Damascus Steel.

S

safarisound

Joined
Feb 27, 2015
Messages
2
Greetings Blade Forum!

This is my first post on any Blade forum, and I 'm hoping that some of you Damascus Steel aficionado's can help me out a little bit here. I'm quite new to learning about both buying it and making it, and hoping you all can give me some pointers.

Here are the questions I'm hoping you can help me answer.

1. Does anybody know of a "definitive" book or video series on pattern Damascus Steel creation. I.e. A book that will help to teach me how to make everything from ladder welds, to raindrop welds- ect.

2. Does anybody know of a go to book or video series on color treating Damascus Steel? I want to learn how to properly apply Gun-Kote, and Color Lacquers.

3. When purchasing Damascus steel billets, are there any rules of thumb that I should be following, or looking out for that will help indicate quality steel, and poor quality steel?

4. Are there any good books you all would recommend about the advantages of using what combinations of steel together when making damascus?

Thats all for now. I greatly look forward to hearing from you amazing experts out there.

THank You !

Arrian Wheeler
 
This question would be better asked "Knifemakers Discussion"....."Shop Talk"

Lots of the info you seek is there, at your finger tips.
 
So, for books, The Pattern-welded Blade: Artistry in Iron, no doubt. The best book on damascus. However, damascus is a very advanced project and something that is beyond a pain to do by hand "trust me" you need a high quality forge and a lot of skill recognizing welds. As for buying billets for stock removal, the best source in terms of quality and price I know of is Alabama damascus. But you will want to work in simple steel first. If you mess up a 10 dollar peice of O1 you will be annoyed, fuck up 200 dollars of damascus and tools are bound to fly. Start slow, and welcome to the forum.
 
Google Ed Caffrey http://caffreyknives.net/. He has a series of videos that explain how to pattern damascus. From simple to complex.

Now if you are just starting out get some experience under your belt forging and then some simple forge welding. Ten give the Damascus a shot.

Good luck
 
I was told 3 things by 3 different people when I started forging and I do find them all to be true.

1- It isn't rocket science. Don't make it tougher than it really is.

2- About 3 days and a good chimpanzee and he could do it.

3- It's not a precious mineral don't be afraid to screw it up and throw it away you can make more .

I believe if ya keep these things in mind and want to do bad enough you will have a blast. Don't hold back just jump in about neck deep.

Good luck
Cliff
 
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Cliff Parker said:
I was told 3 things by 3 different people when I started forging and I do find them all to be true.

1- It isn't rocket science. Don't make it tougher than it really is.

2- About 3 days and a good chimpanzee and he could do it.

3- It's not a precious mineral don't be afraid to screw it up and throw it away you can make more .

I believe if ya keep these things in mind and want to do bad enough you will have a blast. Don't hold back just jump in about neck deep.

Good luck
Cliff
Click to expand...

What Cliff said... Plus get a power hammer, it's fun! :cool:
 
Oh ya the power hammer. "This is a public service announcement." If you have a small power hammer DO NOT go use someone else's big hammer. I did and all the way back to florida was spent figuring out how I was gonna get a big hammer. It cost me $8300.00 to scratch that itch. Thanks Don.

Cliff
 
Cliff Parker said:
Oh ya the power hammer. "This is a public service announcement." If you have a small power hammer DO NOT go use someone else's big hammer. I did and all the way back to florida was spent figuring out how I was gonna get a big hammer. It cost me $8300.00 to scratch that itch. Thanks Don.

Cliff
Click to expand...

That week almost 15 years ago was a good time. Lot of fun ol' buddy! Sorry ya had to go home and buy a bigger hammer. But it was likely the best machine ya ever bought, eh? :cool:
 
Jason Fry said:
I'm just impressed that Cliff forges in shorts and sandles with socks :)
Click to expand...

Jason,

Really not as bad as it appears and if ya lived down here you'd probably be doing the same before ya knew it. But I got safety glasses.

Don, your right it was the best thing I've bought and I really think it paid for itself within a year. Fun it was for sure.

Cliff
 
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