How to make denim macarda.

If you want something that looks different and is both durable and beautiful try and make a batch of denim macarda!



Nice looking right?



Another...



and another.



Raw materials and finished product.



Cross section.

Here is the forum link read this then the instructions.

Here is the instructions on how to make it (both easy and cheap!)


Where and what to buy!

denim for cheap. It's about $14 for the 2 yards. CHEAP!
In case the site changes its at Joann's

Fiberglass resin - Just $40 a gallon. Enough to make lots of macarda.
In case the site changes its at myproship.com

Then all you need is to make an easy press; in the example they use steel plates but cutting off a section of 2x4 laying around would work as well.
A few "C" clamps, some elbow grease and some experimentation and you can have some nice new handle material.

How to get a nice hammon.

How to get a nice hammon

From what I can tell getting a good hammon takes the right material, the right coating of clay, the right heat treat, and the right polishing (combined with a little bit of luck).

A few pictures that really show off hammons well;





Collaboration between Jimmy Fikes and Don Fogg























Another collaboration between Jimmy Fikes and Don Fogg






Sole authorship David Schott





Another one sole authorship David Schott







The links to some of the forum posts and websites dealing with hammons;

http://www.engnath.com/public/claytemp.htm
http://home.comcast.net/%7Ejeshern/yakiire.htm

Forum links (note: you must be registered to see all the pictures here)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=449735
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=446640
http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29026
Very good tip here!
http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20623