HT Damascus

[tattooedfreak]

Not really a question or anything, just an observation. I managed to get some HT done yesterday and I have one piece made of damascus (thanks Dan S) and after quenching I noticed the pattern coming out. After sanding off the scale and tempering at 475f, the pattern was really apparent even with no etching. Is this normal?

 

[Dan Seaver]

After quenching your seeing the different colored scale and/or different levels of decarb. After tempering your seeing whats refereed to as heat coloring, its a common alternative on high end knives to etching. When done right you will have a beautiful blue for the 1084 and a very light gold for the 15n20. Its because of the oxides; 15n20 will resist oxidation because of the nickle and 1084 will change colors more dramatically because of the lack of oxide inhibiting alloying elements.

Frank Niro does it quite often and it looks amazing. Perhaps I can get him to share some in site on what works best.

Is this the folder you were working on?

 

[Frank Niro]

Thanks for the compliment in there , Dan,.
Well,I love colour even though I can't tell you what colours work best together. It just so happens that the colours that occur when heat is applied to carbon steals fit together in a natural way. Your parts should be finely finished and very clean, say with acetone or something similar. First there is gold, then purple and then blue with some shades in between. I use a thin spatula made of stainless that does discolour but doesn't rust in between use. I use an element on the top of my stove with the dial turned about 2/3 open. You need your parts clean and good lighting to get good results.
Watch for the colour and move it off the spatula immediately. Some practical experience really helps here. If you go past blue you will see a grey silver. You can buff this off and start again. This colouring is terribly thin. You cannot use the use most cleaners on it or it will be destroyed. Renesaince wax is super for this and other knives as well. Dan's great Damascus that I have used on several knives shows the colours well. Depending on the metals in the Damascus you may get two different colours showing at one time. Frank

 

[tattooedfreak]

Well, having never worked with damascus before, I was just surprised to see the pattern come out during the HT/temper. However having read Dan's response and thinking about it for a minute, it makes sense. I don't plan on using heat for the pattern though, I will stick with ferric hehe. Dan, it was the 10" piece you had left and the price was right for me. I am making an 8" bush craft style and using the leftovers for bolsters. If it works, I may get some more and eventually try and make my own.

 

[Frank Niro]

That was a good choice for the Damascus. Frank