The Hamon Process

The Hamon Process A Bladesmith’s Practical Guide to W2, Clay, Heat Treatment & Hamon Activity By Gregory K Cimms — ABS Journeyman Smith.

Creating a beautiful hamon is one thing. Understanding how to consistently produce, preserve, and reveal its full potential is another. In The Hamon Process, ABS Journeyman Smith Gregory K Cimms shares the techniques, experiences, and lessons learned through years of working with W2 steel and developing his approach to Japanese-inspired hamon. This is not a book of theories or recycled information. It’s a practical, shop-tested guide that takes you through the entire process, from steel preparation and clay application to heat treatment, quenching, grinding, etching, and final polishing. Inside, you’ll learn: • How to prepare and normalize W2 steel for hamon development. • Blade geometry and surface preparation before heat treatment. • Techniques for applying Satanite clay to create distinctive hamon patterns, including ashi, yo, and boshi. • Temperature control, austenitizing, and quenching techniques. • How to preserve delicate hamon activity during post-heat-treatment grinding. • Step-by-step hand sanding, etching, and hybrid polishing techniques to reveal contrast, depth, and fine detail. • Traditional Japanese hamon terminology and illustrated examples. Throughout the book, Gregory explains not only what he does, but why he does it, including the mistakes, adjustments, and small details that can make the difference between an ordinary hamon and something extraordinary. Whether you’re an experienced bladesmith looking to refine your results or a developing knife maker ready to take your hamon work to the next level, this guide offers practical knowledge you can bring directly into your shop. The goal isn’t simply to create a hamon. It’s to bring out everything the steel has to offer.

Format: Digital PDF download Author: Gregory K Cimms, ABS Journeyman Smith For educational use. All rights reserved