help with cable damascus

[Belstain]

What is the best way to get a bowie sized billet out of 1" cable? Forge it flat then cut into bars and weld together or start with 3 or 4 pieces and weld it all at once?

 

[Laredo7mm]

I start with 1.125 diam cable and can get it to about 2 inches wide at .25 thick. Once she is all welded and twisted it is over .75 diameter. I then draw out the width. I think you should be able to get at least 1.5 wide with 1.0 cable and still have it .25 thick.

I have a power hammer that I use to draw out my damascus billets. If I want to widen a billet I just turn the piece 90 deg in the dies so that the drawing dies are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the billet, instead of perpendicular as they would be for making the billet longer.

I dont see any reason why you couldnt weld up a few bars and then weld them together, but it might be kinda difficult to twist up three pices of 1.0 cable all at the same time.

 

[B . Buxton]

Belstain,

I would say you hit it on the head, go ahead and forge weld your 1" piece, then if you don't appear to have enough for the blade your wanting, cut and restack or forge weld up another piece and stack it on the first. when you square the cable up to stack, just leave it thick so you can weld the 2 together and not end up with a real thin piece after welding. Then just draw and forge to the length and shape you want. 1 thing, when welding cable, weld it keeping it round, by hand I use the ledge between the anvil top and horn, just keep turning and hammering. Cable can be aggravating, its hard to get all the little inclusions out, but it can be done, just don't stop welding heats to soon. Take your time and work it.

hope this helps,

Bill

 

[Belstain]

Thanks guys. I haven't tried welding it round. I only just decided to try cable for the first time a couple days ago.