Kevin Colwell Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 (edited) Hello Everyone, I have finally gotten to play with my new batch of high carbon, water hardening steel from Aldo (easier to describe as low manganese 1075). The whole reason for this was to find something that worked easily, heat treated easily, and made a good hamon. I am happy with it on all counts. I can't polish or photograph as well as many of you, so I am not really doing this alloy justice. I was able to get a really vivid hamon in person, and you can sort of see that in the photos. This is a great steel for mono blades for those of us who are heat treating in a propane forge and can't do a very long, controlled soak. The heat treatment was normalize x 3, then heat just past critical in dark shop (unfortunately, I have only eyes and magnet, no controlled heating source), quench in warm water for 4 count, then into warm canola that has previously been thinned by using acetone to precipitate the waxes out. result - positive sori, hamon, good hardening, no cracking... yeah! I am going to fit this out as a willow leaf dao. thanks for looking. As always, advice, comments, etc. are invited. follow this link - I put pics on facebook to save bandwidth, but everyone should be able to link immediately. if not, please let me know. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97782&id=1407177569&l=99aad977c2 kevin Edited November 30, 2010 by Kevin (The Professor) please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip West Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Thats sweet Kevin We have been using Aldo's 1075 lately but in hawks for the cutting bit. Havent used it in a knife yet.. You have to take Life by the throat, then you need to chocke it until it spits up what you want!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Mayo Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 That looks good Kevin i like the looks of this one. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george ranier Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 Nice all around. I would be thrilled if I could make a hamon like that. Great job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 You just keep on taking big steps forwards! I had to wait until I got home to look, can't access Facebook from work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim P Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Very nice Kevin, looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted November 30, 2010 Author Share Posted November 30, 2010 thanks guys. If you can believe it, I think this one has already sold just as a loose blade. I wish that happened every time! kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmason Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 WOW,very nice hamon,how do you get the white cloudy line to show up???? GM Customtomahawk.com Glen Mikolajczyk Cell#414-791-0424 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted December 1, 2010 Author Share Posted December 1, 2010 I sent you a pm about hybrid polishing. Mostly, a lot of careful sanding and then several etches with dilute ferric chloride and cleaning with rotten stone. Pumice may work better, but the only pumice I have is FF, and I am afaid it is not "fine" enough. People with way more knowledge than me can weigh in here about how to bring these effects out. polishing is an art unto itself, and probably my weakest overall area as a bladesmith/cutler. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aldo Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Hey Kevin, I think it looks great Kevin. Congratulations Aldo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 thanks Aldo. I love this alloy. I have a waiting list of people buying loose blades from it, and I am making hunting knives for family gifts. I get almost the same activity quenching in 120F Parks 50. I have to curve before the quench, but its less nerve-wracking and equally striking at the end. I'll post the hunters in another thread once they are polished. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Fisher Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Nice blade Kevin, great hamon. Jerry Fisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter Sorrells Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Hey, that's cool. You're really making great progress, man! By the way, if you're going to spank yourself about the photography , here are a couple of thoughts: You might try shooting in a really dark room with only a couple of lamps for light and the camera on a tripod. That way you can shoot slower speed without everything getting blurry. I used to shoot with a hundred dollar point-and-shoot and get fairly decent results. The tripod and lighting is what makes the difference. Hamons pick up better in really dark rooms. Just throwing that out there... Check out Walter's instructional videos: Forging Japanese Style Blades Making Hamons Japanese Sword Mounting Polishing Making Japanese Sword Fittings www.waltersorrellsblades.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Farmer Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Hey good deal Kevin. I'm glad to see this. Because I am awaiting some Aldo 1075 now. I will b following your heat treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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