Damascus troubles

M

Myers Knives U.S.A

Joined
Mar 9, 2018
Messages
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Hello i am a young bladesmith, and i am having troubles getting my Damascus to weld up together. I clean it weld it flux it and take multiple welding heats. I have tried using light hammers and heavy hammers to try to weld it and i still cant get it done. The flux i use is 12 mule flux, ive seen people weld with it but it may be the problem. I used everything from an 16 lbs sledge from a 2 lbs ball peen hammer and it just wont weld. My steels that im using are 5160 and lawnmower blades. I've checked the lawnmower blades and they harden well so i know there good steels. I just don't know whats going wrong please help.
 
Steels like 5160, O1, 52100 have small amounts if chrome that seem to cause problems for the beginner smith.

There could be other problems like furnace atmosphere or soak time etc. Best to simplify first so diagnosis is easier.

Hoss
 
Your problem may be you are not getting the steel hot enough. The 20 mule team borax should boil and dance on the billet in the forge.
I agree lawnmower blades are not the way to go. As others have suggested 15N20 and 1084 is easy to weld and makes a good knife.
You don't need to use a 16lb hammer. A 3-4lb hammer would work well.
 
I personally use 20 mule and have no issues with it. My billets have been mostly 15n20 mixed with 1084, 1095, and a couple with W2 I had on hand, and they all welded quite well. I tried to do a wrapped hawk with a 5160 body and a Damascus core, and I could not seem to the the 5160 to weld the way I wanted. In far from an expert and have not done too much welding, so I am in a similar situation to you. 5160 wasn’t working but other steels did. It’s been a couple years so I may be able to get it welded now, but i haven’t tried. I would get some 1084 and 15n20 like the others said, and try that. If it still won’t weld then it’s likey a heat issue or a surface prep issue. You should not need anything close to a 16lb sledge to weld. I do most of my smaller billets and welds with hammers in the 2-3lb range.
 
When I first started I couldn't get a billet to weld to save my life. My forge didn't get nearly as hot as I thought it did. Since a built a better forced air forge things go much easier. I'm guessing you never get to welding temp or it takes so long in an oxidizing atmosphere that by time you're at temp the weld wouldn't take no matter what you did.
 
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