[messerist]

Here is a skinner I just finished. Made out of (you guessed it) an old file. I played around with this one and soaked it in vinegear overnight. It really brought out the "hamon" line. Used whitetail antler and leather for the handle.
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt204/messerist/018.jpg

[The Highlander]

Lookin good. Speaking of that sudo hamon line, what is that process called? The past few months I've been hearing a lot about artificial patinas and chemical induces coatings/designs.

[ole farmerbuck]

Nice.....very nice. I can pm you my address for shipping. :)

[bikerdoc]

I like it. So much attention to detail puts this one right up there on my list.

I can only keep working to attain your level of skill.

[7X57chilmau]

Pretty skinner! Add me to the list of those who want to hear of your hammon-forming HT methods....

J

[Fergy35]

I like it. Very nice indeed. Oh and add me to that list too. I might try that on my first knife attempt that is just about done. It is highly polished right now, but I wonder if I could get the temper line to show.

[Black Toe Knives]

Very Nice.

[messerist]

I produced that hamon line after edge quenching the blade, then tempering and a overnight soak in vinegear. It is the actual dividing line between the hardened steel and the softer, unquenched side. I guess that the vinegar was more aggressive in the softer steel than the hardened side. It was just an experiment with different ways to patina a blade but I like it. After the overnight soak I just washed the blade with soap and water and one of those little green scrub pads(safety warning: Warn the wife first because the oxide produced during the soak will turn the scrubie black.) That's about it. Thanks for the comments.:)

[7X57chilmau]

I'm gonna have to edge-quench a blade some day.... I've always simply quenched the entire piece and then differential-tempered it instead...

J

[jbkebert]

Very nice

[Searcher1970]

Looks good, I really like how you did the handle on it.

[Brian Williams]

Thatr is a nice knife, I normally do not like skinners but that one has a style that would work for me.

[hso]

Lookin good. Speaking of that sudo hamon line, what is that process called?

That is not a pseudo hamon. It is the real deal temper line produced by messerist edge quenching the blade. Hamon is just Japanese for temper line.

Nice work.

[3pairs12]

First let me say I know nothing about making knives. I do know that skinner is very nice. Also my dads friend made me a skinner out a saw blade he used in his machine shop. Would I be able to hamon the blade? Do I need to know the process he used to temper the blade?

[7X57chilmau]

The hamon is a result of hardening tempering the blade. You'd have to re-heat treat the blade using the edge-quenching technique. Assuming your knife is a relatively simple carbon steel, you'd need to disassemble the knife to a bare blade, evenly heat the entire piece until it goes non-magnetic (transition temper, typically about cherry red), and edge quench it in a suitable fluid (I use used oil).... Then vinegar to etch, then clean and re-assemble the knife.

Alot of work to get a cool look on an existing knife...

J

[3pairs12]

Yeah it does sound like a lot of work on an existing knife. Maybe I will have to try and make one. Thanks 7X57

[7X57chilmau]

You really should! See the Amateur Knife Making thread, lots there on forgeing and some on stock removal methods.... Follow Mokwepa's progress, drool over burnt metal... :)

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=455793

J

[messerist]

I must warn you 3pairs12 that it is addicting!

[messerist]

The hamon line on the knife is a total accident. I had no idea that by soaking in vinegar the metal would etch like it did. What occurred seems to be the same thing that happens when knife makers etch their Damascus blades. I have never made Damascus so I may be wrong(chances are 100%). For those interested in the edge quench procedure I highly recommend Wayne Goddard's book The $50 Knife Shop . I follow his methods on heat treating. It is also an excellent resource for those who are just starting out and do not what to break the bank on equipment. Tim Lively puts out another great DVD on knife making and has a website that I recommendhttp://livelyknives.com

[Mokwepa]

(safety warning: Warn the wife first because the oxide produced during the soak will turn the scrubie black.)

Oh so true, I know what you meen.

Knife looks very good. The line looks great. Ive started beating out a skinner but have guests and cannot continue for a while.

The vinager story works good, hey? I was amazed at how easy the scale came off on a forged blade after trying wire brush, sand paper etc.