MilwaukeeJon Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 This shark-like design originated as a 7 layer billet (1084/15n20). Forge welded by hand and drew the original 3” x 1 1/4” billet out to a square bar that was about 7” by 3/4”. Being interested in lower layer count Damascus at the moment I didn’t do any folding, so what you see here is just the 7 layers. Twisted the heated bar with a monkey wrench in my big old post leg vise, refluxed (Iron Mountain), and squared again before grinding down the surfaces to remove scale and clean the edges. The simply forged out the blade using both hand hammers and my treadle hammer. Did a 30 minute etch in ferric chloride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyGoatLady Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 I really like the tiger stripe look of it. Very nice stuff there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Nicely executed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Dramatic, high contrast, low layer count. Nice job, well done. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Nice! I really like low count Damascus. I'm curious. Would one get a similar, low count high contrast, length-wise pattern if the twisting was left out of the equation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilwaukeeJon Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 2 hours ago, Chris C said: Nice! I really like low count Damascus. I'm curious. Would one get a similar, low count high contrast, length-wise pattern if the twisting was left out of the equation? Not really....the twist reveals the two metals. On a flat stacked billet, untwisted, with a few possible exceptions where the nickel steel comes through the outer layer you would pretty much only see a fine linear, layered pattern on the spine. Now if I were stacking 30 layers or so and flattening the billets across the layers it would be possible to orient it to show the two different metals--not sure however if the structural integrity would hold up in such a thin, striated blade. Picture shows spine pattern on the twist Damascus. Found the cool layered axe online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Interesting, thanks. I've a lot to learn about Damascus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilwaukeeJon Posted March 18, 2020 Author Share Posted March 18, 2020 19 hours ago, Chris C said: Interesting, thanks. I've a lot to learn about Damascus. So do I. Just doing simple patterns...the fancy stuff is way above my pay grade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 I don't even need to watch that video. I think I've spent a thousand hours watching his videos............and communicating back and forth in e-mails with him. His work is incredible. His obsession is with the steel. He doesn't sell finished knives..........ever! Only what you see in this video. Unique individual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilwaukeeJon Posted March 18, 2020 Author Share Posted March 18, 2020 Very cool that you've contacted him. He is the Master of the Hydraulic Press! I'm gonna try a stacked laminate axe like the one above. I figure at least 24 layers (the one shown has more but it likely was squished with a big power hammer or press so I won't have as much compression with the hand hammering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 what are you talking about? people have been forging just fine with hand hammers for hundreds of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilwaukeeJon Posted March 18, 2020 Author Share Posted March 18, 2020 Yes, but they were mighty and powerful, unlike me...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 *Thousands* The use of strikers was common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilwaukeeJon Posted March 18, 2020 Author Share Posted March 18, 2020 10 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: *Thousands* The use of strikers was common. I'm my own striker and not a very impressive one at that! Henceforward, I shall march on with my quest to be the Master of the Mini Billet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 I know what you mean, Jon. I'm going to have to be my own striker because I'll never own a power hammer. I agree with Steve and Thomas that billets have been forged for a long time without power................just takes more strikes and more patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Also why I use a lot of Bandsaw Blade and Pallet Strapping for billets---I start with 25 layers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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