Damascus question

[msutherland]

Can anyone tell me the difference between mosaic damascus and just regular damascus? Thanks

 

[Danbo]

Mosaic, the steel has been twisted, folded, etc... a certain way to obtain the final pattern.

 

[delbert ealy]

Can anyone tell me the difference between mosaic damascus and just regular damascus? Thanks

Others may differ, to me it has a subjuctive component.
To me mosiac is a sliced pattern that is complex, and usually made with powdered steel.
Making mosaic is also a technique that often refers to a piece that is made and then sliced off the end of a bar, sometmes the most interesting patterns are on the end of the bar.
I make many complex patterns and some have referred to my damascus as mosaic, but I do not.
Del

 

[silver_pilate]

When I think mosaic, I usually think about damascus made using the aforementioned slicing/stacking/forging together to create a very specific, usually striking pattern, often using powdered steels to fill voids and create patterns. Also, I think of mosaic damascus with pictures or intricate patterns in it.

Here's a good example in this basic explanation of different damascus techniques: http://www.taylorknives.com/What_is_Damascus.html

--nathan

 

[A C Richards]

Here are a couple of examples. The first is a W pattern. It is a relatively simple form of mosaic (at least what i consider it to be). The second is a pool and eye damascus pattern. Done by layers and drilling into it to bring up the eyes. Next is a ladder patten. Finally a high density radial pattern which is also a form of mosaic.. It depends on the manipulation and how the final billet is sliced for final forging or shaping.

 

[Ed Caffrey]

The actual term "Mosaic" refers to an assembly of tiles, which is what most of us were doing when this type of damascus came on the scene. The basic concept is still the same today as it was then, but we have taken it way beyond simply stacking/welding tiles.

From a Maker's point of view, what separates the two for me are the amount of time and materials involved. With a complex "Mosaic" I can spend a full day or two just building the initial billet before it ever goes to the forge, and in some cases (such as in accordion folding a billet open) about 60%+ ends up as waste. Hence the huge cost difference between "Mosaics" and "Simple" damascus.

 

[msutherland]

Thank you all very much for taking the time to explain. Much appreciated.