Intresting Hamon results

[C.Edmondson]

I have been trying different methods of getting good hamons on my blades for the last week or so. I have seriously tried everything and a couple days ago came up with this knife. Since then I have forged 4 more knives used the same recipe and came up with exact results. The oil I am using if a bit fast and I am always running the risk of warping, Its kinda tricky.As soon as the ghost appears in the forge I quench and this is what the blade looks like after knocking off the scale and tempering. I temper immeditely after the quench, I actually let my oven get up to temp while I am normalizing. I thought it was interesting, the hardened part is rock solid hard and the metal behind the line is softer. I took the picture after cleaning off the rest of the scale that was left on after tempering, not been polished. Kinda cool, Thanks for everyones help!!! All the information on this site is amazing!! Sorry but one side of the blade has a goober on it, no fun intended

 

[C.Edmondson]

Heres the rest of the pictures

 

[Will Leavitt]

Nice job there Charlie, I see why you were excited on the phone!

Using some ATP641 will help with that nasty scale. Dunno if it will affect the effect you're after though.

 

[JasonSCarter]

Looks Great! what are you using for the clay coating?

 

[C.Edmondson]

Thanks Will, I figured it out with all the BAMA boys help! You, Matt, and Mr.Dark all helped me tremendously to get to where I am at with this!
Jason, I just use regular satinite, metal is 1084, used 1080 with the same results. Its tricky not to get your forge to hot, Its just gotta get up to what I call shadow heat? Also almost impossible to do during daylight. I quenched all the blades during night time, Thanks Jason and Will

 

[mete]

I don't think that's what you have. It looks more like some scale or decarb that you haven't removed.

 

[C.Edmondson]

I know that what it looks like but it not scale or decarb, I sanded it down thru the grits alittle while ago and it looks just the same. I dont know?

 

[C.Edmondson]

Maybe Mr Cashen will join in and help us, I know he knows what it is. I etched it after sanding and it still just popped right out?

 

[Sam Salvati]

Looks like you are etching it quite heavily, it will leave sort of a distinct line, but decarb will also leave a line like that. Polish to 600 grit then etch for a few seconds then repost pictures please, looks like a nice hamon.

 

[C.Edmondson]

Thanks Sam, the picture was taken before etching. I will polish it and post more pictures, thanks again. Charlie

 

[Sam Salvati]

I was getting what I thought were some amazing hamon, but it was just a delineation line between the oxidized and non oxidized parts. With clay coat you can get the same effect of etching, in that it will eat away parts with scale and leave a slight depression.

 

[C.Edmondson]

Sam thanks so much for the info, I will post some more pictures tomorrow, again thanks for the information,Charlie

 

[C.Edmondson]

Heres the pictures after etching and polishing to 400grit, sorry but Im still new to taking pictures of hamons, I tried to get some indirect light in there, Thanks Sam for your info,Charlie

 

[C.Edmondson]

Not the same knife but one I did a few minutes later with hotter oil