Grinding before twisting damascus?

[Leon Husock]

Do I need to grind until I completely get rid of the little black lines between layers before I twist my damascus? I'm losing a lot of material doing this.

 

[DevinT]

The twisting will be fine but any questionable welds will open up when you forge it after twisting.

Hoss

ps.. sell everything you don’t need and buy/build a forging press or a power hammer

 

[Leon Husock]

Thanks! And hah, believe me I would but at this point the main thing standing in my way is a space of my own to work in on a regular basis. I can only get to my forge about two days a week for 4-5 hours at a time, so it isn’t worth the money to buy a press right now.

 

[DevinT]

Thanks! And hah, believe me I would but at this point the main thing standing in my way is a space of my own to work in on a regular basis. I can only get to my forge about two days a week for 4-5 hours at a time, so it isn’t worth the money to buy a press right now.

All of your threads and posts talk about welding flaws and you have limited shop time, these seem like very good reasons to get a press.

Hoss

 

[Leon Husock]

All of your threads and posts talk about welding flaws and you have limited shop time, these seem like very good reasons to get a press.

Hoss

...You know something, you're not wrong. Maybe I'll start saving up. I know CoalIron has those little 12-ton bench-top ones for pretty cheap now.