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Chain for Damascus
- Thread starter cordovan
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2005
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- 1,236
Simple answer is yes it will be to big and chances are it has very little carbon content.
Bob
Bob
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2009
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- 21,855
This?
I believe that he is talking about roller chain, which is available in many sizes and is made up of heat treatable steel.
Try a test piece.
Heat a bit above red colour, quench in oil, hit it with a hammer and see if it snaps like glass.
But yes by hand is going to be miserable - scrounge and save for the day when you have a press or hammer
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The issue you're going to have is one of available forging power. Even small chain can be a real challenge when done by hand, even by an experienced 'smith. the reason for this is the voids in the chain. You really need to get a lot of reduction done pretty quickly to avoid pockets of scale and flux slag that will cause inclusions and failed welds in your billet.
If you're looking to get started in pattern welding, get some 1" wide 1080 or 1084 and some 1" wide 15n20. Make a small stack and start there. Setting an simple faggot weld is the easiest way to start. Save the more challenging welding for after you've gotten the feel of welding in general.
There's quite a bit of info on how I do my pattern welding at the website linked in my signature. Feel free to drop me a line with any questions, I'll do my best to answer.
-d
If you're looking to get started in pattern welding, get some 1" wide 1080 or 1084 and some 1" wide 15n20. Make a small stack and start there. Setting an simple faggot weld is the easiest way to start. Save the more challenging welding for after you've gotten the feel of welding in general.
There's quite a bit of info on how I do my pattern welding at the website linked in my signature. Feel free to drop me a line with any questions, I'll do my best to answer.
-d
This?
Yep..... that's it exactly. Here at work it is used to run large machinery. The electric motors on these sprocket drives run 600 horsepower and up.
I may start building a small stash...... short lengths mostly........you know how it goes..... for the day I "get around to" investing in a power hammer or press.Seems like I've had a lot of projects I've started that way!
I'll quench a piece as suggested to make sure I'm not wasting my time.
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- Joined
- Feb 28, 2006
- Messages
- 3,494
It's not damascus, but you might want to try using some for an anvil hold down such as seen at http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/3041-anvil-hold-down-tools/page__view__findpost__p__23162. I'm not referring to the chain securing the anvil around its waist. The hold down is the chain draped over the table of the anvil. This one uses a weight at its end (the other is usually bolted to the other side of the stump) to pull the chain tight against whatever it is being used to hold down so it can be free up the smith's hand to work with chisels and such. Sometimes they're made with a stirrup so the smith can push down with his foot to hold down the hot metal with the chain. The neat thing about using a link chain of this type for a hold down is it works well by forming itself around various shape to be held down.
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- Joined
- Feb 28, 2006
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- 3,494
Edited previous post for clarity (I hope).
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2009
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I agree that it would be hard to do by hand. I have used chain before and even with a press it can be challenging to get the reduction. As far as not knowing what steel it is, what I have done is use 1084 for a core with an exposed (no chain) edge. That way you still get the look of the chain but have the 1084 for the edge of the knife.
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- Jan 2, 2010
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It's not damascus, but you might want to try using some for an anvil hold down such as seen at http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/3041-anvil-hold-down-tools/page__view__findpost__p__23162. I'm not referring to the chain securing the anvil around its waist. The hold down is the chain draped over the table of the anvil. This one uses a weight at its end (the other is usually bolted to the other side of the stump) to pull the chain tight against whatever it is being used to hold down so it can be free up the smith's hand to work with chisels and such. Sometimes they're made with a stirrup so the smith can push down with his foot to hold down the hot metal with the chain. The neat thing about using a link chain of this type for a hold down is it works well by forming itself around various shape to be held down.
That my friend is a great idea!
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2009
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- 409
i don't know if it qualifies as damascus, but I do know that the end result is very nice to the eye. I've seen several examples where people have used old bicycle chain or chainsaw blades in the manor you want.
Not my work. Just borrowed the pics.
Not my work. Just borrowed the pics.