new cable damascus tatno; so, what's with this cable stuff anyway...

Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,869
<font face=arial black size=4 color=midnightblue><b> So what's with the imperfections in my cable stuff?? Not supposed to be there huh? When makeing up cable billets, how do you guys go about it; several pieces all welded together, what? Here I just forged out a single one foot length and folded it over just once. How bout you rotor, don't you fool with cable a lot? Bruce?<p>
Whatever problems I've got here, I have figured out how to make a really cheap, highly serviceable handle wrap. This time I've used the outer sheath to the old style parachute cord (inner strands removed) and insted of varnish, I soaked it in superglue; super hard durable handle. I designed a quick release hip pocket scabbard to boot; I call it the "twist'n shout"


yup, that's what I call it,
regards, mitch
<p><p>
<img src=http://www.main.com/~wilkins/knife/forums/cable01.jpg>
><p>
<img src=http://www.main.com/~wilkins/knife/forums/cable02.jpg>><p>
<img src=http://www.main.com/~wilkins/knife/forums/cable03.jpg>
 
Mitch.The problem may have been caused by you not getting the cable burnt out and cleaned out well enough before you started welding it together.Or you may not have packed the edges well enough when you were welding the piece.Did they show up before you heat treated the blade,because if they didn't It is just where the acid burnt out the scale in the welds.The hardened part of cable will etch like this and the non-hardened parts will etch out differently.
Hope that this helps out some.And maybe someone else will have a diferent idea than I do.
Bruce
 
that is the most attractive total knife in design i have seen in a while. a wild battle scared predator come's to mind. very majestic! it just gets better around here!
 
From the pics it's pretty clear to me that the cable had fairly small individual wires in the strand. The two most important tricks with cable are.....
1. Always start with with several pieces that have the largest individual wire(s) diameter you can find.
2. Don't fold cable. Use several pieces bundled together and forge weld it down, taking time between welds to twist the cable tightly.
And lastly, don't spare the flux on cable, there must be enough to pentrate and "clean" each wire within the strand. You'll be surprised at the amount of flux/gunk that will come out when you twist it tightly between welds.
My guess, from the pics is that the flux was a bit on the light side, and the cable did not "soak" long enough to achieve full welding heat throughout.
 
Thanks for the comments fellas. Ed; I believe you've told me something I did'nt know; don't fold the stuff! I've been (the two times I've tried it) folding one time and only useing a single piece of cable. I'll try three together and use more flux as these pieces are old and rusty...

thanks to all, mitch
 
Great looking piece!

Regarding cleaning the cable prior to welding. I have good luck using liquid automotive degreaser. I just soak the cable for a week or two. Prior to welding, I wash it out thoroughly with the hose and a high pressure nozzle. Seems to work for me, anyways.
 
what ed and bruce said the cleaner the better and flux ,flux and more flux what i do is start and burn the gunk out of the cable i have experimented with add flux to the cable before the gunk burnt out, . after the gunk is burnt while the cable is still showing color and twist open the cable about 1/2 the length that your going to forge bruh that out with a wire bush smack the cable on the ground to knock off some more of the crud off. flux heat and twist tight as you can then do the other end. i forge the cable flat to about1/2 the cable thickness then forge edges down then beat flat a good idea evrey time you finish beating on the cable.is to wet wire brush it then reflux this will help keep it clean.also agood idea is to flux the billet util you are ready to stop this will keep the scale down.Russ
 
Back
Top