Questions on damascus and mokume patterns

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Doc Hollywood

Joined
Jan 24, 2003
Messages
341
I am assuming the same should apply to both. How do you get some of the nice patterns in the billet that I have been seeing?

I am not set up for much right now, but am curious as to how things like teear drop, and the like are made. The twist pattern is simple enough, but some of these look complex enough to create a problem for me.

Doc
 
Raindroop, fisheye, etc, is made by drilling holes partially into a billet and then flattening. Ladder pattern is made by either pressing grooves into a billet and then grinding, or cutting grooves in and then flattening.
Jellyroll is self-describing.... draw a billet out and roll it up. You can then make stacks, squish it sideways, etc. This then can get complicated by stacking multiple bars, rewelding,etc.
There are things like the "w" pattern, created by repeate edge foldings, which can be manipulated into a variety of patterns.
Mosaics are patterns that run inside the bar, which is then cut like an "accordian pleat" and flattened to expose the "tiles" you've created.
Pattern creation can be endless, and takes experimenting and imagination. A lot of the guys get colored clay and manipulate it to help create new patterns without needing to actually work hot steel.
Hope this helps a bit.

BTW, my friend Bowie says that pattern-welding-obsession is an incurable disease. Seriously consider this before you leap..... :)
 
I have done some cable damascus, and some folded damascus, but never figured out some of the more complex patterns. I have been away fom it for a while, but am jumping back in head first.

This is going to be difficult as I will have to steal the clay form my 7 yr old son, and he has a mean right cross....

Doc
 
I'd start with "raindrop". Easy to do. Have to anneal the layered billet before drilling, usually. Spacing produces different effects, as does drill size and mixing sizes.
PS, intermediate layer counts (60-200) are a good bet here.
Good luck, have fun.

PS, if yer son swings, don't defend like with yer head like my wife did when I was trying to teach her to box. The famous line with blood splattered... "you broke my nothe!" :D Then last year the dog swatted her playing and did it again. Some people just aren't right for boxing.....
 
I miss boxing, but he loosens teeth! I am kinda partial to my teeth as I have had them for 35 years.

Describe the process fro raindrop in detail please.

Doc
 
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