is it necessary?

[Mike Davis]

is it really necessary to use flux on cable damascus? im gonna order some from darren ellis and im not quite sure.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is only necessary if you want it to weld together.
Here is a tutorial : http://sjaqua.tripod.com/cable.htm

lots of other tutorials on, www.knifehow.com .
Stacy

 

[Don Hanson III]

100% necessary! Nice tutorial Stacy.

 

[Sweany]

very good tutorial

ANHYDROUS BORAX IS BEST. There is a smith on ebay selling anhydrous borax.

Next best is 20 mule team with the water cooked out of it.

a swage block is very helpfull in welding cable. you get blows from three sides in a swage block, don't have a swage block. A piece of heavy angle iron will work. Try it you'll like it..

Remeber the intial weld blows need to be light, heavy blows will just drive the cable apart..

 

[Phil Dwyer]

Good tutorial, but the background makes the page difficult to read. I'm gunna refer to it whenever I get around to such games.

I can't imagine getting metal(s) to stick to each other, whether forge welding, soldering, brazing, etc, without flux.

 

[Mike Davis]

thanks for the links stacy. ive never done this before and im hoping to have a new blade done by next weekend. ill post a pic if i dont screw it up
thanks to everyone else for the info, you forum guys rock!