Damascus using M2 Steel

[Bupton]

Hi,
Wondering if anyone can tell me the other steel goes well with M2 steel when it comes to Damascus.
Thanks Bupton

 

[Nebulae]

M2 I think will etch pretty dark, so you will want a lighter etching steel to mach it like L6, but I'm not 100% sure about this. Also M2 is a HSS meaning that it is designed to keep much of its hardness and strength at high, even red hot temperatures. This makes it very difficult to forge, you will need to use much higher temps. good luck

 

[Sam Salvati]

Is this even possible?

 

[Danbo]

Is this even possible?

That would be my first question, too. Not that somebody hasn't tried it; but, why?

 

[Sam Salvati]

Don't get me wrong, it would be pretty cool, Maybe an M2 stainless laminate? but I don't think I have ever seen or heard of it ever being done.

 

[Bupton]

Thanks guys, sounds like it could be worth experimenting with. Just another question is it the higher the carbon the darker the steel will etch?

 

[DougSeward]

I would think that with the tungsten and molybdenum, M2 would be quite red-hard and other steels would "squish" out under the press. I figure you would want a similarly red-hard contrasting steel. -Doug

 

[12345678910]

Maybe an M2 centred laminate, but I bet manipulation of a full damascus would fail.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I can't envision how to make M2 damascus in any practical way.