D@ San Mia

[SteelSlaver]

I have been thinking of taking a piece of 3/16 D2 and placing 2 thin pieces of 1095/nickle damascus, one on each side and tig welding the edges and then forging them together. Would this work.After grinding, I would do a foil HT to 1850 and plate quench. I know the 1095 won't harden but, the D2 core should. anyone see any problems and if so solutions?

 

[NickWheeler]

Jim, I forgot to tell you that after thinking about it a little more, I think you might be better off just using mild steel and nickel for the outer layers. Just less chance of freaking out on you in the end.

I do think it will work... I hope you try it out. You might contact Burt Foster... he's conquered doing a san mai with high carbon core and 416 sides. Not the same thing... but similar in that it's a bit exotic.

 

[galadduin]

I have been thinking of taking a piece of 3/16 D2 and placing 2 thin pieces of 1095/nickle damascus, one on each side and tig welding the edges and then forging them together. Would this work.After grinding, I would do a foil HT to 1850 and plate quench. I know the 1095 won't harden but, the D2 core should. anyone see any problems and if so solutions?

1095 will have significant grain growth on the austenisation temperatures of D2 I suspect. I have no idea on carbon steels but would the grain growth damage the pattern or the overall strength of the blade?

 

[SteelSlaver]

Well, I know 1095 stressws more as it hardens, the thing is the 1095 would never harden. With a plate quench the 1095 should stay soft. I guess there is no reason not to just use mild steel either. The edge would all be D2. I am just thinking about a the beauty of damascus and the edge of D2. I think I am going to have to give it a shot and see what happens.

 

[A C Richards]

Try some mild steel and nickle damascus. If it does not work for the D2 san mai it can be used for guards or HC san mai. That is if you make a large enough billet. I have heard of trouble with 1095 and tool steels. but they were quenching in liquid medium. I don't know how air hardening would work. Heck give it a try and let us know how it goes..