First try at Hamon

opaul

opaul

KNIFE MAKER
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.
 
opaul said:
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.
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They only get better as you get higher in grit and etching. Welcome to the rabbit hole of hamons.
 
Dennis Morland said:
That looks great. Did you just sand it? Did you polish it with something? What were your steps?? Inquiring minds need to know...
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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.
 
opaul said:
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.
Click to expand...

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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