Making a 18" OAL chain san mai machete - WIP - Lots of pics

[ArielSalaverria]

I've had this on file for some time now, and since it's the bigger one I've made to date, I've decided to take some pics of the preocess.
Because of the big size, I had to do the chains separatedly from the inner steel core and then unite them in a second step.

12 pieces of motorcycle chain cut to measure 9" each.

Soldiered in groups of 3 chains each.

Soldiered the previous groups, one on top of the other. Now I have 2 groups of 6 pieces of chain each.

In the oven at 850 C

I press the group between flat dies to compress the intersticial space between links.

Each group, already pressed.

Now I place those chain groups on the sides of a 1/4" 5160 flatsheet and soldier on the ends to fix them in place.

Then I make a square section cannister.

 

[ArielSalaverria]

And then I place the package of steel inside it and then close it.

In the oven at 1300 C

Press welding the package.

I then get rid of the cannister easily (thanks to a sheet of 0.5mm thickness in 304 stainless I've placed against each side.

Package out of its container

Flattening to the desired thickness.

 

[ArielSalaverria]

Customer supplied drawing placed in top of the damascus bar. For this type of damascus, forging to shape might be detrimental to the knife, so I just cut it to shape.

Ground, drilled and tempered blade before getting into the ferric perclorure.
In the background, you can also see a chain san mai tanto I've made from an earlier forging, where I didn't get the desired size of the original damascus sheet.

Blade out of the acid bath, with no extra polishing, just washed in water with amonnia to kill the acid effects.

In hand for an idea of size (this thing is huge!)

That's it for now, I'll get more pics of the handle making process and of the finished piece later too.


More Tutorials on my website:
http://www.aescustomknives.com/

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Thanks for looking!


Ariel

 

[OldPhysics]

Absolutely fascinating. I love reading Threads like this. That's going to be a 'wicked' machete. :thumbup:

You've got excellent equipment in your shop.

 

[Cougar Allen]

Seems he intended to post in Shop Talk, but I'm leaving a redirect so the denizens of The Gallery can continue to enjoy this.

Let’s see if we can find the right forum …

 

[ryan9977]

ariel...does it matter what kind of steel the chain is....i know you used a core steel though.....so for instance if u use a core steel that will make a good knife does it matter what steel you use in a san mai application????......ryan

 

[Leatherface]

Ariel


you are a wizard bro

tag'in this one for more pics

 

[pageophile]

Sir, that is Wonderous ! ! !

Really looking forward to the finished product

 

[ArielSalaverria]

Thanks Cougar! :thumbup:

Ryan, it does matter in big pieces, as the idea of the san mai is to have a hard edge and not so hard edge sides. Had I used a chainsaw chain for instance, that's way harder than the motorcycle ones, it would have been not as "bendable" as this one.


Ariel

 

[ryan9977]

thanks ariel...makes sense....i love the pattern....what are u planning on for scales?....ryan

 

[jll346]

AWESOME!!! Thankyou for sharing.:thumbup:

 

[Allen Newberry]

That is going to be one WILD machete!

Allen

 

[sharpeknives]

Ariel, Man that is awsome.I greatly appreciate your shareing this info.I am working on a Bowie with the same san-mai. I'll be useing 1095 for the core.Thank-you for the lesson.

 

[westllen]

that looks awesome, thanks for sharing the information.:thumbup:

 

[724wd]

that is completely and utterly frickin' awesome!

 

[J.Marsillo]

That is some of the coolest damascus I have seen yet :thumbup:

 

[indian george]

Nice job:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Dan Pierson]

That's just totally amazing. The pattern is just great and the almost over the top blade profile goes so well with it.

 

[Mark Williams]

Thanks for the show Ariel,

You never cease to amaze me.

Great pictures !!

 

[Charles Helm]

Great work as usual!