question about hamon lines

insanity

insanity

Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
392
I've been experimenting with hamons lately and was wondering about something I've noticed. If I do a very quick etch (5-10 seconds in diluted ferric) I get a line in one place fairly high up on the blade. If I etch for a long time 15-30 minutes) I get a line that is lower down on the blade. I'm wondering what is going on in the metal to produce this? Maybe different transformation and/or hardness zones?
 
I get the same thing Wayne on 1084 taken to a mirror polish and etched. That is on a single quench. Sure would be nice to have a hardness tester to look at each zone.
 
If you can keep the quench level about the same for the 3 quench mojo, you can get some really cool looking effects. If it doesnt crack.
 
Is the first line where the clay was coated? If that's the case, you probably didn't get the the blade up to heat under the clay and it will created a "mirror line" further down the blade and under that is the fully-hardened blade.

Could just be utsuri though. :D
 
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