Question on hamon line

[DANA HOLMAN]

Ok guys, I guess I'm missing something about this process, can someone explain it in detail, after I harden and temper there is a nice line, but it seams when I lightly sand it it seams to just go away.  I know I've asked these questions before but I'm still scratching my head
Thanks for any help
Dana

[Cody D Works]

did you etch it?

[DANA HOLMAN]

Cody, yes after it's tempered I take it to final finsh, in this case 600 grit, then clean it. This time I etched it for 1 hr. I wanted to make sure it was etched good, when it came out it had a good line, but then it's gone
Dana

[sticshooter]

Never did it but maybe etch after its all done and then hand rub with flitz?<><

[DANA HOLMAN]

After etching it has a dull finsh, if it will take off I'll get some. I've been using mothers mag polish, it works good the blade to polish it out. Not sure if it will take dull finsh off.
Thanks for the input.
Dana

[sticshooter]

Like I said never did it. But when i acid dip thats what i use. but i never buff it just hand rub and then wipe with cloth.<><

[Lin Rhea]

Dana,
 A lot depends on the steel and the oil in which it was quenched. Just etch it for maybe a minute, no longer. Then polish by hand being gentle. Repeat a few times till you get the look you want.

If the steel and speed of the oil is not working together, your wasting your time. Some guys spend days woring on one blade so be ready for some extra time if that is what you want. Lin

[Ragnarok Forge]

I have found that the hamon in polished steel normally doesn't start to show up until you hit 800 grit.  1000 or 1200 grit will show a lot more hamon. Most of the people I have chatted with who try for fancy hamon polish to 1500 to 2000 grit.  This takes a lot of time.  The alternative is to etch the blade to show the hamon.  Once you etch the blade buffing or polishing diminishes the effect your trying for.

[DANA HOLMAN]

Thanks guys, I guess I'll step back and punt

[Scott Roush]

I can see mine at 220 no problem.  But I've recently figured out that I've been doing too much grinding after the quench to get the most radical patterns.  Get the knife as close to finish as possible before the quench, make sure you do your grain refinement well, don't over-heat before the quench, keep the clay THIN... thick clay leads to boring patterns.. another thing I'm learning.

[DANA HOLMAN]

Thanks Scott