Salem Straub 168 Posted December 28, 2015 Boy, Stuart sure puts a nice transparent polish on his blades. Hard to tell from a photo, but it looks quite similar to the quality of a traditional Japanese job!Of course, the hamon is great on that, and to have it so consistently nice and well-placed over that great length is nothing to sneeze at. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Ysselstein 49 Posted December 28, 2015 Stuart, A beautiful hamon indeed, thanks for sharing it here. Jan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 5, 2016 Aldo's W2 quenched in Parks 50, and then etched and polished. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Salem Straub 168 Posted January 9, 2016 That's really nice, Wes! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C.Anderson 13 Posted January 9, 2016 Aldo's W2 quenched in Parks 50, and then etched and polished. 4.jpg Gorgeous my friend!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 9, 2016 Thanks guys! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C.Anderson 13 Posted January 9, 2016 Thanks guys! Absolutely! Out of curiosity...did you harden this one in a forge or oven? Either way you've gotta love W2 lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 9, 2016 Absolutely! Out of curiosity...did you harden this one in a forge or oven? Either way you've gotta love W2 lol. In my forge (gas). I use a baffle so the heat is more even. And yes, I love W2. I know that you use it almost exclusively if I am not mistaken... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joshua States 1,007 Posted January 10, 2016 That's a beauty Wes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 10, 2016 That's a beauty Wes. Thanks Joshua, I am glad you like it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBranson 2 Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) Aldo's W2 quenched in Parks 50, and then etched and polished. 4.jpg There's a fluidity that's unusual in a Parks50 quench. Very fetching. And to those who commented on my hamon... thanks very much for the comments Edited January 11, 2016 by SBranson Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 11, 2016 There's a fluidity that's unusual in a Parks50 quench. Very fetching. And to those who commented on my hamon... thanks very much for the comments I have only ever Parks quench W2. Does it not regularly produce fluidity? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBranson 2 Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Maybe fluidity is the wrong word but I find Parks50 quenches tend to have cloudy artifacts whereas yours looks to have some of that playfulness of flames particularly the spot in the upper left corner of the photo. I keep trying to chase that effect but haven't had as much luck with parks50 as with water. Anyway, nice work! Edited January 12, 2016 by SBranson Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 13, 2016 Maybe fluidity is the wrong word but I find Parks50 quenches tend to have cloudy artifacts whereas yours looks to have some of that playfulness of flames particularly the spot in the upper left corner of the photo. I keep trying to chase that effect but haven't had as much luck with parks50 as with water. Anyway, nice work! Got it. I wish that I could tell you what I did to get it, but it seriously wasn't planned. I can tell you that the Parks was room temp (~65 or 70 F or so) and that the knife was Austenized at about 1475F. I have a picture of the clay(wet) application if you are interested in that. Thanks Stuart! That means a lot coming from you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBranson 2 Posted January 13, 2016 Sure, I'd like to see that and if you don't mind can you tell me the spine thickness of that blade? Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C.Anderson 13 Posted January 14, 2016 Sure, I'd like to see that and if you don't mind can you tell me the spine thickness of that blade? Thanks! Count me in on this information as well Wes! You know I'm always looking for more information on w2 and hamon . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) My pleasure gentlemen. Here you go. The blade is 3/16th inch (4.76mm) at its thickest at the ricasso, and distally tapers all the way down to the tip. The clay was maybe a taste more than 1/16th inch thick. I typically don't apply it very thick It was applied a bit randomly, but I tried to make sure some of the ashi were disconnected from the spine clay. This was done on both sides. Clay is just watered down Rutlands fire cement; nothing special. Not sure if any of that is a help. Edited January 14, 2016 by Wes Detrick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Austin_Lyles 118 Posted January 14, 2016 Very helpful Wes. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBranson 2 Posted January 14, 2016 Interesting, Thanks! I have to ask how that little nib down at the spanish notch survived. I would think that would warp or worse. If it did survive fine that's very interesting and opens some doors for me creatively. Thanks again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 14, 2016 Very helpful Wes. Thanks! My pleasure Austin! It good to return some help to the forum instead of being a constant mooch. Interesting, Thanks! I have to ask how that little nib down at the spanish notch survived. I would think that would warp or worse. If it did survive fine that's very interesting and opens some doors for me creatively. Thanks again. Certainly Stuart, glad that it maybe helpful. Yep, the Spanish notch survived, although between you and me, I was paranoid that i was going to snap the thing off or it was going to warp badly. There was no warpage either and I didn't break it, thankfully. Here is the thread for the finished knife, if you want to see the notch. There is a close up of it in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tucker Parris 2 Posted January 30, 2016 My first bowie knife and my first successful hamon... she's 1095 and about 6.5inch blade length and 11" over all length. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wes Detrick 480 Posted January 31, 2016 Welcome to the forum Tucker! That's a good first bowie and hamon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tucker Parris 2 Posted February 1, 2016 Thanks Wes. this seems like a great community, lots of knowledge around thats for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C.Anderson 13 Posted February 1, 2016 Thanks Wes. this seems like a great community, lots of knowledge around thats for sure. Absolutely! This community is easily the best general knife and sword smithing community i have been able to find in almost ten years. The respect, support, and knowledge here is unparalleled . Welcome aboard, and congratulations on the first hamon! Its addictive to say the least lol, in all of my time doing this I've never made a knife without one . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joshua States 1,007 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Thanks Wes. this seems like a great community, lots of knowledge around thats for sure. All the know-how, none of the attitude. This forum rocks my world. Nice knife Tucker. what's the wood? Edited February 2, 2016 by Joshua States Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
