Damascus Failure

velegski said:
About half way from plunge is a black line that either an incomplete weld or inclusion. Further towards the tip are a couple more. Someone with more experience and better eyes might explain better.
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I agree, I believe those inclusions.
 
Much better. Try cleaning it up with some steel wool, washing again, and etching a second hour. I think you have a nice blade there. I don't see any flaws.
 
After the second etch, neutralize the etch with boiling in baking soda or TSP.
Then clean it with steel wool. Finally, take some 2000 grit paper and wrap it on a block of hardwood. Lightly work the surface to make the high spots shiny. Done!
 
Looks like a cool pattern and blade, nice job.

The only change I'd make to the above suggestions are to sand to at least 800 grit before etching. IMO, 400 still leaves too many scratches to give a clean, professional looking Damascus blade.
 
weo said:
Looks like a cool pattern and blade, nice job.

The only change I'd make to the above suggestions are to sand to at least 800 grit before etching. IMO, 400 still leaves too many scratches to give a clean, professional looking Damascus blade.
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Thank you for the advice sir!
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
After the second etch, neutralize the etch with boiling in baking soda or TSP.
Then clean it with steel wool. Finally, take some 2000 grit paper and wrap it on a block of hardwood. Lightly work the surface to make the high spots shiny. Done!
Click to expand...

So in the spirit of finding out what was different. I used steel from a different supplier on these first two. I went cheaper from another supplier on the one that I had issues with. I think the steel is the difference. I could see the pattern in the attached pics while heat treating. Any thoughts?

https://imgur.com/ny01Rqu
https://imgur.com/71HmG0a
 
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