Question about Damascus forging

[Matty Ross]

Hello all, as I'm pretty new to knife making I was wondering if it's at all possible to forge Damascus steel out of a star picket and perhaps some rio bar to get a new look in the metal or do you have to use specific materials?

 

[12345678910]

If you want to use Damascus steel as a blade material,then the components of the Damascus must be suitable as blade steels by themselves.

You could use scrap like fence posts and rebar for decorative materials such as bolsters and guards,
=especially the different shapes would be interesting ina canister welded billet


but it is much much simpler to start with clean flat material.


If they are galvanized, forget it - that will get you killed.





I see from your other posts, you are new to this

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-shop-with-least-tools!?p=9675927#post9675927

 

[Dan Seaver]

Your wasting your time using unknown alloys. Even for just fittings you should use 1084 and 15n20. Aldo Bruno sells both at a great price.

The unknown alloys would likely be difficult to weld and you would not get a lot of contrast if any.

 

[sunshadow]

Dan is correct. Do your first billets in 1084/15n20

-Page

 

[deker]

For some more info on some of the "how" and "why" for Damascus forging, take a look at my site. I think it'll help answer some of your questions, point you to some good sources for materials, and get you off on the right foot. If you have any questions on any of it you can always email me and I'll do what I can to help out.

-d