canada goose Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I dont know if it should even be called damascus but has anyone experimented with trying to forge old chain saw chain into a many layered steel billet for blade or ornamental use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Haven't seen chain saw blade, but several guys on here have used motorcycle chain. Should work the same. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlpierson Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Chain saw damascus has definitely been done for blades. Both as the sole material and as the outside layers of a san mai. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BM454 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I just so happen to have an old saw chain and been wanting to make a blade from it. If it turns out ok I'll post pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I have made it out of timing chain that worked real well the thing is you need a lot tack weld it together and weld in the forge.I have some old ones in a bucket project 3955 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I have made a few, and have a small pile of used chains for the next batch I do. Like any chain, remember to tap lightly til they close up, or you get a mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Another point is that there are several types of steel for harder or softer chainsaw chains. Probably an acid treatment of the blade may result in a sort of damascus steel pattern, depending on the chains used, but that, is something we'll have to check, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonjic Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Ive done a bit, not an easy weld but satisfying! It does etch up nicely. Sadly no photos, it was a while ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciladog Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I've been making blades from chainsaw chain for little over a year. I know a guy that runs a few crews in tree cutting business and he gives me all the used chains and bars. You can control the pattern by the way you stack the chain and the way you fold the billet but it really is trial and error. Here are a few examples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I have made two. I have pics of the first one, although I think that the second one came out better. I don't know if it was the different brand of chain or if it was in the etching. They were both done similar, but i think that I might have over etched the first one. I think that they were about 8" or 9" long made from one 20" chain. This one is an "Oregon" brand. The one that turned out better was a "Stihl" I think that the the Stihl is a better quality chain then the Oregon brand. I'm not really sure though. I etched it in Ferric Chloride (about 25%) for about an hour. P.S. This was my first knife I made as an adult. I had tried to make some when I was a about 14. That was quite a while ago!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Nice looking knife, Cody. Thanks for sharing. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s meyer Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I've made a few and what i did to make welding easier was to attach the chain onto both sides of a old file with baling wire. Then you can hold onto everything easier. it takes more than one chain to make a average sized blade. good luck Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamj Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I made a bowie style with a blade about 6 or 7 inches out of a single chain sorry no pic but it turned out with a good pattern haven't finished yet to see about edge holding ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pip Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 i have it works ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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