Forging damascus in a mini-forge: will this work?

M

mini-forge

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Jul 12, 2010
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Hello, I'm new here (obviously) and I had a question.

I want to forge damascus steel (or something like it, not with the structural integrity of damascus, but something to look like it to get some experience). I have decided to build this (http://www.woodsmonkey.com/index.ph...mini-forge&catid=41:how-to-articles&Itemid=63) and for a fuel source I have a normal propane torch.

For the steel I am using hacksaw blades. I went to Grieve's hardware and picked up two hacksaw blades that were labeled carbon and will be trying to forge them together for my initial tests to see if the forge gets hot enough.

So my questions are: do you think this mini-forge will get hot enough to forge together small quantities of proper knifemaking steel, and do you think I can continue on using these high carbon hacksaw blades, or will I need to find another kind of metal to work with?

Thanks.
 
with propane, probably not. There are tutorials here on damascus. It is more difficult than slapping two pieces of whatever and thinking it will work. Read up on those.
 
Propane cane work just fine for forge welding. Most folks I know that make damascus are doing so in a propane forge. That said, a teeny forge with a teeny torch may not reach the temperatures required and very likely will not provide the correct atmosphere to successfully forge weld. Also, you simply don't have enough space to make a large enough billet to really make anything. Remember that in damascus forging you generally see 50% or more loss, so you need to be able to begin with a mass of steel that is much larger than your intended target size. Also, working with a very small billet of material will really hamper your efforts at learning. A small thermal mass (such as a little pile of hacksaw blades) will drop well below welding heat before you ever get the chance to strike a hammer blow, unless you REALLY know what you're doing and can move VERY quickly.

While I understand that it's something you want to try, and you're excited and want to make it work with what you have on hand, I highly recommend dedicating some time to research and resources to giving yourself a good shot at success. I'm happy to help you achieve good results in any way I can, so feel free to drop me a line with any questions you have. Also, take a look at my website about pattern welding for some good information to get you started. Pattern welding isn't magic, but it does require some knowledge, preparation, and dedication to get right.

-d
 
you need a lot more heat. I use a propane/forced air welding forge based on indian George's design burning about 3 to 4 pounds of propane per hour you need that kind of heat. You will lose most of your thickness of your hacksaw blades to scale, start with at least 1/8 inch thickness per layer

-Page
 
decker, that is where I was going with my comment. I use propane with my forge, but on those "two brick" jobs, I was never able to keep even temp with the blue propane torches.

With MAAP gas, I was able to HT evenly on small blades, but never able to forge.
 
I had one of those 2 brick jobs, the heat is to localized, you only get one small hot spot form these 2 brick jobs.
Hunt around for a place that has those thin black metal packing straps they use on pallets. Save you buying a pile of hacksaw blades.
Cheers Ron.
 
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