Raindrop Etch

[jawilder]

The blade is clay quenched with a hamon. I polished it to bring out the hamon then put then handle on.

I wasn't very happy with how light the maple was so I experimented darkening it with muratic acid, which was a flop. (I now have the magical stuff sold by R.W. Wilson). In the process I got some of the acid on the blade and ruined my mirror polish with a black spot. So I decided to turn it into limonade

I put several small drops of mustard on the blade and let it sit overnight, then wash and repolish. This was done every night for about a week. The circles are from the outline of the mustard drops.

Hope you like.

 

[Wloch248]

Different, I like it !

 

[Remyrw]

I LOVE IT. That is just beautiful. The combination water drop and polish... really nice. I'm definitely trying that out. I don't have a real buffer so I doubt I'll get AS lovely a buffed finish but I can at least do shiny. I am trying to decide whether a buffer or bandsaw (for handle materials) is next on my list of shop equipment. The bandsaw would probably pay for itself fairly quickly in materials cost savings so I'll probably go with that first but that finish really tempts me to go with the buffer.

 

[jawilder]

I LOVE IT. That is just beautiful. The combination water drop and polish... really nice. I'm definitely trying that out. I don't have a real buffer so I doubt I'll get AS lovely a buffed finish but I can at least do shiny. I am trying to decide whether a buffer or bandsaw (for handle materials) is next on my list of shop equipment. The bandsaw would probably pay for itself fairly quickly in materials cost savings so I'll probably go with that first but that finish really tempts me to go with the buffer.

I have a wood cutting bandsaw but hardly ever use it. I usually take my wood to the metal cutting bandsaw instead because there is less risk in cutting off a finger. Sure, it goes slower but gets the job done.

I use my buffer (<-- Harbor Freight bench grinder with buffing pads) on every knife. I am in love with pink scratchless buffing compound for bringing out shine in handles.

 

[Horsewright]

I use both pretty equally. However you can sure pick up buffers pretty cheap from yardsales etc. I've paid as little as $5 for one and been given several. Save for your bandsaw and look around, you'll find a buffer on the cheap. That raindrop finish is cool!