Japanese Tamahagane Steel

[Luecke3262]

I found this interesting video on the history of Japanese Tamahagane steel. Many people enjoy collecting and using Japanese straight razors, some of these blades are made of modern Yasuki Steel. This is a premium Japanese steel, manufactured by Hitachi Metals which is similar to Tamahagane steel, but created by modern methods. This steel has a high carbon content and is known for taking a supremely keen edge.

Enjoy!

 

[thecajunblade]

Thanks for that link. Awesome stuff.

 

[ShawnF]

Tamahagane is actually really dirty and inconsistent stuff. It takes a lot of folding and cleaning and folding and cleaning and folding and cleaning and....... you get the idea.
It also takes a good bit of knowledge and experience to be able to pick the high carbon pieces from the low carbon just from looking at the grain structure when you break it.

Knowing how it is made and how you have to pick and choose for good pieces, added to the best pieces going to the swordsmiths, equals why I haven't been super worried about finding a razor or kitchen knife made from it.

At some point I need to just to have that bit of history as there aren't many left that still smelt the stuff. I wouldn't mind getting some to try and forge my own blade from either, but that may be cost prohibited.

 

[ShawnF]

I actually watched the videos after commenting. The second one is pretty informative with the layering styles and the chemistry involved in the process. I liked that one a lot.

 

[EMG06]

I actually watched the videos after commenting. The second one is pretty informative with the layering styles and the chemistry involved in the process. I liked that one a lot.

Yeah he’s a very good science communicator. I like most of his videos

 

[ShawnF]

I did look up the price. 10 kilogram box (about 22 pounds) of grade 1 tamahagane is 87,500 yen. Works out to a bit over 600 us dollars. Before shipping.
A random grade box is just under 150 dollars before shipping.
That is going to have to wait a bit. Need to get some stuff sold and money into the shop before I spend that much to see how bad I can screw it up.

 

[Luecke3262]

I did look up the price. 10 kilogram box (about 22 pounds) of grade 1 tamahagane is 87,500 yen. Works out to a bit over 600 us dollars. Before shipping.
A random grade box is just under 150 dollars before shipping.
That is going to have to wait a bit. Need to get some stuff sold and money into the shop before I spend that much to see how bad I can screw it up.

That would be so cool if you did. Would you forge a Japanese style knife or a hunter of some sort?

 

[Luecke3262]

Kamisori forging!

 

[ShawnF]

That would be so cool if you did. Would you forge a Japanese style knife or a hunter of some sort?

It would be Japanese style. Currently in the kitchen we have a cutco block (really not fond of them but it is the wife's set), a whustof set (those were mine long before I started forging), and currently 5 knives i have forged.
Of the 5, four of them are Japanese style. Those are the most used knives in our kitchen.
I'm actually going to clean up and re etch the one "chef" style and sell it. We just never use it.
So definitely a Japanese style.
With that much material, I may also try another straight razor. I have a couple started that I need to get back to, but I wasn't happy with the tangs.
If I do end up getting some that is.