Damascus from different METALLS?

[pyton357ru]

Is it possible to make a blade of sufficient strength from a damascus, fromm steel(s) mixed with other metalls (especially interested in silver).
Thanks beforehand!

 

[peter nap]

Sure it's possible and fairly common. The big problem is bringing the harder steel to welding temperature without melting the softer. I recall at least one of the members here had streaks of Nickle Silver in his mix recently.

One way to do this is fold the softer metal in the center before welding. That way even if it melts it stays fairly well in place. After it is welded it gets easier on the next folds.

 

[mete]

Peter , I think it was nickel not nickel silver. Gold , silver, copper all melt at about the forging temperature of steel so you couldn't put them with steel. While you could combine those three metals it wouldn't be a very durable damascus. There are smiths that put nickel in the damascus and this shows up white when you etch the blade...... Check www.mountainhollow.net to see nickel/steel damascus.

 

[peter nap]

You might be right Mete. I thought it was German Silver but I'd have to look back to see. Same difference though, just different temps. It still needs to be folded into the weld rather than stacked.

Even with the vastly different melting temps, silver can be folded into the weld. I've done it and it behaves just like any other inclusion in the steel, just a little better looking. It melts, not evaporate. I've never tried to put very much in so I don't know what more than one or two streaks would do. I expect it would cause terrible delamination. We are not talking about structural layers though, just a contrasting streak or two.

A year or so ago I tried making Birdseye Damascus using Silvaloy and 5160. It was really ugly but it held together.

 

[J. Neilson]

Here's one of the damascus knives I've done with pure nickle.

You only use a small bit of nickle so as not to harm the blades performance but, it seems to make a big impression. Like anything else, some like it, some don't. I try to do both.

 

[Dan Gray]

My forged Damascus 480 layer
Blade and part of the guard,,
hollow ground on 3" wheel, double sharpened edge.
15N20, Nickel, 1095 and 1084
you can't by the Picture see the colors in the blade
but the nickel is very contrasting.
handle is Walrus Tusk Ivory carved by me.
Blade is 3 1/4" OAL 7"

 

[rlinger]

Sharp looking stuff !! Did I pun ?

 

[pyton357ru]

Thanks guys!!