Laminated Japanese blade forging.

[jdm61]

If you were trying to forge say a laminated yanagiba, what would the ideal proportions for the the cladding and high carbon steel be? I have been told that for a san mai blade, 80/20-75/25 seems to be a common recipe.

 

[kuraki]

Finished or starting?

 

[jdm61]

Finished or starting?

Starting proportions.

 

[kuraki]

I've been doing thicker bladed knives than that, and am more around 65/35 so the 75/25 sounds right to me.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you are forging them out, a bit more core is beneficial. It is very hard to get the core to stay exactly centered. 75/25 should be good for that.

A trick in drawing and shaping the bevels is to grind the edge flat, etch quickly, then grind a 45° angle on each side of the edge off the billet right up to the core. This is easier to keep track of while forging. Stick it in the etch tank as needed during forging to check on the core.

 

[kuraki]

Oh, I just look at the delaminations on the edge, very easy to see