Damascus recommendation

galadduin

galadduin

Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Messages
1,363
Hi all,

Finally I'm back... I have converted my IT business as home office job, during last month I tried to furnish my shop, purchased a ceramic kiln with electronic control, made a KMG type belt grinder and made a welding propane furnace.

I made 5 knives including a tanto (waiting its clay to be dried). Also I made my first pattern weld (24 layer ladder pattern) with L6 and 1060 (also I guess the first damascus made in Turkey :cool:). Its been a tiring and exciting month so far and I'm very pleased with the progress.

Today I've prepared a damascus billet to be welded, mixed everything I have. 7 layers:
2 outer layers 1060
two W2
two L6
and 5160 core

I'm a bit nervous with this composition. Do you think it will work out? Will these steels' welding heats intersect at a certain temp. if so what's the range? Have anyone tried a similar composition? Any recommendations?
 
With some skill and luck, you can weld up a wide variety of different steels. I would suggest you use the higher carbon W2 for the core, instead of the 5160. All those steels will weld up together at normal welding heat.
Stacy
 
You have had a very productive month.
Post us some pics of your new grinder. Always interested in seeing what is being built in other shops.

What are you using for flux on your pattern welded billets?

Are you doing the billets on an anvil, press or power hammer?

I would put the billet together so as to give the most contrast. Use the 1060 outside the W2 core, then the L6 followed with 5160 on the outside. You will get the most contrast between layers with this stacking.

Fred
 
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Thanks for the advice. I will do as you say; W2 to the core. I didnt care about the core as I'll go for a twist.

I'm using anh.borax as flux and I do my forge welding by hammering. Unfortunatelly I dont have any power hammers or presses. I always wanted to add a hydrolic press to my shop but it is waaay above my budget. May be I'll sell some knives to fund a power tool in future...

I'll post some pics of my shop, grinder and forges later. But I'm now in the mood of pounding some hot steel. I'll share the progress photos tomorrow I guess.
Again thanks for the tip. I'm too happy that I'm back to the forums...
 
I am not an expert but, usually welding isn't the problem, (unless you add something like stainless) but, you want to make sure your steels harden and temper at close to the same temperature. You should be ok, as all of these are around 1500 to harden. If you go to 1525 to get the 5160 hot enough you should still be OK with the other 2. I would use a real fast oil like parks to make sure the W2 gets hard. I love damascus
 
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