Damascus Pattern

colu41

colu41

Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
1,598
So I'm definitely new to damascus. I've finished my 4th blade, which I posted in the Fixed Blade FS. Anyways, I am sure that nearly everything under the sun has been attempted with damascus, but I was just curious about something, that I can't seem to find online.

Heres a quick drawing I did to show what I mean. The top pic is, from what I understand, the normal way of making a random damascus pattern. 2 of my 4 blades were done like this, and I like it, just wanted to try what the bottom pic shows. Two separate billets, square them up, then stack them side to side, and then forge flat. And then obviously keep forging and stacking to the desired layer count. Anyone who has done this have pics? Or is this going to look nearly the same as stacking it the first way? Super newb question I know but, am just very curious as to what I will get out of it.
vcrsc5.jpg
 
Don Fogg was the first to try the pattern posted at the bottom. He did it without the flat spacer. If you start with a single stack on edge and forge and fold it, it turns into "w's". Don twisted the first one and came up with a firestorm or an explosion pattern.

Mike Norris does a variation like the bottom stack for his hornets nest pattern.

Hoss
 
DevinT said:
Don Fogg was the first to try the pattern posted at the bottom. He did it without the flat spacer. If you start with a single stack on edge and forge and fold it, it turns into "w's". Don twisted the first one and came up with a firestorm or an explosion pattern.

Mike Norris does a variation like the bottom stack for his hornets nest pattern.

Hoss
Click to expand...

That center piece is just to show the two different stacks. I wouldn't be adding a flat spacer.... sounds interesting.
 
What you are showing is the basic platform for what is referred to as "Ws", which is made by making multiple layers and crushing on edge.

 
That makes sense. Thanks Karl.

Another question while were here. What about alternating the stacks? Say a stack of 4, one horizontal, one vertical, and so on? Would that just make a random mess? I think I may just try all vertical for now. See what I can get.
 
colu41 said:
That makes sense. Thanks Karl.

Another question while were here. What about alternating the stacks? Say a stack of 4, one horizontal, one vertical, and so on? Would that just make a random mess? I think I may just try all vertical for now. See what I can get.
Click to expand...
Might look good, but will likely be a random mess. I've done it, but can't remember the outcome.
 
Don Hanson III said:
Might look good, but will likely be a random mess. I've done it, but can't remember the outcome.
Click to expand...

Thanks Don. That 3rd knife looks pretty sweet. I'm currently making damascus by hand, as I have no press or power hammer, so getting a pattern to be nearly perfectly symmetrical like these will be a little more difficult. I just make sure I get good welds and go with it.
 
I'm saying good for you even for just trying . It will happen. That I know from friends who sometimes forge. A great friend gave a show and let me try some very small stuff. I was very pleased , not with my results but with him for giving me a chance to play.
Frank
 
Plus you need a minimum number of layers before you W. Don, how many did that billet have before you flipped it?
 
Frank Niro said:
I'm saying good for you even for just trying . It will happen. That I know from friends who sometimes forge. A great friend gave a show and let me try some very small stuff. I was very pleased , not with my results but with him for giving me a chance to play.
Frank
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot Frank. Its extremely satisfying once you get the billet to its final layer count, and clean it up to see the pattern. :) Here is a pic of my last. I attempted a ladder but, I'm not yet experience enough to forge in the bevel, so it washed out completely on one side. Other side just turned out crazy! lol
21nodo3.jpg

2h6hy51.jpg
 
jdm61 said:
Plus you need a minimum number of layers before you W. Don, how many did that billet have before you flipped it?
Click to expand...

I was actually just thinking about this. I was going to do 2 separate billets half the size, and put them together right away only at 16 layers. That probably would have been bad. I'll just do what I normally do until I hit 125-150 layers. Then split it and stack vertically.
 
jdm61 said:
Plus you need a minimum number of layers before you W. Don, how many did that billet have before you flipped it?
Click to expand...
Joe, if I remember right it was 20 layers before the flip. I usually do anywhere between 15 to 40 layers.
 
The couple that I have done have been like 33 an that worked well for tiling. The ladder appears like you don't have it get as crazy with the number of cuts and rewelds you do after you flip to get something you would use for mosaic. Is that correct?
Don Hanson III said:
Joe, if I remember right it was 20 layers before the flip. I usually do anywhere between 15 to 40 layers.
Click to expand...
 
DevinT said:
Don Fogg was the first to try the pattern posted at the bottom. He did it without the flat spacer. If you start with a single stack on edge and forge and fold it, it turns into "w's". Don twisted the first one and came up with a firestorm or an explosion pattern.

Mike Norris does a variation like the bottom stack for his hornets nest pattern.

Hoss
Click to expand...
This guy has forgot more about making damascus than most of us will ever know.

Hi Devin, :)
 
I made a handful of knives from W's, but they had a slow twist or were tiled. Interesting stuff. I need to get some more dies for my press.
 
Ok I got that mixed up. So I should start the "W" process after I fold it once to 32 layers, and then proceed as normal?
 
Thats awesome Willie. Thanks! Starting this thread I had no clue what the W pattern was. Now I do, and I like it. I will be working on this billet this week. Hope to have something to show by the weekend.
 
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