DeMo 2022 Kith

[J. Doyle]

1095 high carbon at .145

Really looking forward to what you do with it.

Do you remember where the steel came from? I'm just curious. It might make a difference if you're going for hamon.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Really looking forward to what you do with it.

Do you remember where the steel came from? I'm just curious. It might make a difference if you're going for hamon.

Admiral Steel - several years ago.

 

[J. Doyle]

Admiral Steel - several years ago.

I like that stuff. Some of the better 1095 I tried for hamon. Looking forward to your results.

 

[Dennis Morland]

I am an average hamon maker. But, I try to make them look like a lazy meandering line. A little bit of up and down movement across the face of the knife.

I start with a scrap piece of thin cardboard. I trace and cut out the knife shape.

Then I layout and cut off then desired hamon line.

Then place the pattern on the knife face and use a sharpie to draw the hamon line.

Looks like this.

Flip the blade over and draw the line again.

I forgot to clean the blade with hot water and dish soap to get as much of the oils/dirt/stuff off of the blade. I will clean it and draw the lines again.

 

[Dennis Morland]

This is the heat shield that I use. Not because it is special or better than others. I use it because I found it locally at the Menards store.

Goop it on and spread it out evenly.

Flip it over and repeat.

 

[Dennis Morland]

I hit the blade with a torch to dry out the furnace cement.

Time to heat treat. I love my oven. Even heat KO-18.

In the blade goes to 1550 f. and a short soak. Then quench and temper.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Out of the quench and cleaned up a bit. Going in for a temper.

Flip side.

 

[Dennis Morland]

The second Saturday in November is the opening of deer season in Nebraska. I was very fortunate to find this guy.

The best eating part of a deer is the inside tenders. My favorite. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Time to eat.

Tempered twice at 400 degrees. I think it will have a hamon. Ghost grey on the top and straw colored below the hamon. After dinner, I may start hand sanding to clean it up for etching.

 

[bladegrinder]

Your avatar photo belies you in hunting mode Dennis, dang that's a nice deer.

 

[bladegrinder]

The blade looks like it's coming along nicely too!

 

[Dennis Morland]

Your avatar photo belies you in hunting mode Dennis, dang that's a nice deer.

My day job and my inner self are a little bit off.

 

[Dennis Morland]

A quick hand sand to 320 grit and a dunk in etchant. Looks like a failure to me.

I am going to get a good night sleep and start fresh tomorrow. Grrrr!

 

[soundmind]

this

You snuck that one in! Nice animal. I like the tenderloins too. I hide them from my wife so they don’t end up either in the grinder or as jerky.

I agree with steve about your hunting and avatar pictures. I thought that was a guy you ran into out hunting. Lol. Took me a minute.

I’m following your build. Nice oven.

 

[J. Doyle]

Dennis did you do any actual post heat treat grinding before that etch?.....or just some sanding at 320?

And what austenitizing temp?

 

[Haines Custom]

Personally, I see a ghost of a Hamon. Maybe after a little more cleanup and another etch it will be more apparent.

 

[Dennis Morland]

Dennis did you do any actual post heat treat grinding before that etch?.....or just some sanding at 320?

And what austenitizing temp?

No grinding, just hand sanding. I went to 1550 degrees for less than 10 minutes before the quench.

I am going to go grind a bit and try to etch again. Perhaps a bit longer than last time. I can kind of see the hamon. It is just not pronounced.

 

[J. Doyle]

No grinding, just hand sanding. I went to 1550 degrees for less than 10 minutes before the quench.

I am going to go grind a bit and try to etch again. Perhaps a bit longer than last time. I can kind of see the hamon. It is just not pronounced.

I can see a couple of things that I would tweak. Don't want to tell anyone what to do. But I'll mention if asked.

But there is definitely decarb on that blade and post heat treat carbon steel blades need to be ground after clay quenching to get down to clean steel. Hand sanding with fine paper isn't enough. I bet there's something there.

 

[Dennis Morland]

John and Haines

You were correct. I hit the edge with a file. It skated so I guess it hardened.

I ground the blade a bit, hand sanded a bit more, etched again, and the hamon popped out.

There are some really smart people on KD. Thank you both.

 

[Dennis Morland]

I forgot, flip side.

 

[J. Doyle]

There it is. That looks better.