My first hamon!

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
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Here's a picture out of the ferric chloride:



Anyone know what the third region at the top of the blade is? Looks like 3 distinct layers?

Here it is cleaned up (it has a mirror polish -I need to work on my photography skills):
 
thats a good etch. Se how its drasticly DARKER. Thats a sign that the steel is hardened properly.
 
Ya done good. I usually get that second higher up temp line and have been told that the structure of the steel between to two lines may be bainite but I don't know for sure.
 
Really nice Hamon there flatgrinder.The layers your asking about are the martinsite-pearlite transition. Did I say what a nice Hamon that is ?:) Edit to add : If Don says it is Bainite , having more experience than I , he is probably correct .
 
I would ask about the steps you take to etch a blade.

I have heard that after etching a blade you need to buff it to clean off the outer layers, but how do you keep from clearing off all the etch effects?
 
Very nice, Flatgrinder:thumbup:. The process of creating a nice hamon can be addictive. Each one you complete will be distinct and have its own personality. Beng able to reproduce the same hamon in the next blade is a challenge. If I try something different I take notes on what I did so there is a chance I can do it again if I like the results. Good luck and thanks for sharing.

Fred
 
Thanks for the comments guys! :thumbup:

Alan, I etched it in 50:50 ferric chloride: water solution. Dipped it in for a few seconds, removed it for a few seconds. Dipped again, removed, done. It was actually really quick -probably took under a minute.

After handrubbing to 2000 grit, the hamon is still there, it's really noticeable. The whole blade is mirror polished -the two layers differ in that one is more reflective than the other.

I took a photo this morning outdoors, but I think the sky wasn't cloudy enough and I ended up with a "blue" blade with some cloud reflections in it.

Any tips on photographing hamons?
 
Use something large and black to reflect on the steel and hold the light at a 45 degree angle to the blade.This is how I have been told to get a good hamon pic by the pro photographers.Nice blade.:cool:
 
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