Damasteel question

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
3,621
I just had a fella order a couple knives and requested damasteel on the blades. I'm wondering why. He said all his damascus blades are damasteel. Is it stainless or something? What the heck?
 
Although I've not used it yet I do have a piece of damasteel (a small piece for a folder). I got it from a distibutor up here in Canada (Downie Knife supply).

Yes it is stainless damascus. Here's a link to the damasteel website: http://www.damasteel.se/ for more info. They have some very interesting patterns.

I don't have first hand experience with it in terms of edge holding but other makers I know seem to like it quite a bit.

That's all I've got on this stuff, hope it helps.

Take Care,
Sean
 
J,

I have a short piece of the twist pattern. I paid $9 per inch. It ranges from about 9 to 13 bucks per inch depending on pattern and width. It is composed of two stainless steels, the major being RWL-34. It is what we refer to as a powder steel. The damascus is NOT forged but rather made at one time but with the pattern running through the thickness just like forged damascus has.

RWL-34 heat treats as ATS-34 or 154CM and its composition is as close to ATS-34 as 154CM is to ATS-34. I have done a lot of heat treat tests on RWL-34 and have made one knife of RWL-34. It shines up very-very well and holds an edge.

Roger
 
Damasteel is a mixture of RWL34 and PMC27 where the different metals are deposited in layers using a spray tranfer method (powdered metallurgy). After the raw billets are made, the pattern is accomplished by twisting the or pressing between dies. ( See www.damasteel.se )

I've been using Damasteel since before it was imported by Michael Walker (about 7 years ago I started getting it from Ingemar Nordell). I've never had a bad piece.
 
The PMC27 is a PM version of 12C27. Aside from the PM process, I believe the RWL34 has a little added Vanadium, otherwise it is similar to ATS 34.

Damasteel etches well in Muriatic acid (0.375N HCl) from the hardware store.

Aside from that, see above.
 
OK, thanks guys. I was starting to feel a bit bad that he didn't want my damascus but, since it's stainless, I feel better.

Where's a good place to get his stuff?
 
Hey Guys...

J.

Shoot me a note....

Let me know what you want and i'll see if it's in stock.

ttyle

Eric....
 
I've used it and love it. I can't heat treat it myself and considering the cost of the stuff, don't think I'll try.

It etches beautifully and takes and holds a tremendous edge. I made my son a WAK from it and it has held up under extreme abuse (My Son's claim to fame) for years now.

It was a pain to get when I got my last piece. As I recall, there was only one distributor in the US. I suppose that has changed now.

I think you will love it J. MY dream is to make a Viking sword from Odin's eye someday when money has no meaning anymore! :rolleyes:
 
Sounds good Peter. Especially since I know what a big fan of stainless you are. :rolleyes:

Can it be etched with ferric? That's all I've used so far.
 
PN, there is still only one dealer in the US unless you Frost Back it in from Canadia.

Downie is more accomodating and has better prices, but is not technically supposed to sell to the US. I haven't bought any for a couple of years due to the prices and attutude of the US dealer.
 
I have been using damasteel since 1998 and I have never had anything but positive experiences with it.....I have use every pattern they have except 2 new ones they recently put out that i do not really like the look of but besides that i have been using Twist, Odins Eye, Rose, Vinland, and mohammeds Ladder......and possibe a few others I can´t recall the name of....

I have it pro. heattreated to 60Rc and cryo treated...take the finish up to 1200 handrubbed before etching..I use H2So4..aprox 5-10% solution....warm!...not hot but buddy temp.....etch for 1-3 mins....handrub again with 1200.....it love it!...takes a wicked edge and holds it!
 
Anso pretty much summed it up J. I suspect you can use ferric but Different acids bring out different shades in the black/grey areas. I had such good results with 10% Muriatic, I didn't want to experiment.

As to the edge Anso spoke of....when I did my first sword from it and got it back from the heat treater, I put the final edge on it. This was a full flat grind. The wire edge peeled off in one long spring strip like a razor blade. My first thought was that it was too soft. I put that poor blade through hell and it just didn't want to get dull. When it did, it took a few minutes to touch it up and back to work.

Again to sum up my misgivings with it,
It is expensive.

I cannot heat treat it myself although some of you more advanced HT'ers may.

It is hard to get.

None of that has any effect on the quality blade it makes. I only have praise for the steel itself.

This a good example of outsourcing. I know a number of makers who use it and advertise the blade as Damasteel. I see no problem with that.

I wonder how many newbies claim to have made it in their own powder steel damascus plant! :D
 
thought I would post a pic of my latest use of Damasteel..
top is RWL-34 and bottom is twist bolster and Rose blade
9.jpg
 
Jay
Check with Jeff Diotte he deals in it he took over downie knife supply
Jeff is a super nice guy.
Jeff Diotte
159 Laurier Dr
Lasalle Ontariao Canada
N9J 1L4
519-978-9387
Hope that helps
 
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