Damascus - interesting way to work it

milesofalaska

milesofalaska

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 4, 2010
Messages
514
I have been playing with a new way to work Damascus steel . Thought I’d show some ideas. Inspire someone else, or someone out there has moved in this direction and we can bounce some ideas around. Or just comment.


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Is the artwork - carved, etched, or mosaic forged? This brings back memories of the work Shaw- Liebowitz used to do.
I like it! Tell us more! :cool::thumbup:
 
I smile. I did wonder how many know, or can figure out, how this art is done. I’ll reply personally to individuals who ask. If enough wonder I may explain. I hesitate ‘because.’

Nothing I do is conventional. Or by the book. Or approved. Or safe, or arrives with instructions. It is common to get one sentence out and have a hush in the room, and I lost everyone or created endless controversy.

I sell dreams. I deal in magic – romance. Once we understand- it is no longer magic – nor exciting. Often ‘magic’ means ‘trick’ and reality sets in. I’m curious how people think it’s done.
 
Thanks for the PM! I like the brass guard as well - reminiscent of a gold nugget! :thumbup:
 
I would suspect a heavy acid etch using a paraffin based stop etch and very aggressive acid, a technique I saw in one of my old knife making books? Thanks for sharing
 
milesofalaska said:
I smile. I did wonder how many know, or can figure out, how this art is done. I’ll reply personally to individuals who ask. If enough wonder I may explain. I hesitate ‘because.’

Nothing I do is conventional. Or by the book. Or approved. Or safe, or arrives with instructions. It is common to get one sentence out and have a hush in the room, and I lost everyone or created endless controversy.

I sell dreams. I deal in magic – romance. Once we understand- it is no longer magic – nor exciting. Often ‘magic’ means ‘trick’ and reality sets in. I’m curious how people think it’s done.
Click to expand...

I really like the look of it. I won't venture a guess as to how it's done though...

I, like you, value the "mysterious"!:thumbup::D

(plus... I don't have a clue how you did it;))
 
Anyone who questions your methods is a fool, your end result is a knife. It does not matter how it got to be, just as long as people like it and are happy with it. I first notice the beauty of your knives, and the functionality second. I admire your skill and ingenuity, so please post up how you did this, I am curious as hell. Sure, some might tell you that you did this or that wrong, but fuck them. Constantly astounded and amazed, Damian.
 
Experimenting is always good. How else can we forge forward in life? I try unconventional methods all the time. People want to know how I did this or that
and I usually tell them to just look at it and try their best to duplicate the end result. It is truly amazing, the ideas that come from that kind of thinking.
 
Miles reply- Thanks for comments and input. I personally emailed some who asked. Here is waht I say about how I did this....

Acid etched. But a couple of tricks and things to know. I’m still experimenting. This is only the 2nd time I have worked with Damascus steel. So. After blade is done and heat treated and polished I do a light acid just to see what the Damascus pattern is, to help me with a design that matches. I then coat the blade with resist. I etch my freehand design and acid etch it. I remove the resist.

Now only the hand done design is etched not the damas pattern. I examine how I want the damas pattern to show up. I cover the drawing I did with resist and any other part of the blade I do not want damas pattern on. I then do the acid bath for the damas pattern. I remove the resist and do a polish. Etching is pretty deep and I so far have been etching the damas deeper then I see done by others. Um---- because the first time I accidentally left a blade in the acid overnight (grin) and it came out just so awesome!!! And I want the knife to be used, and do not want the designs to go away with time use re polishing etc.

Thus my designs are deep and almost contoured and sculpted. It is good- if it looks like it was all forged there. But no it is not that involved and complicated. But looking more complicated then it is, is a good thing! Much better than time consuming expensive, but looks easy and offers nothing exciting. That’s the simple version. Actually I forgot to mention I have my own way to acid etch, not by the book, that offers much more control then the accepted way, and I make my own acid. Probably illegal to sell ship or even make. But anyhow. Hmmm. (?) Does that answer the question?
 
Yes, thanks Miles. It is an interesting method.
It is funny, humans are always learning something new and great from a mistake they made.
Just look at the invention of Penicillin.
Thanks again!
 
Miles is not only artistic, but, he is also poetic. Miles is a cool Cat...period!
 
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