Phillip, was the approximate starting thickness of the layers 1/4"? About what radius is on your hammer dies? Could you give details on your etching and finishing methods? I ask all of this because that steel is so attractive I may need to emulate it.:thumbup:
That was your first? Did I also mention that I hate you!
Hi Kevin,
I'm flattered. It's not every day someone tells me they hate me.
I've learned so much from you, I'd be glad to give a little back. Keep in mind though, I didn't know what the pattern was going to look like. I didn't do any pattern manipulation because I'm lazy, and the piece I was working with was too small, and I was afraid there wouldn't be enough steel to do any groove cutting or anything, and have enough left for a knife.
Let me say again, this is just my first
completed PW blade. I failed many times before this. But no more! (I wish...)
Anyway, the details: I started with 1/4" 1080, and 3/16" 8670 (all from Admiral steel). My notes say I started with 12 layers, but that doesn't sound right. Hmmm. Could be. Let's say six layers of each. I welded it, (I don't think I need to tell you how to do that.
) drew it out to about a foot long, let it cool, and cut it into thirds. I like the effect that thicker layers with thinner layers gives, so I put 2 pieces of 1095 in between the 3 pieces of laminate and rewelded. Then drew out, cut in thirds, rewelded, once more. Then the last weld, I cut it in fourths to reweld. My notes say it ended up at 375 layers. Again, I'm not sure I trust my notes. Does that look like 375 layers to you?
My dies have a 6" radius. I used the drawing dies to weld, because, again, I'm lazy, and the dies are a real hassle to change.
The dies leave bumps all over the steel, which I ground off between each weld, thus resulting in sort of a ladder pattern.
I forged in the tang and distal taper, and ground it the rest of the way. If you forged in the edge bevel, of course, you'd end up with a totally different pattern. The pattern on the blade would look more like the ricasso. Which is still pretty, but not the same.
I hardened and tempered the whole thing to I think 59-ish. Hand sanded to 600 grit. Etched and neutralized several times, sanding with 1000 grit paper in between etches, then after the last couple etches, I polished with worn out 1500 grit paper.
If you try this, please post photos.
