Just finished first damascus billet!!

[greshamblades]

I finally just hammered out my first true damascus. I spent some time banging around the anvil for practice and even made a few small cable billets that turned out pretty good. I used some 1 3/4" band saw stock and some broken vertical saw blades from my work which the supplier said were "high alloy spring steel"?? I thought I might as well try a few with free supplies first. It seems that I might have a gap in it on one side and maybe a little one on the other side. I don't think it's to bad and might sand out(I left about 3/32 of flat on the edge) Any help on how to fix or what I did wrong would be great. I am using anhydrous borax. thanks guys.....

 

[steelshaper]

It looks like you had an inclusion. When welding a billet it is inportant to work all the flux out of the welds. What I do is first make sure all the pieces of steel are clean and free of rust. It is easier to weld clean steel. Then I mig weld all my starting pieces together at one end and weld a handle on that end. Then heat it up and flux the billet to be before scale starts to form. Once I get to welding heat I start setting the weld at the end of the billet that is mig welded. work away from that end and out from the center. Move as quik as possible and re flux before putting it back in the forge. If the flux gets welded inside the billet it will never come out. It will become glass like. So what it comes down to is something got stuck inside the billet some flux or something that was on the steel before you welded the billet. If the blade is thick you could grind off the bad weld.

I hope this helps Will Crump

 

[greshamblades]

Thanks will, good tips, start from bar then forge out, need to do that. It's over 1/4" thick right now so it might grind out, planned on testing to destruction anyway, didn't think it would be clean enough to finish out..thanks again....wes..

 

[deker]

Looks like an excellent first shot! I agree on the "might be some flux in there". The way I do it to avoid inclusions (knock on wood, I've never had one!) is to use the following procedure:

- Grind all pieces flat and clean. This means NO mill scale at all on the pieces that go into the stack.
- Wipe down pieces with acetone before stacking
- Stack up pieces that will go into the billet
- Arc weld both ends to keep the pieces together
- Weld on a handle
- Heat to cherry red and apply flux to the "sides" and ends of the billet. I only use enough flux to create a glassy coating where I apply it. If you don't overflux, you won't have to worry about flux in your welds.
- Heat to welding temp and set the weld.

I also always cut off the ends of the billet to eliminate any wire weld and any small cracks that didn't weld at the end of the billet. Cutting the end off also lets you see very quickly if your welds set fully to the center of the billet. If not, heat to cherry red, reflux, and re-set the weld.

Keep it up! It looks like you're on the right track!

-d

 

[A C Richards]

I second all the above, The one thing I add is let it soak at temp for about 10-15 minutes. Esp on your first and last welds. If you are welding in a nice reducing atmosphere decarb will not be a problem. Being anal retentive about the billet being clean will also help as mentioned previously. I do have a question though, are you using a pyrometer?? This can help greatly also. Making sure that billet is at temp is absolutely essential. Great job though. If you can get those inclusions out all the better. As time goes on rust will start to open them up. No getting around it.


Chuck

 

[A C Richards]

Night Raven,

Where in Oregon are you, Gresham??

 

[greshamblades]

Thanks guys for the tips, a pyrometer?? I was just asking some guys about something to read the temp in the forge, i'll have to look into that! I'm in southern oregon, not in gresham, thats my name!! Thanks again and i'll post a pic if I can get that cleaned up and it survives the tests....

 

[A C Richards]

Where in southern Oregon. I am seeing if you are close enough to be invited up to make up a billet....
Chuck

 

[greshamblades]

I'm out of grants pass, not too far away. I would be all for going up there! That would be a great opportunity to learn from a master. Drop me a pm, i'm definitely interested.