"Forgeplaying" with steel - Interesting damascus pattern - 30 pics

[ArielSalaverria]

I love my new toy! The ammount of new stuff that you can do with this powerful tool is only limited by your own imagination.

I'd like to thank the pioneers of the hydraulic press forging and dedicate this thread to them!




To make this blade I used 2 ball bearings with a 3" outter diameter. The electric welding not only fixes the supporting rod, but also prevents the inner pieces from moving.

On the oven til they reach 850C

Flattening them.

First step finished (I'm only showing one, but I did this to both of the ball bearings) Now it's ready to get forged.

After heating it on the oven, I place some borax on the piece.

Place it on the oven til forging temperature (about 1300C)

 

[ArielSalaverria]

Using the forge, I completely forge the different elements that compone the ball bearing (inner and outter containers, bearings and spacers)

Once I have both pieces forged, I place on on top of each other to forge them together too.

Again, after heating it on the oven, I place some borax on the piece and then I place it on the oven til forging temperature (about 1300C)

Using the press again, I forge both pieces together.

I cut the resulting piece in two.

I weld the pieces together on one side using an electric welder. I also add two pieces of 52100 separated from the ball bearings ingot with a layer of .5mm thickness 1010 (to get a different color later)

 

[ArielSalaverria]

Adding some borax.

Press forging

Press forging to the desidered blade shape.

Finished blade (7" blade and 4" tang)

One side of the blade already ground flat (no bevels yet)

Acid etched.

Once I finish some pending orders, I will continue to work on this and post pictures again.

I hope you enjoyed reading this at least a bit of how much I enjoyed making it!

Thanks for looking,

Ariel

 

[MadDaddy]

Very cool stuff, as always Ariel.

 

[DarkPilgrim]

Very, very interesting. I would love to see more. Thanks for the cable damascus tutorial on your web site too, I will put it to good use.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Ariel,
I appreciate you sharing and the fine photos. LIke, many of the people on this sight, I learn best, visualy. I have never used a bearing in this fashion and I am pleased and inspired by your results. I also love to mix and match my materials and then see what results I get. I don't think we need any more people making Bob loveless look alikes. We need people who like taking risk and enjoy trying new things, without guarantees. Fred :thumbup: I don't see any flame out areas in your hair and assume you have found a way to deal with the flying flux. Dangerious Stuff, Fred

 

[boltman]

Ariel: DUDE keep the pictures coming :thumbup:

 

[nenofury]

Always look forward to your pictures. Thanks!!

 

[ArielSalaverria]

Thanks friends.
Ariel

 

[barrabas74]

Thats awesome as someone who has never done or seen any forging with a ball bearing that is very cool

 

[Skeeter12]

My first post. I really enjoyed your pics. Never seen this done before and am looking forward to more. Thanks so much for sharing. Nels from Mi

 

[Bigjohn]

Thanks for taking the time to document the process....very interesting....cant wait to see the finished knife...

 

[J. Keeton]

Ariel, you’re like my idol. I love the creative stuff you do with steel. I especialy liked that chain knife. (Probly one of the coolest knifes I have ever seen.)

 

[Chett]

Great pics

 

[Trisak]

Fantastis always

 

[shaldag]

very cool. Thanks.

 

[Nowicki]

Great Idea... Cool blade.

Larry

 

[Miketm]

wow, jeez, very impressive. I keep looking at them again, and again.........

 

[ArielSalaverria]

Thank you gentlemen

Ariel

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I really am looking forward to seeing what this looks like when it is finished.