Damasteel Newb

[scott kozub]

My Wife bought me 2 pieces of Damasteel Vinland Pattern 1.5" by .125 and a slightly narrower billet at .1" for my B-Day.

I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with these. I have never worked with Damasteel and am a little afraid to mess them up.

Does anyone here have any tips for working these billets or any do's and don'ts. I have an oven and LN.

One things for sure, I'll need to step up may game.

 

[Jason Fry]

IIRC they have instructions on their website. It HT's pretty much like standard stainless. Muriatic acid for the etch.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Plan the project well before cutting/grinding anything.

Make a mock-up from a piece of wood or heavy cardboard the same size as the billet.

Post your sketches/mock-up here for others to critique.

If you don't have a good oven and familiarity with RWL HT, send it to JT for HT.

The better the finish before HT the better the surface. I go to 400 per-HT.
Post-HT take it to 400 at a minimum, and 800-1000 if you wish before etching.
Sometimes it takes several etches and light sandings before you get the look you like. I prefer to over-etch it and then sand it back with a hard backing block and 800 grit paper.

The 3-M papers work well on damasteel for the final polish. I often take it up to the pink paper to get a nice shine with the pattern sort of floating behind the shiny surface.

 

[scott kozub]

Plan the project well before cutting/grinding anything.

Make a mock-up from a piece of wood or heavy cardboard the same size as the billet.

Post your sketches/mock-up here for others to critique.

If you don't have a good oven and familiarity with RWL HT, send it to JT for HT.

The better the finish before HT the better the surface. I go to 400 per-HT.
Post-HT take it to 400 at a minimum, and 800-1000 if you wish before etching.
Sometimes it takes several etches and light sandings before you get the look you like. I prefer to over-etch it and then sand it back with a hard backing block and 800 grit paper.

The 3-M papers work well on damasteel for the final polish. I often take it up to the pink paper to get a nice shine with the pattern sort of floating behind the shiny surface.

Great info. Thanks Stacy.

Mostly working in AEB-L I do my grinding post HT. Good to know I can grind pre HT.

 

[HSC ///]

Nothing special in processing Although I understand your concern because of the cost of the material

follow the ht guidelines and Todd begg has a YT video on the etching process

I grind after ht and did so on the Damasteel as well.

 

[JTknives]

All the damasteel I have heat treated has responded very nicely. Thy definitely know what they’re doing when making it. Maybe thy should give some tips to uddaholm on their aebl lol