First try at Hamon

opaul

Well-Known Member
I've been wanting to make a knife with a hamon blade. I've had this 1095 steel for a while so I broke out some refractory cement and this what I have so far. This is not long out of the quench and before tempering. I wanted to see what contrast I might have and I'm pleased with the results thus far. After the two tempering cycles I'll get to work sanding and etching for the final steps. I'm thinking I might put camel bone scales on this one.
 
I've been wanting to make a knife with a hamon blade. I've had this 1095 steel for a while so I broke out some refractory cement and this what I have so far. This is not long out of the quench and before tempering. I wanted to see what contrast I might have and I'm pleased with the results thus far. After the two tempering cycles I'll get to work sanding and etching for the final steps. I'm thinking I might put camel bone scales on this one.
They only get better as you get higher in grit and etching. Welcome to the rabbit hole of hamons.
 
That looks great. Did you just sand it? Did you polish it with something? What were your steps?? Inquiring minds need to know...

Thanks Dennis!!
I hand sanded to 800 grit (took almost three hours). I used WD40 up to 400 grit and then used windex up to the 800 grit. Then I used the widex and a grey scotch brite pad until the finish looked smooth and even. Washed the blade in hot water and dawn several times and used a paper towel to dry it off. Then straight to the etching solution for about 20 seconds. Took it out and rubbed it down with a rough cloth towel. I repeated these steps about three times with times in the solution, 15 sec, 10 sec and 5 sec. (all approximate) rubbing the blade with the towel each time. After that I sprayed it with windex, washed in off in clean water and used a really fine honing paste to polish it up. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks Dennis!!
I hand sanded to 800 grit (took almost three hours). I used WD40 up to 400 grit and then used windex up to the 800 grit. Then I used the widex and a grey scotch brite pad until the finish looked smooth and even. Washed the blade in hot water and dawn several times and used a paper towel to dry it off. Then straight to the etching solution for about 20 seconds. Took it out and rubbed it down with a rough cloth towel. I repeated these steps about three times with times in the solution, 15 sec, 10 sec and 5 sec. (all approximate) rubbing the blade with the towel each time. After that I sprayed it with windex, washed in off in clean water and used a really fine honing paste to polish it up. Hope this helps.

That is pretty much how I make a hamom. Except, for polishing, I use very fine steel wool and some Flitz. You did a great job and now are in the "Rabbit hole" as Ty pointed out.
 
I have been experimenting with hamons for several knives now and the cool thing I have discovered is you can really do them however YOU want. You can etch them and polish several times or just polish with no etch leaving a very subtle line. Since I do simple HT I work with the 10 steels a lot so I figure why not put it in there. Yours looks great. I have found the thin “whitish” part of the line to be the toughest to bring out but yours is there no doubt. Great look.
 
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