hamon and final grinding...

[ScottRoush]

so you've quenched with your clay and you have a little over 1/16 on the edge and you need to temper and take it down to the finish. it was ground to 400 prior to the quench. can you grind the hamon away? is the pattern deep enough to survive the final grinding???

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

The hamon goes through the steel, it's not just on the surface. Just don't get it too hot while grinding and it should be fine.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If the hamon is really there, the pattern won't grind away. If it is just a decarb line, and the blade fully hardened ( not likely) then it will disappear.

 

[ScottRoush]

excellent. that's what i thought... just wanted to make sure before i got too aggressive.... i can't wait to see what comes out! i had to quench three times to get this (a 14" chopper made from a Nicholson farrier file) to harden. I applied clay each time i quenched. it finally hardened when i switched from my tran/motor oil mixture to brine...