Stainless and high carbon laminated blade??

[John L]

Could someone explain this to me? I thought that if you heated the high carbon too high.....ie..welding temp of stainless...that you have basically ruined the high carbon piece. How do bladesmiths do this? Thanks.

 

[Danbo]

I believe they're not worried about the outer layers of stainless getting properly heat treated, and are heat treating for the inner core, which will make up the cutting edge. The stainless outer layers are for show(and, a bit of corrosion resistance). Hopefully, Burt Foster or one of the other bladesmiths who make these combo laminated blades, will chime in to verify.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The welding is done in a sealed packet, and the HT is for the carbon steel.
The carbon steel is not ruined by the welding temps due to the exclusion of oxygen. The grain growth is repaired in later HT cycles, just as it is in forging.

 

[delbert ealy]

Could someone explain this to me? I thought that if you heated the high carbon too high.....ie..welding temp of stainless...that you have basically ruined the high carbon piece. How do bladesmiths do this? Thanks.

John,
This is a common misperception, the welding temp of stainless is lower than that of carbon steels.
Thanks,
Del

 

[Salem Straub]

Search for a WIP thread by Burt Foster, it shows how he does it- he welds the seams of the 3-piece stack together with I think the MIG process. The knife he makes in that thread is GREAT. Also check out Philip Patton, he does this same process with excellent results.