5160 powder for canister Damascus?

G

GrenfellsBrutalForge

Joined
May 23, 2016
Messages
115
Hello everyone,
I've been saving all my filings from the 5160 knives I made. I have a lot of it now. I also have a pile of 1/2" ball bearings. I'm wondering if I can combine these 2 to make some canister Damascus. This will be done with hammer and anvil. What do you guys think? Will the 2 weld up or will I be wasting my time, energy and propane?
 
I know that there are folks who use saw filings, mill/drill curlicues, and all sorts of powdery shop scrap as part of canister damascus. My thoughts are that buying several pounds of even size, clean and reliable powder from Kelly Cruples or another powder supplier is a far better idea. All sorts of problems could arise with the shop scrap.
Another reason for the commercial powder is you can choose the alloy to get certain desired contrasts or other results.

As for the larger accent metal, ball bearings, used drill bits, high carbon lock washers, and all sorts of small hardenable steel things can be used with the powder.

When you consider the cost in propane and time to make a billet, the cost of the powder is only a small percentage of the actual cost. The cost of a bad billet due to using scrap filings would be 100%
 
Thanks for that input Stacy. It's actually these materials that I want to use, not the point of just making canister Damascus. I've had the bearings for almost 10 years now, and carefully collected the 5160 filings with the hopes of combining the 2 into a billet.
What I'm wondering is will these two materials weld up well in a canister? Does anyone have any tips or tricks that would improve my chances of success?
I haven't made canister before but have had success making regular Damascus. Any info is appreciated, even if the answer is that it won't work
 
You are never going to get those fill-ins "clean". Plus, 5160 is arguably not an ideal material for damascus.
 
I had read 5160 wasn't a great steel for welding, I had collected quite a bit of it by then. Oh well at least it didn't cost me anything. What type of steel powder is good to use for nice contrast with ball bearings?
 
1084 powder would be good. Other choices are 4600KC and 4800KC ( from Kelly Cruples).
 
Round bearings are tricky to weld even inside a can. Its one of the materials I've had problems with over many years. I think this is even more true if the billet is welded using a hammer and anvil. I think its the round shape of the balls thats the issue. The only way I've been able to pull it off is using squaring dies where all four sides of the can are pressed at once.
Motor cycle primary chain is a good material to work with. Take the links apart for best welding.

Fred
 
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