 10:1 for etching hamon. One other thing I might point out is the "fangs" on the handle. They look good, but can break off easily if the knife gets any real use. The handle looks a bit like G-10. so it is tough, but I know a lot of folks have learned the hard way about the problems with those thin front pieces ( including me).
Stacy

 

[C.Edmondson]

Looks good J.D, keep up the good work!

 

[Bruce Bump]

what grit do you finish to when etching. i get a good etch after taking the blade to around 2000 then a quick dip and resand and so forth.

I take it to about 2000 to be sure there are no grit scratches left and dip it for about 15 seconds in about 30-40:1 ratio. and rub down with a small piece of 3M sponge ultra fine. The sponge wears out quick but continues to polish until it falls apart. It may take several of these dips and sponge rubbings before the hamon starts to show its pretty face. It is safe because the ferric cloride is so diluted. I finish with flitz metal polish until all the black is gone.

 

[DCL_dk]

very nice I find ferric way to hard etching for harmons and use hot lemon juice but of course what depends if it is polish with open or closed pores..

 

[J.D.]

Thanks for all the comments, and advice on the acid strength.
Stacy I had wondered about the fangs being so thin, after I saw it finnished it just looked like a weak area, even though it is G10, next time they will be about a 1/4" thicker than on this one, the reason I put them on, was to make it more comfortable on the finger, not just being against the 3/16" thick steel.
Thanks again.