My hamon process WIP(pic heavy)

[Willie71]

No need to re thermal cycle for a requench.

 

[Kevin Powers]

Hand sanded the opposite side of the blade and started etching cycles. Took it to 1500 grit before etching. I etch in cut ferric. Then nuetralize with windex and loose abrasive goes into the windex. Polish with a felt pad. Prior to doing it this way I used WD-40 with the loose abrasive. I didn't like having to deal with the residue left behind by the WD-40. Doing it this way I don't have to wash the blade after every etch and polish cycle. I was having issues with streaks from washing the blade coming out in the etch.
[video=youtube_share;u60vo210LyM]http://youtu.be/u60vo210LyM[/video]
3rd etch in

 

[Tom Lewis]

Thanks! I have been looking forward to a update.

 

[Kevin Powers]

Fitted the guard and handle block this afternoon. Had to cut 3 different blocks of my olive wood as I kept revealing cracks, hope this piece makes it through as its my last. I think I may do a stainless and black linen file worked spacer too, haven't decided.
Once the guard was fit I made a template so I can get both sides even.

Time to move on to the handle block.
[video=youtube_share;4XvJy7IzgFo]http://youtu.be/4XvJy7IzgFo[/video]
To mill the pocket for the tang I used these saw drills I picked up at harbor freight. I've done 2 handle blocks with them now and I love them. I start by drilling holes for the outside edge of the tang. Then I progress down into the block milling side to side with the saw drill. I only need to file and broach the corners once this is done. Then I go to the drill press and use my longer bit to get the rest of the depth I need for the tang. I then heat up just the end of the tang and burn the last little 1/4" in. It results in a nice tight fit.
http://m.harborfreight.com/high-speed-steel-saw-drill-bit-set-3-pc-61554.html
This is about 10 minutes into fitting the handle

All the way up. About 5 mins later.

Profile shot.

 

[Kevin Powers]

I added a stainless and black linen spacer. Cut the wood block down a little. I just did some quick round filework on the guard and spacer and plan to coin the stainless. Should I even keep updating this? I will also say that I do not have the blade wrapped up because I have to fix some issues on it an resand the whole thing. I plan to shape the handle to be a little proud of the guard. That requires me to do all guard fluting, filework, and finishing prior to glue up. All handle shaping and finishing will have to be done as well. In order to keep the guard and handle aligned during shaping I fit 2, 1/16" pins to lock everything together. Everything is close, just have to flat sand on the granite block to fit tight.

Showing the alignment pins. There's 1 on each side. If fits it all together so tight that I have to clamp the blade in the vise to get the wood block off.

Thoughts I have, but have not decided on:
Dying the wood black.
Etching the blade dark instead of polishing.
Making this a takedown style knife.

 

[AlaskanHunter]

Should I even keep updating this?

Yes! Please do!

 

[Josh Rider]

Definitely Kevin.
Great thread. I love WIPs and this one is especially interesting to me. I've got a couple of blades I've tried hamons on and they're still sitting on my workbench going through the sanding process. This thread reminds me to get back at it

 

[Mob]

Thanks for taking the time to document the process, I have learned a lot so far. Never done a knife like this before, but want to some day.

 

[Kevin Powers]

Yes! Please do!

Definitely Kevin.
Great thread. I love WIPs and this one is especially interesting to me. I've got a couple of blades I've tried hamons on and they're still sitting on my workbench going through the sanding process. This thread reminds me to get back at it

Thanks for taking the time to document the process, I have learned a lot so far. Never done a knife like this before, but want to some day.

Ok I will continue, just wasn't sure if anyone was following a public view of me "making mistakes and fixing them" or whats commonly referred to as knife making

 

[Willie71]

Save some of the sanding dust from the guard for when you glue to guard on. Mix it in with the epoxy. I use JB Weld for black guards. The epoxy mixed with sanding dust makes the small gaps almost disappear.

 

[Mob]

Ok I will continue, just wasn't sure if anyone was following a public view of me "making mistakes and fixing them" or whats commonly referred to as knife making

Keep on keepin' on.

Some of the most informative threads are the least active. Who knows, someday it could be many years a newbie like myself will be in need of help and find the answer here. Saves starting a brand new thread asking about something that's been covered in depth many times over, or just one really good thread. I know a lot of forums HATE rookies starting new threads for common questions. haha

Your photos are quite clear too, can't tell you how many threads I've seen on the interwebs with super useful info- but awful pictures. I always do much better when someone shows a detailed photo along with info, versus a hard to visualize sketch.