Mashin' Damascus

[Robert Dark]

I spent the day at Alabama Damascus in Jacksonville, Alabama with Brad Vice and Lacy Smith.

Here are a few pics. This place is power-hammer heaven.

Nice little forge heating up the billets.

The next few are of the welding, cutting (for folding) and stretching the billets.

Pattern pressing a billet.

These are patterned billets ready to be ground to size.

And this is the Blanchard machine they are ground on.

Here are a few finished billets and blades.

A few more misc. shots will be added below.

 

[Burton Harruff]

Cool!

 

[kimsalls]

Awesome picture!

 

[thegeek574]

that's not a power hammer, that is thors hammer with a motor attached.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I feel machine envy coming on. Nice!

 

[mgysgthath]

Drool..

 

[Frank Niro]

He's been working that hammer for a while now ! Frank

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Few things are more fun than big hammers!
Here, the green one is a 500# Chambersburg and the "little" grey one is a 250 Chambersburg.
Hope you don't mind me posting these here.
I'm just drawing out a simple 1" bar of steel, but there's been a train load of Damascus made on those hammers and used by the top makers in the world.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

When Brad first got started, he sent me some shots of his huge ovens and monster hammers. It is an awesome sight to see the hammer come down while a guy in a silver suit holds a billet that most people couldn't even lift. Sparks will fly.

 

[Robert Dark]

Hope you don't mind me posting these here.

I don't mind at all Karl. Folks don't get to see these monsters every day. I don't think Wal Mart carries them.

Robert

 

[Seals]

WOW! I want to get over there one of these days.I had no idea they were so large.But i should have since he puts out some big wide billets and plenty of them.Thanks for posting the pics and yes,keep them coming!

 

[Mike Davis]

Great pics guys! And speaking as someone who indeed does not get to see monsters like this, it is very cool to see

 

[Robert Dark]

These are a few more misc. shots that might be of some interests.

Preparing to replace a motor drive gear on one of the other hammers.

A general view of the shop.

A two wheeled hollow grinder that works pretty neat.

Three tired old objects (two hammers and me)

 

[slcraptor700]

Thats awesome. Thanks for the pics!

 

[Fred.Rowe]

The pics are great, Robert. I have always wanted to see where this damascus is made.

Fred

 

[Dezmond]

THOSE THIINGS ARE HUGE!!!!! Thanks for the photos.. Pretty neat stuff there...

 

[RMLamey]

GREAT pics! Didnt realize there were a couple of big Nazels so close to me! Would love a chance to visit that shop.

 

[Dan Pierson]

Amazing pics! Beginning to think I should buy a big thin billet just to help support
them (of course playing with it would be just gravy ).

 

[blindhogg]

Had no idea Alabama had such nice big hammers, Love the photos. Thanks for sharing.
CW