Thread: Tamahagane work in progress

I charge what I think my work is worth, compared to other people in this business.
Enough people think my work is worth that, that I see no need to drop my prices.
After all, I started a business, and the point of a business is to be profitable.
It is easy to forget about it as a customer, but the money I get paid is not what I keep.
Costs get deducted before taxes. The money that is counted as profit is subject to social security and income tax.

I currently spend a lot on extra equipment, simply because those costs come before taxes, and I don't need my blade income for household purposes.

In the future I may want to go pro fulltime once th ehouse is paid for and the kids are out of college. So it is important that the business I build over the coming years is financially healthy.

From the sections of Tamahagane steel from the start of the thread, Bruno is doing two razors for me. One is finished and below, and the other I believe is going to be more along the lines of a Sheffield type chopper.

The scales don't photograph as stunning and deep coloured as they are, but here is the final razor from the first Nakago section of an antique Samurai sword from the start of the thread. Valery noted how wonderful the ancient steel felt on the stones, and as you can see, it retained much of its character.

Here is Bruno's, "Azumi" straight razor.....

Awesome work. I'll bet you will enjoy that shaver.

Very nice indeed mate

I made the 2nd razor from this lot of steel. The buyer requested a more classical design this time, more like a Sheffield razor. Truth be told, I am lucky I could make this one at all. Working Antique tamahagane can be challenging. In this case, the nakago was broken from the blade, and not very gently if I am any judge. As a result, one of the sides had started delaminating.

It wasn't visible before, but as soon as I started cleaning the point, I noticed a huge welding flaw. This doesn't necessarily mean it was low quality. Even the best laminated steels can start to delaminate when twisted and bent violently in a cold state. The delam was thankfully on the outside, in the middle between spine and edge. I decided to take a 4" wheel and start grinding inwards to see where the delamination would end.

A minute later I felt a violent clunk, and half the side was torn off. But thankfully it was only a thin piece. The excessive oxidation in the wound told me that the delamination had been there for a long time. The blade was still thick enough and with a bit of creative grinding, I managed to still make the blade I wanted to. It was pretty thick to begin with.

I did the heat treatment today, and since my wife was out with a friend, I snuck into the basement when the kids were sleeping to finish it. This was one of my unfinished blades, so in this state it is going out to be polished and scaled.

Just me, but I like the shape of the last one, a more classical razor shape. All in all, nice razors there.


Mike

Originally Posted by Bruno

I made the 2nd razor from this lot of steel. The buyer requested a more classical design this time, more like a Sheffield razor. Truth be told, I am lucky I could make this one at all. Working Antique tamahagane can be challenging. In this case, the nakago was broken from the blade, and not very gently if I am any judge. As a result, one of the sides had started delaminating.

It wasn't visible before, but as soon as I started cleaning the point, I noticed a huge welding flaw. This doesn't necessarily mean it was low quality. Even the best laminated steels can start to delaminate when twisted and bent violently in a cold state. The delam was thankfully on the outside, in the middle between spine and edge. I decided to take a 4" wheel and start grinding inwards to see where the delamination would end.

A minute later I felt a violent clunk, and half the side was torn off. But thankfully it was only a thin piece. The excessive oxidation in the wound told me that the delamination had been there for a long time. The blade was still thick enough and with a bit of creative grinding, I managed to still make the blade I wanted to. It was pretty thick to begin with.

I did the heat treatment today, and since my wife was out with a friend, I snuck into the basement when the kids were sleeping to finish it. This was one of my unfinished blades, so in this state it is going out to be polished and scaled.

That one looks superb - tamahagane steel, Sheffield style...looking forward to making that one a part of the rotation.

I'm thinking of a black kirinite or similar material, something different, but similar to a traditional black horn.

Any suggestions on materials?

Phrank

For me the scales would absolutely have to be cherry blossom.
Hanami- flower viewing, is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of sakura blossom.
Ive read that the tradition dates as far back as the Heian period (794-1185) and influences Japanese culture to this day. Sakura is seen as the national flower and symbolises hope and renewal, this would tie in nicely to the Tamahaganes rebirth.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Phrank

For me the scales would absolutely have to be cherry blossom.
Hanami- flower viewing, is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of sakura blossom.
Ive read that the tradition dates as far back as the Heian period (794-1185) and influences Japanese culture to this day. Sakura is seen as the national flower and symbolises hope and renewal, this would tie in nicely to the Tamahaganes rebirth.

Thanks - went for that more for the first one in post #22 a flash red Kirinite - this one I asked Bruno to make in more of a traditional Sheffield type style, so I'm trying to find a silver/black, kirinite type of material, dark and foreboding type of thing...been searching like mad!

Cherry wood has a reddy hue so I see what you mean. Hmm... I'll have a good think.