Edge quenching damascus then etching?

[Shaw Blades]

Hello all,

If you edge quench damascus and then etch to reveal the pattern will there be a quench line running through the pattern? I am dealing with 1095 & 15n20 pattern weld.

 

[Brian Ayres]

I know it's possible. I haven't tried it but I have one of Rusty Polk's mini Bowie knives with a beautiful ladder pattern with a quench line down the center of the blade.

 

[Danbo]

If there would be a quench line in a knife made of a mono steel, then, yes, there will be a quench line on the damascus blade, too. Plus, the damascus will etch differently on either side of the hardening line. Something that I, and a lot of other collectors, do not care for.

 

[M forge]

That's a very good question and hopefully someone with more experience will answer. I have etched several blades from mono steel 5160 and 52100 using FC with an edge quench. There is a rather distinct line or 2 or 3 where the transition zones are. It might look good it might not.

Shoot me an email if you want to see what the mono steel looks like etched.

 

[Shaw Blades]

If there would be a quench line in a knife made of a mono steel, then, yes, there will be a quench line on the damascus blade, too. Plus, the damascus will etch differently on either side of the hardening line. Something that I, and a lot of other collectors, do not care for.

Yeah I didn't want the line. Thanks.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The line will be mainly a demarcation between hardened and unhardened damascus. The color, texture, and look will be different. I don't think yo will want that look.

On another point, why would you want to edge quench damascus. The nature of the laminate is to be only a good material when hardened. Then the difference between the harder and softer layers will give it the "damascus" properties.

If you want a harder edge and a softer spine, fully quench the damascus and then draw the spine with a torch while the edge is in a shallow pan of water.

 

[erik markman]

The line will be mainly a demarcation between hardened and unhardened damascus. The color, texture, and look will be different. I don't think yo will want that look.

On another point, why would you want to edge quench damascus. The nature of the laminate is to be only a good material when hardened. Then the difference between the harder and softer layers will give it the "damascus" properties.

If you want a harder edge and a softer spine, fully quench the damascus and then draw the spine with a torch while the edge is in a shallow pan of water.

+1!..

 

[Shaw Blades]

Thanks gents.

 

[chad2]

this is actually a deep etch but cleaned very well. it was edge quenched twice and never showed a quench line not even close. it is alabama damascus.