wild w-2 hamon

**bubba-san** · 01-31-2009, 07:36 PM

I just ht. and tempered this medium size tanto made from w-2 ,it has a pretty unusual hamon . what do you think ? i will finish it soon i hope . This blade has not been etched , this is how it came out of oven ?. All I did was sand off clay with 600 gr. paper and this is how it looked . the ishi lines are pretty wide' Bubba -san

**fod** · 01-31-2009, 10:02 PM

Well that is pretty crazy.

Are the lines coming from the wires you use to hold the clay in place during quench etc.?

Could you manipulate this feature to makes patterns using some thing that alter the clays insulation properties?

How fragile is the clay and when a larger knife curves will it pop off or stay attached?

**bubba-san** · 01-31-2009, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by fod

Well that is pretty crazy.

Are the lines coming from the wires you use to hold the clay in place during quench etc.?

Could you manipulate this feature to makes patterns using some thing that alter the clays insulation properties?

How fragile is the clay and when a larger knife curves will it pop off or stay attached?

No, the lines are actual ishi lines from clay, I put on narrow lines and it just got fat ?? It was totally dry. probably just melted a little. I think you can manipulate the insulating properties by varying the thickness of clay. You can also draw little features even your name or something wierd with the clay . the clay can be fragile depending on surface of blade ,if blade is rough it will stick much better but, roughness and scratches are difficult to remove when blade is hard, so I polish blade pretty good before I clay . It is much easier to polish when clay comes off easily. You also don't loose a lot of activity by hard polish . It all depends on the tradition you follow. clay generally pops off a little if you have a lot of sori ( curve) ordinarily it stays on pretty good.I polished it some after photo . the shinogi looks like mottled chrome and the hamon looks like tiny pairs of crossed swords or scissors with a frosty grey bacground. I take junk pictures will try some tommorrow in good indirect sunlight see what happens.?

**Burchtree** · 02-01-2009, 07:59 AM

Looks like a little decarbing around the clay happened. Hopefully it looks that good when the blade is ground down.

The mystery is always the most exciting part to me.

**bubba-san** · 02-01-2009, 08:50 AM

hey mike , there was a little bit around ishi lines . but, I used a 1500 grit Binsue-do waterstone and its flat as can be now . I will post a couple of pics a little later . I think it turned out OK but, I will let you guys decide that . Are you and your crew going to try and make the hammerin this may 1st ? it should be a good time . Bubba

**Billy Stewart** · 02-01-2009, 09:01 AM

Looks good bubba!!

**bubba-san** · 02-01-2009, 09:29 AM

I did some more work on polish its very smooth and no scratches , the white areas are hardened parts of blade (hitatsura) I also did a little file work on tang and then burnished it a little . I guess I need to build a habaki /saya for it now .

**Jason Taylor** · 02-01-2009, 10:01 AM

Strange but beautiful. I think alot comes from your technique of prepolishing. I would bet if you ground a hundreth or so so off and repolished it would look totally different.

**Burchtree** · 02-01-2009, 10:17 AM

I hope to make it!

**bubba-san** · 02-01-2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Jason Taylor

Strange but beautiful. I think alot comes from your technique of prepolishing. I would bet if you ground a hundreth or so so off and repolished it would look totally different.

You are correct , The ishi legs would diminish a little and look more like choji blossom which was my original intention. I always take my time and go slowly . I learned from a good togishi and his motto was remove as little metal as possible and then re- examine blade. I probably will continue to polish until I am satisfied . Will only polish the hamon ,and mune. the mottled effect on shinogi was intentional. The sides of blade are very shiny I cant take a straight on picture it is like chrome hard to photograph . the only thing you see is my reflection .Have been practicing for some time to get a bright , active hamon without etching , hope I am making some progress ?. I remember when I first started doing japanese blades ,when I was a youngster, I had to look real hard sometimes for hamon , I then would have to do an heavy etch with chemicals. I always value everyones opinion and I appreciate it alot. It makes me a better smith and craftsman. thanks