Help on HT'ing thin blade

David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
Hi Guys,

I recently did a HT on a 15" claybacked 1095 blade. After grinding, sanding, and eching I found that the hamon ran off the blade about halfway down the blade. After some thought, I know what I did wrong. I'd tried a different pattern to my clay, and I also probably put it on too heavily. The blade is now in a very close to final shape. It's 3/16's at the guard with a distal grind. In other words, even though it's fairly thin for a heat treatment, I'd like to re-clay it and do a re-HT. I would expect warpage, of course, but I think I could manage it.Can you fella's give me some advice? Do's and don'ts? Or, now that I've got a very close to perfect blade, should I just let it go? Lordy, decisions, decisions!

Thanks all,

Dave
 
Get it screamin hot and quench into something wet! :D




Seriously, it'll be fine if the edge isn't too thin (close to sharp). Grind the edge back, if too thin. Go light on the clay and don't over heat the blade
 
Give the entire blade a wash coat of thin clay first,and let that dry. Then do your spine coat ,keeping it 1/8" thick or less.
 
Thanks Don. I just spent the last couple of hours reading up on old threads addressing hamons and claycoating, etc. It was a good refresher.

Dave
 
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