What a day! forge welding

INFO! Can anyone give insight as to what is going on? Is that a hamon or the darbon diffuesed into the iron? How do I neutralize the etch so it is safe for kitchen use but retains the black edge and smoky effect? Is it just pretty? Like, do I have to worry about the carbon sucked out of the edge area?
 
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Made up the handle today, have to work out a few kinks but it's mostly there. I used some more of the awesome sugar maple for the handle, and a DOM tubing for the bolster with a brass spacer, the steel bolster is polished and will be blued using cold blue (first time trying it). Blade is polished and VERY VERY sharp.
 
Sam Salvati said:
INFO! Can anyone give insight as to what is going on? Is that a hamon or the darbon diffuesed into the iron? How do I neutralize the etch so it is safe for kitchen use but retains the black edge and smoky effect? Is it just pretty? Like, do I have to worry about the carbon sucked out of the edge area?
Click to expand...

Not sure what the specific cause is (I'll leave that to the professionals), but I can say that anything that neutralizes the acid should do fine so long as you clean it well with soap and hot water afterwards. If you want to be certain it's neutralized AND food safe, boil it in baking soda and water for 10 minutes.

Oil with a food safe oil to keep from rusting until it's developed a nice patina from use.

-d
 
Thanks Deker, I have it all together (not glued though) just wondering wether I should leave it polished or etch it.
 
Sam, I'm impressed. Looks great!!!

What you are seeing is the iron picked up a little carbon in places. Probably not a hamon, as the cru-V would have hardened under the iron. Also the iron will be a bit thicker in places and very thin in others, this can give that ghosty look.
 
Don, thanks!!!!!!! I was hoping the cruforgev would harden up under the iron, I am all about the cool looking stuff but once it starts to mess with performance then I get all wiggy :D

So it is carbon migration. The thickness of each layer is impressive, each hammer blow making it thinner or non worked part being thicker, it was cool to see how close to final shape I forged by grinding into it, in some spots the iron was very thin and ground away at first or second pass, sometimes it took almost final grinding to bring the iron layer up off the edge. Thanks Don!
 
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