Faux Damas

Joined
Aug 27, 2004
Messages
2,523
Well I thought I would have a little fun. Here is a "false-damascas" blade that I forged from 1084, then played with some mustard, cold-blue, and ferric-chloride. Came out pretty neat.

Forged 1084
Stainless Guard
Sambar Stag
"Real" Damascas Butt-cap
OAL: 7 3/4"
Blade Tip-to-Guard: 3 1/2"

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Robert

fauxdamas.jpg
 
Looks better than some of the real damascus blades out there, IMO.

Pretty cool!
 
I'd love to see a tutorial!
Thanks,
Jim L.

Hi Jim:

I have had a few folks ask on different forums how to do this. Here is what I posted:

Take some regular mustard (the kind you put on hot dogs), and "dobb" it on randomly with a Q-tip. Let it start to dry (it will dry closer to the edges of the "dobbs").

When it is almost dry (may still be wet in the middle), then take some gun blue (commonly called "cold-blue"), and "dobb" it in-between the mustard. Let that sit for maybe 30-60 seconds. Wash everything down with hot water and dishwashing soap. Take some #0000 steel wool to it and see what it looks like.

In order to get a really random pattern.......... do it again by "dobbing" the mustard in different places (overlapping where it was before and onto where the bluing was).

Do this until you have a pattern that you like. What I did then was to dip it in Ferric Chloride (available from Radio Shack as "Circuit Board Etchant") that I mixed 3:1 with distilled water (3 parts water and 1 part FeCl). This sorta helps to even out the "edges".

The FeCl dips can run from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Watch it............. Neutralize this dip with amonia (Windex w/amonia works fine)

Back to the steel wool............... Just play with it until you have a look that you are satisfied with.

I hope this explanation was not too confusing. If I can help, just let me know.

When I do another, I will try to remember to take photos of the steps.

Have Fun........... Robert
 
Hi Jim:

I have had a few folks ask on different forums how to do this. Here is what I posted:

Take some regular mustard (the kind you put on hot dogs), and "dobb" it on randomly with a Q-tip. Let it start to dry (it will dry closer to the edges of the "dobbs").

When it is almost dry (may still be wet in the middle), then take some gun blue (commonly called "cold-blue"), and "dobb" it in-between the mustard. Let that sit for maybe 30-60 seconds. Wash everything down with hot water and dishwashing soap. Take some #0000 steel wool to it and see what it looks like.

In order to get a really random pattern.......... do it again by "dobbing" the mustard in different places (overlapping where it was before and onto where the bluing was).

Do this until you have a pattern that you like. What I did then was to dip it in Ferric Chloride (available from Radio Shack as "Circuit Board Etchant") that I mixed 3:1 with distilled water (3 parts water and 1 part FeCl). This sorta helps to even out the "edges".

The FeCl dips can run from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Watch it............. Neutralize this dip with amonia (Windex w/amonia works fine)

Back to the steel wool............... Just play with it until you have a look that you are satisfied with.

I hope this explanation was not too confusing. If I can help, just let me know.

When I do another, I will try to remember to take photos of the steps.

Have Fun........... Robert

:D
Thanks!! I think I'll give it a try!
Jim L.
 
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