Hamons again

Evan Martin

Evan Martin

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
521
With all the talk about hamons I am going to try it. Recently I got some steel from a maker a MS he told me the steel was L6 (old saw blades) well thats the steel I have in the works now and with extra satanite from a new forge build. My question is will I get any good activity with this steel or should I save it for some 1095 or w1
 
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You can put a hamon or HLE (hamon like effect) on just about any steel, but that doesn't mean you should:D. SHallow hardening steels will give you the best effects, 10XX or the W brother :D .
 
The saw blade mostly likely is not L6, and if it weere L6 is the least likely of the oil hardening steels to give you any hamon at all, as it will simply ignore your clay and harden anyhow. Sorry for the bad news but I know L6 well and it will reach 61HRC from just heating it and tossing it on the floor.
 
hevy ev's said:
if it is most likely not L6 what pray tell do you think it is
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Well, there is an off chance it is actually L6, but more than likely it is something similar to 15n20 or 8670m, but actually it could be most anything. The only thing you do know it's OSB (old saw blade) steel! Years and years ago L6 was the preferred steel for saw blades which is why everyone assumes most old saw blades are L6.

It may, and probably does, make decent knives but you'll have to experiment with heat treating it a bit.

If you are after showy active hamon, go for the W series steel like W1 and W2 or as mentioned the 10XX series BUT not just any 10XX series, look for ones that have lower manganese content than others like 1095.

With the right equipment, knowledge and ability to know actual forge and quench temperatures you can manipulate many steels to give you hamon, but they probably won't be as active or showy as the simple carbon steels aforementioned can give.
 
I can't remember who told it to me, but the statement was something like,
"If you want wonderful hamons, make them W1derful."
Stacy
 
I do realize that the it can be any steel but the man did say it did good .He had used it the only reason I am using it right now is people think its special when you use something old. I have some idiots tell me that the is the only steel that makes good knives:rolleyes:. And also I'm tired of it sitting around the shop. I will try one but I am not hopeful going to wait and get some W1
 
Just my honest thoughts. Make a good knife from the sawblade. Get some 1080,1095 0r w1 and go for the hamons. If you get good results it makes it more exciting.
 
hevy ev's said:
I do realize that the it can be any steel but the man did say it did good .He had used it the only reason I am using it right now is people think its special when you use something old. I have some idiots tell me that the is the only steel that makes good knives:rolleyes:. And also I'm tired of it sitting around the shop. I will try one but I am not hopeful going to wait and get some W1
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If it is L6 rejoice and be happy! I just was talking to a friend who got quoted a price of almost $10 per pound on Carpenter L6!!:eek: Very soon we will all be back to making our own bloomery steel as we are priced right out of the market:(
 
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