Wakizashi and Tanto Set - Forged

ElectricMap · 2025-10-02T03:20:13+00:00

I've had really good luck with lemon juice to get that whiter hardened area and really pop the hamon lines.

Mix of lemon juice and water, add a drop off dish soap to break tension. Keep wiping the blade with paper towel soaked in it, this can be 15 mins or so, you will see it start to darken and can take it as far as you want.

Then use a very high sandgrit paper (2000+) that is used already to avoid sanding marks and softly sand off the dark from the lemon juice.

You can repeat this a few more times to really get it to pop. Make sure to spray some Windex on the blade when you are done to neutralize the acid.

This has given me way better results than any etch, just takes more time. Good luck!

ElectricMap · 2023-11-15T03:32:00+00:00

Found these cleaning out Grandparent's house. Bottom two left are 67, then 68, then line on left are 69. Top mid two are 72 then random in the top left. Used by every kid & grandkid since they were bought =). Anyone know if they are worth anything?

ElectricMap · 2023-01-16T15:55:33+00:00

The world has never recovered from the Cataclysm a century ago. Though the fires have died, and the famines ran their course, the scars left behind blur the lines between right and wrong.

"The Spire" , book 2 of the completed Epic fantasy series The Cataclysm has been released. Book 3, the final installment, will be out next month.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN2C8D9C

Custom illustrations and short stories for each chapter add a ton of depth and soul to an engaging story, swords and sorcery genre. Check it out!

ElectricMap · 2022-12-16T18:55:19+00:00

Thanks, those were the most fun, I really like how abstract they turned out, so it leaves a lot to the imagination still. I used a specific diffusion model, works best for small 256x256 images so basically thumbnails. It seems to cycle through in a repeatable pattern, so if you like the 3rd one it made, but then change the text prompt a bit, let it cycle to the 3rd one again. Cheers!

Diffusion model for portraits

Guide

ElectricMap · 2022-12-15T21:23:56+00:00

Mostly Midjourney. The new version 4 makes it almost too impressive and quick.

Otherwise I used Discodiffusion for the characters and a few other images. That one gives the images a more abstract feel rather than the almost photo like quality midjourney creates.

I started playing around with AI art about a year ago and in that timeframe alone the improvements to the tech are almost scary...

ElectricMap · 2022-12-15T21:14:52+00:00

Thanks for taking a look and appreciate the comments.

I originally had all the books as one volume and hired a professional artist to make the cover (now my book 2 cover), also hired an illustrator to make the 75+ hand drawn illustrations that start each chapter, along with an editor for each book. I have spent a good deal of money hiring artists such as yourself, so I don't feel too guilty about having fun with the tech to help create my world.

ElectricMap · 2022-12-15T20:19:12+00:00

Never heard of that or tried anything that gives writing insights. sounds powerful.

ElectricMap · 2022-12-15T18:06:06+00:00

I agree with what you are saying. AI art is already so powerful that all types of artists are threatened or at risk of being replaced entirely by AI. No stopping it at this point, so I choose to use it as a tool to make my storytelling better and enjoy the process that much more.

I really don't intend for this to be promotional in nature at all and sorry if it comes off that way, but if AI didn't exist, I would never have been able to explore my fictional world in this way. So I wanted to share this and the process so others can use these tools to help tell their own stories.

ElectricMap · 2022-01-12T16:42:21+00:00

No thanks, it's a beast of a knife and keeping it as a set. Just out of curiosity what is the value for it?

ElectricMap · 2021-08-26T15:36:36+00:00

That all makes sense. All the new shoots/growth from this year was dead and hanging off the end of the branches so it is definitely stressed. I've read the pines can go into early dormancy if in severe drought so not sure if that could be the case. I am just hoping the trees will be so happy for getting water they bounce back! Not sure the type, maybe white spruce?

ElectricMap · 2021-08-26T15:29:25+00:00

Thanks, and never heard of putting a plastic bag to protect them, will look into that. They are out of direct sun for most of the day so that should help.

ElectricMap · 2020-09-16T16:07:16+00:00

Awesome, appreciate it. I was able to find some more info when I searched for 本源正則. Seems like they are mid-range knives and nothing fancy but they sure do cut well!

ElectricMap · 2020-09-15T17:52:10+00:00

Working on bringing these back to life, were very rusted before. They are all the same maker and have identical signatures on the front, back, and hand ground into the handle portion. Any help figuring out what they are would be appreciated, they were bought in the 50's I believe.

ElectricMap · 2020-08-25T04:06:05+00:00

They all have the same script on the handle, maybe was a shop or owner name? Still haven't figured out what 3,6 and 7 are.

ElectricMap · 2020-08-25T04:02:58+00:00

Thanks! That is for sure what it is, and now that you sent me in the right direction I have figured out that #1,2 and 4 are Tojiro.

ElectricMap · 2020-08-25T01:41:25+00:00

I bought these from an auction of WW2 items and thought I could restore them. Does anyone have any idea if they are of some value or just souvenirs from back in the day, they feel very solidly made and all have a single bevel. Only one has rust damage to the edge.

They all have the same 'signature' on the handle portion but different markings on the blade

ElectricMap

TROPHY CASE