lyuv Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 Hi all, I was asking and whining here about issues I had with a WI san-mai (thanks guys). Here is the conclusion: First mistake (and chalange) was having a 30mm stack, with only 4mm core. That's only 13% of the billt's thickness. The 6cm billet was strechet out to 23cm, so the core was reduced to only 0.8mm. It was a great chalange, and probably lots of luck, to keep the core centered all along the edge. Through the proccess, the core lost most of it's carbon to carbon migration. To the point it would not harden. So I was left with a nice looking KSO. Next time - thicker core and nickel liner. Will appreciate any input or comment (Sorry. I"m a lousy photographer too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JME1149 Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 I'm surprised there appears to be a damascus patterning going on in the first half of the blade with only three layers. You can definitely see the core, it's a shame it did not retain enough carbon to harden properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 That's the grain pattern of the wrought iron showing up nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 Particularly if you are using busheled wrought iron you can get a lot of patterning in it. I find it amusing that every culture I have seen that used the bloomery method of making wrought iron also came up with pattern welding... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 Thomas, What is "busheled" wrought iron? I am not familiar with the term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 It was a method of recycling wrought iron scrap, (or steel), often small pieces that could be collected in a bushel basket. Generally there was a stated limit on how much steel could be in the wrought iron scrap "accidentally". The term was also used for larger pieces of Wrought Iron being recycled by welding into a solid chunk from scrap. However the smaller pieces makes for a more interesting pattern. Colloquially: forge welding up scrap to make a larger piece to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 9 hours ago, lyuv said: 30mm stack, with only 4mm core. That's only 13% of the billt's thickness. which translates to having only 13% of the carbon remaining after normal migration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.