stainless damascus

[ripi]

can anyone tell me if there are any secrets to welding stainless damascus, what sort of flux if any, things to look out for ,the way to do it .have no trouble with normal damascus but cannot get stainless to stick
have a knife day ripi

 

[Bruce Evans]

This is allot of fun
You are best off doing stainless by stacking a whole billet up at once.Using thin shim stock like .0030 thick stock.A press is the only way,as you gan weld it in one heat this way,Stainles just doesn't like being hit with a hammer,excpecially if you let it start cooling off.NEVER hit it or try any manipulations to the bar when you start loosing heat.I have welded some in a carbon billet before,The first weld it fine but you have to keep the heat so high and the carbon moves while the stainless is hardening and thus you end up with breaks and shuts.I would suggest that you don't try a fold and re weld but just one stack,one weld,keep it hot and stretch it and that would be it..
This is just what I have figured out and will do when I get a press,The power hammer doesn't work good on stainless,Like I said I have tried..
Maybe someone else can give us both some more input on this..
Bruce

 

[burke531]

Try using the dry method of welding on stainless. Part of the problem is the way that stainless oxidizes and the resistance that these cromium oxides have to the fluxing action of borax. I don't know about the hammer but I think that Devin Thomas uses a power hammer on his stainless damascus. A FIVE HUNDRED POUND LITTLE GIANT.

 

[Bruce Bump]

This summer for my vacation I have offered to sweep floors at the shop of Devin Thomas. I plan to secretly see how he does it.

 

[Jerry Hossom]

Actually, I think Devin uses a 350 ton press.

 

[burke531]

Devin welds with a hammer and uses a press to do the patterning. At least I think that is what he told me. I could be confused.