Fuzzy Damascus

[Afm37]

So… I have a done around 20 Damascus blades with good results, however this last blade I finished the pattern is fuzzy, I did re sand it to 1500 and tried again, same thing. Any ideas on why this happened? Steel is 15N20/1095 same as all the other blades, same etchant mix. A different billet done the same time is fine. Maybe forging it to hot?

Thanks
Steve

 

[DevinT]

Possible culprits,
Forging too hot, causes alloy diffusion
Austenitizing temperature too high, causes grain growth
Rough finish between layers, it will show up in the etch.
Dirty etchant, some dissolved material will adhere to the surface.

Hoss

 

[Afm37]

My post forging heat treating is 1580 10 minute soak, air cool, 1500, 10 minutes, air cool, 1380, 30 minute soak then ramped down to 1200, air cool. Austenize at 1480 for 10 minutes and quenched in parks 50, two hour tempering at 325 x2. Etchant is fresh. All my forge welding is done dry, I use my tig and weld all the edges prior to forge welding. I’v never heard of a rough finish between the layers?

 

[DevinT]

My post forging heat treating is 1580 10 minute soak, air cool, 1500, 10 minutes, air cool, 1380, 30 minute soak then ramped down to 1200, air cool. Austenize at 1480 for 10 minutes and quenched in parks 50, two hour tempering at 325 x2. Etchant is fresh. All my forge welding is done dry, I use my tig and weld all the edges prior to forge welding. I’v never heard of a rough finish between the layers?

I’ve seen makers rough up the surface of the layers before stacking them together thinking that it helps with forge welding.

Hoss