Wally Hayes Katana

[unky_gumbi]

I watched the Wally Hayes katana video last night with a couple of other people here at work that have an intrest in making knives. The three of us thought that it may be a fun project and were thinkin of each making one in the same way, right down to the back yard HT. Thing is that he uses 1050 steel in the video, is this the best steel to use considering that he uses a tape water quench heated to 105F, or is there an other steel we could use and still be able to use the water quench?

This is a just for fun project and the katanas will not be sold, more of a look what I made thing and look what it can do.

thanks for the input
George

 

[JasonSCarter]

5160, 4150, any of the 10xx, W1, would be my choices. however for all that work, I'd use a proper quench oil iven if I had to make a trough to quench in.

Jason

 

[12345678910]

a 10xx like 1050, or W1 will benefit from the clay coat heat treating by showing hamons and curving (sori)
5160 and other higher alloy steels won't hamon.

Use of a proper quench oil vs water will reduce the likely hood of the dreaded "ping" and cracking from too severe quenching.


A proper quench oil - "fast" oil suited for 1050
Available in Canada

http://www.houghton.ca/docs/Houghto%20Quench%20K.tif

http://www.houghton.ca/index.asp

I'm not sure how well it performs to show hamons, since everyone here who is really good with hamons buys

Parks #50
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=569729



Discussion of Houghton K here- Dr. Scott Mackenzie (?) is tech support at Houghton and has an interest in knives.
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=12864