Damascus raw materials

[John L]

Gotta forge...gotta hammer..now I just need the materials for my first billet of damascus...I think. Where do most of you obtain the 10xx series and nickel" What thicknesses do you think are suitable for my first attempts? Many thanks. Oh yeah...flux also.

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

Flux is easy, 20 mule team borax. Others will chime in about steels.

 

[R.Coon-Knives]

I don't think I'd start right out with 200 nickel. You probably know that it works better if done in an oxygen free atmosphere. Maybe start with 15N20 and 1080 or 1084. Good contrast. Easy to weld. Not too expensive if something goes wrong. One inch wide and four to six inches long if you are doing it by hand. Get your 1080 or 1084 in a thickness that is at least three times that of your 15N20 (O1 would work here also). After a lot of layers the shiney metal seems to wash out the darker material. This might be because it is a bit more "red hard" than the 10xx and doesn't move as well or maybe it is just a visual effect.

Try to find some anhydrous borax. It tends to stay on the billet better than just plain borax. DO NOT get Boraxo. That is soap. Get Borax.

If you are doing it by hand......get help.

Good luck

 

[delbert ealy]

John,
I've got a list of sources and recommendations. I can also give you some tips for starting out if you like. Email me your phone # and i'll give you a call.
Del
www.ealyknives.com

 

[Mike Ferrara]

I've been getting my steel from Admiral but I'm sure there are others. I'm no expert but on the advice of Jim Hrisoulas in his book "The Pattern Welded Blade" I've been mixing some alommoniac with my borax. It's sold as tinning block at some craft supply places and my wife orders it for me someplace online. You used to see it in hardware stores but I haven't found it there. I've also used plain borax (mostly on mild steel) and commercial welding componds (from farrier and blacksmith supply places) and it's all seemed to work ok.

And doing it by hand can be a pain (literally). I wonder if I could talk my wife into a POWER HAMMER. I read of guys drawing out billets in a couple of heats and it makes me sick.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

1080/84 or O-1 for the black,15N20 or L-6 for the stripe.You can mix any or all of these in one billet.Pure nickel is a bit of a trick to start with.