View Single Post
  #7  
Old 03-08-2022, 01:07 PM
Chris Railey Chris Railey is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Waynesboro, Georgia
Posts: 60
Keep in mind this is academic knowledge at this point I have not made stainless San-Mai yet. But I have made a lot of regular San-Mai. Its like when you make San-Mai with mild steel and there is a darker line just above the actual demarcation line between HC and mild steel. It looks kind of like a hamon. My understanding is, that is carbon migrating from the HC steel to the Mild. It looks neat to me and gives the whole thing more appeal. The 410/416 stainless will show that migration better than a 300 series, or so I have read.

My only guess in your description above is maybe with that thin a cladding there was migration causing your thin cladding to etch darker? I know some stainless steels will resist etching more than others, staying brighter in the etch but I do not know enough about the alloys yet to give an opinion. That is really at the heart of why I want to move to stainless San-Mai because I cannot get the contrast I want with mild steel.
Reply With Quote