Clay/hamon question?

[Bobby Urban]

When you are using clay on a blade to try and achieve a hamon what are the steps?
1. clay
2. heat to non magnetic
3. dunk blade with clay into quench

Thanks for any tips and photos

Bob Urban

[gudspelr]

Bobby-great question, I'd really like to give it a try sometime myself.  Do you happen to know how thick the clay should be?  Does the thickness of the dried clay effect how much slower/faster the covered metal will cool in the quench?  Thanks for any help.


Jeremy

[Scott Roush]

I apply my satanite to the blade.. thin.. 1/8". If it's too thick you get more of an insulation effect..rather than just keeping the quenchant off the blade.  Apparently you get a less complex hamon if you go too thick.  But I've always applied thin.. so I don't know for sure.  Use a torch to dry it out to prevent pre-mature popping off.  If I haven't already normalized, then I do so. Grain refinement is very important for hamon development. Then I do a full blade critical quench.

I've recently learned that you get MUCH more activity on shallow hardening steels if you have ground 99% finish before quench. You CAN actually grind away the finer aspects of the hamon.

[Bobby Urban]

Thanks Scott - good advice.  

Bob Urban