First ladder attempt

Chris Lyons

Chris Lyons

Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Messages
89
This is my first attempt at making a ladder pattern, and also my first attempt at having a fully etched tang.

If I were to do anything differently, I would have gotten a with a higher layer count and made the grooves deeper and closer together. This was only 36 layers of 1084/15N20 (doing it all by hand, no press/power hammer etc) but as it stands, I don't think I can really call it ladder pattern. Closer to random pattern IMO.

Handle is Black Ash Burl attached with corbys. This is also only my 3rd or 4th sheath, still trying to get the hang of this leather working stuff too.

Overall I am pretty happy with it, open to any and all constructive criticism/advice. Thanks for looking.

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Ladder looks good around 300 layers.

this one was 264 layers, but only 0.100” thick. I used the grind/press method. I’ll do the press/grind next time.

Untitled by Wjkrywko, on Flickr
 
The thought of hammering out 300 layers by hand makes my arm hurt lol. I also did the grind/draw out method. I would much prefer to press/grind. That will have to wait until I can get myself (or build myself) a press though.
 
Chris Lyons said:
The thought of hammering out 300 layers by hand makes my arm hurt lol. I also did the grind/draw out method. I would much prefer to press/grind. That will have to wait until I can get myself (or build myself) a press though.
Click to expand...

I made dies for my log splitter to do these. I would never attempt this by hand at my age, and with my arthritis, lol!
 
I think your 36 layers look pretty good, but you're right, higher layer count looks good for ladder. Seems like a twist might do good with low layer counts. I'm like you, the old "arm 'n hammer" method.
 
256 layers is only three folds from your 36 layer billet -64-128-256. a fourth fold would get it into the really nice looking range of 512 layers. Doing it by hand, that should take no more than a couple hours at most. Try it and I bet you never go back to a low layer count.

Low layer count is OK for random, but lacks much pattern for other patterns. Also, while swords can get away with low layer count, knives need much finer lines to look right.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
256 layers is only three folds from your 36 layer billet -64-128-256. a fourth fold would get it into the really nice looking range of 512 layers. Doing it by hand, that should take no more than a couple hours at most. Try it and I bet you never go back to a low layer count.

Low layer count is OK for random, but lacks much pattern for other patterns. Also, while swords can get away with low layer count, knives need much finer lines to look right.
Click to expand...

While I agree with you about the count... 'only 3 folds' is double what it took me to make this billet. (started with 12). That took me like 7 hours with a 3 lb hammer by myself. It's so much drawing out! Bonus though, I had enough steel left over to pull out a second hidden tang about the same size. I am definitely going to grab a neighbor and a sledge hammer and go for a high layer count in the very near future though, as well as start with thinner stock to build the layer count easier. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
 
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