Damascus Steel?

DeadboxHero

DeadboxHero

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
5,537
Where do you guys like to buy Damascus bar stock?
I'm shopping around but I thought I'd ask the experts.
The Damasteel stuff is breathtaking but Jesus that's some serious coin.
Haha but I don't wanna buy "pakmascus"

Also where and what's a good etch? The local radio shack is out of business haha

Thanks guys

Shawn
 
You can buy ferric chloride on Amazon, that's where I get mine and what I use to etch everything. I water it down about 4:1.
 
Nice gottcha, is there different acids for stainless? Also will ferric chloride do a deep etch for a 3d pattern? Or do ya need stronger stuff?

Thanks man
 
Ferric is what is primarily used for damascus from what I've seen as well as a lot of hamon. It will etch AEB-L but not 4xx stainless or 3xx stainless(it will passivate them). There are different etchants used for some of them but I'm really not familiar, I know that nitric acid will turn a S&W M&P slide black as night. Ferric will etch as deep as you let it. I forgot a Ka-Bar in my etch tank one Friday afternoon and by Monday it was about half the size it started as :oops: Trying to find a picture of that.
 
RE: etching - I do a short etch (5-10 min max) then neutralize in boiling baking soda, the next day clean (sand 5000g) then soak overnight or even a day in coffee to get the really dark color.
~billyO
 
Mike Norris, Devin Thomas, and Chad Nicholls all have carbon damascus that won't break the bank. Alabama Damascus is a good source- Brad Vice .
Damasteel, the three named also make stainless damascus which is about twice the expense but the time it takes to make it justifies the cost.
 
I would look at the guys that have been suggested. Most of us can't sell like they do and at those prices they are set up to produce the stuff efficiently if that is possible. Lets say that guy like Hoss are set up to be moderately less inefficient than the rest of us.:D
 
Shawn, I've tried some carbon steel Damascus from Randy Haas of HHH and it was pretty good, but still pricey at 250-$300 bar.
If you like the Damascus suminagashi look that is the lowest cost IIRC.
 
Thanks boys, I can always count on the knowledge here, man just started making something that looks like a knife lol. Been getting crazy ideas about getting that "Damascus" blade I could never afford by making it myself haha.

Still too expensive currently lol maybe at the end of the year after I've bought more tools I need to really make some cool stuff.


Thanks guys,
Shawn.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top