New AK Chiruwa has Hamon!

Nasty

Nasty

Chief Cook & Bottle Wash
Joined
Nov 11, 2003
Messages
5,924
I followed the vinegar process several of you suggested - a good degreasing with Everclear, followed by a 50/50 white vinegar (I'm a regular guy, don't need none of that fancy balsamic stuff), water and a few drops of Dawn (DDean told me that was the trick ;-), then a fresh water rinse. Did it twice and the hamon did pop out as you all said it should.

The pic is terrible, out of focus and poorly lit, but you should still be able to make out the hamon. It is exactly as wide as the flat ground portion of the edge, from the rearward portion of the recurve all the way to the tip of the blade.

http://vnvmcoh.org/hamon.jpg

I know that I'll have to be careful with this one to not strike the tip through to anything hard...there's no soft spot out there to bend...just hard all the way, but it's a beautiful line. It's hard to imagine getting it so perfect using the primative forge and water pour that Bura used.

Now then...I have a buffer, white rouge and hard caranuba wax...do I dare use it on the blade to restore the mirror polish?

Yes, I have great medical insurance! :eek:
 
I would suggest and vice with leather covered jaws to anchor the thig down good and tight. I'm sure you have used the buffer enough to watch the direction of turn. Happy shining:
 
Thanks Pappy...but it's nothing more than an old compressor motor with buffing wheels on either side. Probably something one of our Kamis would be comfortable with!

It'd be an entirely hand-held deal...I've always used the white on one side and the wax on the other side.

I'm hoping that I have enough good Karma built up to get away with it... :cool:
 
Someone in another thread regarding grinding wheels reccommended wearing a protective cup.

I reckon it's a good idea.
 
And also only buff on the lower half of the wheel so it would be thrown away from you, if possible.
 
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