best steel types for damascus

W

weaselrunner

Joined
Oct 12, 2005
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6
for somebody trying for the first time. Is there some combo's that are easier to work with and others to avoid??????:confused:
 
1070 and 15N20. They are both at the eutectic.
Jim Batson used to like three 1/4" bars of O-1 ands two bars of 1030. He said it welded perfect every time.Six folds gets you 320 layers.
Stacy
 
Stacy...i still have some leftover Admiral 1075/80 that I plan to use for learning forge welding. Is it good enough stuff to actually use for real or shoud I worry about the quality. I would prefer to save my W2 and 1084 mostly for straight steel blades and the big 1084 that I got from Aldo is around .89% carbon, so I worry about it acting more like 1095 when welding.
 
I have used Aldo's 1084 and 15n20 from Kelly Cupples a lot with great results. It sticks like glue. Of course, now that Aldo is out of the 1084 I need to move on to 1070 or something...I just wish I could find something else readily available that has the Mn that Aldo's steel has.

-d
 
There are few win/win situations in this world but 15n20 and 10XX steels is an exception. It welds like a dream for any beginner, forges very nicely, anneals quite easily, grinds like butter, easily hardens to a 65HRC (provided you quench it properly) has a beautiful contrast in the etch, and will cut like crazy. Very seldom do you get that level of performace with that little effort. I think it should be obvious at this point that I highly recommend this mix.
 
Hello Gentleman,

About the 1084. It seems that there were no scheduled heats of 1084 up until a week or 2 ago. I haven't gotten a date but endeavor to please and will keep you informed.

Deker, I have 1/4 x 1 1084!! Let me know!(And that goes for the rest of you!)

Aldo

PS- Kevin, you're the best!
PSS- The 1095 welds real nice to.:)
 
jdm61,
Order some 15N20 and layer it up with that 1075/80. It will make great damascus. I like to use 1/8" 1070 (or any near alloy, like your 1075/80) and .065 15N20.

For those worried about carbon loss, use 1095/15N20

Stacy
 
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