NEW TO KNIFE MAKING

[Richard Hamilton]

Hi my name is Richard I'm 53 from Leeds England and I have just started knife making . I've made two knives out of spring steel . I've just managed to get my forge hot enough to weld to metals together, but I couldn't see the Damascus pattern . I was wondering if that was because I didn't use the right metals . Can anyone help me please.

 

[Travis_Wright]

Congrats on the forge weld. A big step in the hobby. I'd suggest an etchant like ferric chloride, coffee or vinegar to see how your material looks. If you just forge welded and nothing else look at the sides to see the differences. Depending on the materials chosen will show different levels of etched differences e.g. 1084 and 1080 not much to see, but 15n20 and 1084 will show good contrast. Don't get too hung up on it though because after heat treat and tempering is really when it looks the most pronounced.

 

[Richard Hamilton]

Congrats on the forge weld. A big step in the hobby. I'd suggest an etchant like ferric chloride, coffee or vinegar to see how your material looks. If you just forge welded and nothing else look at the sides to see the differences. Depending on the materials chosen will show different levels of etched differences e.g. 1084 and 1080 not much to see, but 15n20 and 1084 will show good contrast. Don't get too hung up on it though because after heat treat and tempering is really when it looks the most pronounced.

Thank you for your reply. I have used ferric chloride and no change .