Jorgensen Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 This is my first try on damascus forging. It is three pices, two mild steel and one Cr,Ni,Mo alloyed steel, forgewelded together and twisted and folded once. Not much of a pattern but I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 i think thats great - and im glad that someone on here is on their first try at this stuff - i want a go - am a bit intimidated but you have inspired me - so cheers! i think thats a real achievement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Nice to see some "simple" stuff to encourage the beginners. Might have a go myself after seeing that. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorgensen Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 Her is a picture of it when re-etched in ferretic cloride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelson Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Janne I agree with the guys about the simplicity yet beautiful start at your making damascus. Frankly, I love it although never had a try. Your work is excellent in my opinion, and those cracks where the different alloys did not fuse completely, I find them very artistic and appealing, wow! Congratulations. nelson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucegodlesky Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Pretty exciting that first weld, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick L. Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Janne , That really came out nice! Pretty soon I will have the confidence to try a weld. Still working on hammer control and judging the heat range I'm working in. Did you use coal or propane for heat source ? The etch really brings out the pattern. Can't wait to try it. Dick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 I like that a lot! I have yet to forge anything (on purpose) successfully. I will keep trying. Hope you post some more work, I think it's great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorgensen Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share Posted March 23, 2009 It Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorgensen Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 A new try on some sort of damascus, mild steel and metal saw blade. etched in FeCl. I guess my style is "poorly welded damascus jewelery", at least untill i get the hang of it. I question for the moore experenced damascus makers: Is it of any good to try and fold the billet more times? Is there any chanse to close som of the earlier made poor welds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cesare Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Hello Janne . I've made damascus for years and I just finished a new knife. The more you fold your billet the more layers you will have and greater options for pattern making. Keep in mind that too many layers results in smaller design. As for repairing could shunts or poor welds I'd say check your billet before you make the finished item. Its almost impossible to re weld for example, your ring without ruining it. Grind the whole billet between each weld and make sure your'e at welding temp before you put hammer to steel. Hope this helps. Cesare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorgensen Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 OK, I guessed that the folding wouldn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cesare Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 If you reheat your work and re weld the could shunts it might work but then again you always compress the steel with each weld.You may ruin your work. I'd make a new billet and start over. Remember forge welding is difficult and takes a bit of experience. Folding your billet makes finer lines ,the fewer the folds the the larger the pattern will be. The force of your hammer blows depends on a huge list of variables such as the steel you use ,the thickness of your billet ,and so on. Use consistent force with each weld. Remember your first weld is already stuck . You just need to make the next one stick . I usually strike the steel hard when I make chain because of the thickness of the steel. Oh and another thing ,for the most part there's nothing a press or power hammer can do that a sledge hammer can't accomplish. Cesare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 compress metal ? if you mean get thinner, yes. but we don't compress the metal. also its not hard to forge weld, after you figure out the temp, and correct hammer blows, ifs fairly easy. Apprenticeships traditionally started at 7 to 10 years old, after learning fire control, one of the first tasks for the young man was to forge weld the small steel scraps into larger bars for later use by the smith. as steel was not easy to make, they saved everything they could. In normal pattern welding, when you fold, or re stack the billet, you will also be re welding the first set. Patterns up to 500 layers are very visible, 1,000 layers tend to wash out a bit. It does not need power tools, I dont have any PW or press for welding, tho a press is my next building project. FYI: the first blades to sell out for many of us at shows are the lower layer counts of 80 to 150 layers. Bolder pattern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cesare Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Steve ...yes thinning of the steel is what I meant. As far as forge welding goes I've always found it relaxing not really hard at all but I know some smiths who find it impossible. I usually make my blades with 40 to 100 layers . Cesare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Low layers are strange.... I like the look of higher layer count blades, but since people prefer the ones with less layers, (aka less work for me) I make them .. its their xall, as I want them to buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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