W1 + Cocobolo fighting Bowie

Nick you're killing me with that fiery cocobolo. You caused me to order 100 blocks today. Love it. Your hamon is also stunning.
 
Nick, your clay-less hamon's leave me transfixed to my computer screen!!

I want to print a photo of it and hang it in my shop, with candles and crap all around it like a shrine.

Everyday, before grinding, I'll kneel before it and pay homage.

Great job, buddy. :D
 
Thanks for the kind words guys! :)


Ron- 100 blocks?!? Wow! I only have about a half dozen left. I have a couple of birdseye scales, but they're pretty small. They're so cool and rare, I might just put them in a frame and stare at them. :D I can't wait to see some more of your amazing knives with some fiery Cocobolo Ron!!! :cool: :thumbup:

Shawn- thanks for the laugh buddy, that cracked me up! :D

Chad- thanks man. I think it depends on the quality of W1 you get a hold of... because the W1 I have is almost identical in chemistry to the W2 I have (same stuff Don Hanson uses and sold) other than the Vanadium the W2 has. I have heard some folks have had W1 that had wonky chemistry. I first started using W1 when I read posts by Randall Graham over on Don Fogg's forum, where he would talk about Black Diamond W1 being his favorite steel because it's simple and will do whatever he wants it to do.

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say it will do whatever I want... but I am learning with each blade.




FWIW- Since a handful of folks have not wanted to believe that I'm doing this stuff without clay (which I simply can't understand)... I actually took a video when I hardened this blade, and then another right out of the quench. I just need to upload them.




Thanks guys!!! :)
 
Will look forward to watching those videos that show your hardening process, have been wondering how its done. Beautiful blade.
 
I love Cocobolo, especially a high quality example such as this.
Super clean as usual. Nice long, sleek design. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
hey Nick

great job! You don't see really nice cocobolo like that much anymore...not really sure why?

I agree with Kevin -it looks great on a knife like this - I'm guessing you are not allergic to the dust?

Copper and black make a great combo as a spacer, not to mention how they work with the wood in this case :thumbup:

Bill Flynn
 
Thanks guys! :)

Bill- It's very odd, I am allergic to almost everything under the sun, but somehow I have two giant dogs and can work Cocobolo without any issues... LOL :)


Here's the actual quench for this blade. It's a complicated, simple process. ;)


And yes, the video is supposed to start off black--- the beginning was shot in total darkness.

[video=youtube;aMxUp99Pnbc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMxUp99Pnbc&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 
NickWheeler said:
Thanks for the kind words guys! :)


Ron- 100 blocks?!? Wow! I only have about a half dozen left. I have a couple of birdseye scales, but they're pretty small. They're so cool and rare, I might just put them in a frame and stare at them. :D I can't wait to see some more of your amazing knives with some fiery Cocobolo Ron!!! :cool: :thumbup:

Shawn- thanks for the laugh buddy, that cracked me up! :D

Chad- thanks man. I think it depends on the quality of W1 you get a hold of... because the W1 I have is almost identical in chemistry to the W2 I have (same stuff Don Hanson uses and sold) other than the Vanadium the W2 has. I have heard some folks have had W1 that had wonky chemistry. I first started using W1 when I read posts by Randall Graham over on Don Fogg's forum, where he would talk about Black Diamond W1 being his favorite steel because it's simple and will do whatever he wants it to do.

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say it will do whatever I want... but I am learning with each blade.




FWIW- Since a handful of folks have not wanted to believe that I'm doing this stuff without clay (which I simply can't understand)... I actually took a video when I hardened this blade, and then another right out of the quench. I just need to upload them.




Thanks guys!!! :)
Click to expand...

I saw you post one of the W2 blades last year where you mentioned there was no clay. I loved how it looked and have been obsessed since (and often extremely disappointed as anyone playing with hamons often is :mad:.) Any low Manganese steel 1/4" thick or thicker gets the clayless HT in my shop now. I have even done it with Aldo's 15n20 in 1/8" thick and got a great hamon out of it. I noticed your salt pot is at 1470f. I have been using 1465-1475, and found going higher decreases the hamon potential.
 
Thanks guys! :)

Warren- It was actually running at 1460F. The folks at Southern Heaters gave me some long-winded explanation about why this $250 Watlow controller should be set 10F above the desired temp... but I think they just gave me a bunch of fancy words to get me not to complain about it. :rolleyes: :foot: It has been that way since I built the rig. It holds temp within about 3 degrees, so I got over being mad about that part 9 years ago. ;) LOL

My other PID+thermocouple confirms the temps.

That's crazy---getting a hamon in 15N20! Wow... :cool: Did you sprinkle some black magic on that one? ;) :D
 
Nick, simply fantastic and totally fascinating. I did a HT yesterday on a W2 bowie. Got the clouds but got too close to the edge so I tried it again. Has not turned out yet but I am still trying. I did use clay though but not that much as you mentioned.

Take care and keep up this radically cool way of doing things.
 
Bowie's aren't my thing but I can certainly appreciate the level that this piece is at. Truly spectacular.

That hamon is nothing short of jaw dropping. Lovely shape, depth and contrast. Love it!!
 
NickWheeler said:
Thanks guys! :)

Warren- It was actually running at 1460F. The folks at Southern Heaters gave me some long-winded explanation about why this $250 Watlow controller should be set 10F above the desired temp... but I think they just gave me a bunch of fancy words to get me not to complain about it. :rolleyes: :foot: It has been that way since I built the rig. It holds temp within about 3 degrees, so I got over being mad about that part 9 years ago. ;) LOL

My other PID+thermocouple confirms the temps.

That's crazy---getting a hamon in 15N20! Wow... :cool: Did you sprinkle some black magic on that one? ;) :D
Click to expand...

Aldo's 15n20 is only 0.35% manganese. After that one turned out so well, I bought a bunch of it from Aldo. Here's a pic at a dirty 400grit.

10830896654_9bb997db9c_c.jpg
 
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