Material Suggestions?

D

deker

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
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I'm beginning to work on a knife project and I'm looking for a few suggestions. It's for my Blacksmith Guild's annual knifemaking competition and the theme this year is "recycled materials". So, the blade and handle material have to be recycled. I've got handle material covered, and here's what I have for blade material (which will be made into damascus).

- Nicholson files (since Cooper Tool says they're 1095)
- An Old Disston handsaw blade (which I know is about 1086 in composition because of this link)
- small piece of wrought iron (to add another color and cut the carbon in the files a bit so the overall steel is closer to the eutectoid point)

All this is great, but I need something with some nickel or something for contrast. What would be perfect is some of Dan's bandsaw blade as it's 15n20, but he's out right now. I'm trying like heck (and so far doing a good job I think) to stay with things containing "known" steels since I don't want it to be a guessing game. I'm just a little stuck on this one.

Any suggestions?

-d
 
Another source for recycled steel in your area is Applied Industrial Technologies. They might be able to find you some used rollers from a large spherical bearing or from a large ball bearing. These would be 52100 steel. I've attached an address and phone number for you. As far as 15N20 is concerned, I don't have any suggestions, but most large spherical bearings come with a bronze or brass cage. You could use some of this material to make a mokume out of.

6299 Grayson Rd
Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 564-8780
 
Try some metal banding material to put some nickel in it. The lumber yard probably cuts offs from load of 2x4 are good stuff.
 
Scott: Are they a general scrap yard? It's good to know where those are. I just moved here a year or so ago and I'm still trying to get my bearings.

argel: I do have some banding strap as well...forgot about that. For some reason I thought they were 1095ish...

Keep 'em comin' folks!

Thanks,

-d
 
scottickes said:
They are a bearing supplier.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Thanks. Would adding 52100 to the mix require me to run HT like 52100? I wouldn't want to add something to the mix that would make the HT overly complicated.

It's good to know they're around though, I'll definitely stop by there sometime with some donuts to say "hi" :)

-d
 
I'm not an expert on steel combinations for damascus by any means. I use 1084 and 15N20 for mine, based on the advice of respected bladesmiths in my area. I've been able to get it to weld, I can heat treat it properly with the equipment I have, and I get good contrast. I think 0-1 and L6 make a good combination also, but I have no experience with it.

One thing you might want to try is bronzing your blade, based on Ed Fowlers work in his book. The cages of the large spherical bearings are bronze, and would make for a nice contrast and re-use of a recycled material. I was very intrigued when I read about Ed's experience with bronzing damascus steels. I think he was bronzing cable damascus, but I would think it would also work with other damascus.

Just some thoughts for you.
 
scottickes said:
One thing you might want to try is bronzing your blade, based on Ed Fowlers work in his book. The cages of the large spherical bearings are bronze, and would make for a nice contrast and re-use of a recycled material. I was very intrigued when I read about Ed's experience with bronzing damascus steels. I think he was bronzing cable damascus, but I would think it would also work with other damascus.

Just some thoughts for you.
Click to expand...

I don't have Mr. Fowler's book, so i haven't seen his technique. Is it similar to what Ariel posted a while back using pieces of cymbal in a can?

-d
 
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