WillC
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- Jul 9, 2011
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I was not exactly sure where to post this as it finished. But as far as working feedback, everything is a WIP
I got three knives out of this San mai billet. And the San mai looks nice but different on all of them, depending on the depth the blade and the grind. This one I think looks rather like a coastline.
The Materials are a bit of a collection. I used up an old 300 layer billet of Mild steel and en45 for the outside layers. The core is en42J with the weld line punched up with a slice or 2 of 15n20.
I've had mixed results with the non contasty damascus. On thicker blades you get an even pattern. Just couldn't get an even etch out of it on these thinner blades. It looks more like a crucible steel, with elements of pattern coming to the surface. This is probably telling me that the carbon has equalled out largely in the damascus. Anyway its subtle , I like it because of this but now I have some 15n20. I probably wont make it again.
The Billet was forged down with approximately 20mm diameter fullers in the hammer to get the ripples.
To the blade. Its a Bano Bocho, (I think). The Sharp is 185mm. 50mm deep at the back, 39 mm at the front. The blade is 2mm thick at the back tapering to 1.5mm. It light but doesn't flex too much. It balances 30mm in front of the handle.
The Handle is a single piece of Maple bur 120mm long, with the tang epoxied in.
I do all my grinding post HT on these types of blades.
Blade was full flat ground to 0.25mm then the last bit is convexed, on the grinder then by hand whilst polishing, honing in between grits then convexing in. Final honing after the etch was done on a cheapo 1K water stone. Then a Dragon Slate razor hone with slurry, then water. Then course strop with Starkie blue. Then bare leather. Its fairly sharp. Some pics at last...
All feedback most welcome.:biggrin:
I got three knives out of this San mai billet. And the San mai looks nice but different on all of them, depending on the depth the blade and the grind. This one I think looks rather like a coastline.
The Materials are a bit of a collection. I used up an old 300 layer billet of Mild steel and en45 for the outside layers. The core is en42J with the weld line punched up with a slice or 2 of 15n20.
I've had mixed results with the non contasty damascus. On thicker blades you get an even pattern. Just couldn't get an even etch out of it on these thinner blades. It looks more like a crucible steel, with elements of pattern coming to the surface. This is probably telling me that the carbon has equalled out largely in the damascus. Anyway its subtle , I like it because of this but now I have some 15n20. I probably wont make it again.
The Billet was forged down with approximately 20mm diameter fullers in the hammer to get the ripples.
To the blade. Its a Bano Bocho, (I think). The Sharp is 185mm. 50mm deep at the back, 39 mm at the front. The blade is 2mm thick at the back tapering to 1.5mm. It light but doesn't flex too much. It balances 30mm in front of the handle.
The Handle is a single piece of Maple bur 120mm long, with the tang epoxied in.
I do all my grinding post HT on these types of blades.
Blade was full flat ground to 0.25mm then the last bit is convexed, on the grinder then by hand whilst polishing, honing in between grits then convexing in. Final honing after the etch was done on a cheapo 1K water stone. Then a Dragon Slate razor hone with slurry, then water. Then course strop with Starkie blue. Then bare leather. Its fairly sharp. Some pics at last...
All feedback most welcome.:biggrin: