WIP Cinco-Mai

Karl, you make the most beautiful San-Mai knives I have ever seen. Your knives were the inspiration for my starting to make San-Mai.
As you can see from the pictures, I use the power hammer to forge out the billet and this includes a lot of hammering on the edges. If my welds were not good I think all this hammering would make the billet come apart.
You know a lot more about this than I do. I guess when it comes to forging a point, etc. I don't want to push my luck. Also, I want to be sure the 01 stays centered.
Karl, I would love to see a WIP on how you do your San-Mai.
 
Very cool Tom! Can't wait to see the finished product!!
 
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It looks great to me, Tom. Seems like you're doing everything right.
I do not forge my tip either so as not to lose center in the thin areas. But not because I'm fearful of my welds.
But I do use my power hammer and press to draw out my tang and ricasso on edge. That is certainly the test of the welds.
Make sure you spend as much time as you can at heat and under the press and hammer.
Don't move your steel too fast to its final thickness.

My philosophy is that if I can't fully trust my welds then I can't sell the knife to someone who may depend on it.
Best thing to do is forge and finish one out, harden it and do everything you can to destroy it.

Yours looks great so far.
 
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JT, this is a better picture of my press. I don't think it is a very good design and would not recommend anyone make one like it. As I have said, it didn't cost much and does what I want it to do.

Today I profiled the blades. I am making two. I did stock removal because I wanted to grind off all the welding along the edge of the billet. After straightening the blades I put them in my Paragon oven at 1350 degrees for two hours. I also placed some large pieces of steel with the blades so they will cool slowly. I will let them cool all night. I have found this to be the best way to anneal the blades.

Tomorrow I hope to grind and heat treat the blades.
 
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So far I have shaped the blades, heat treated, and hand sanded to 400 grit. I will go up to 1200 grit and then etch with FeCl. The picture is not very good, but maybe you can see the pattern. After etching it will be easy to see.
 
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Today I went up to 1200 grit, then dipped in 3-1 FeCl for 30 seconds. Neutralized with windex and baking soda. This is what the finished blade looks like.
 
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