thickness for Damascus??

K

Ken H>

Joined
Dec 31, 2011
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Hello ya'll. I'm looking for a bit of info. I've got .092" thick 15N20, and am looking at ordering 1080 strips. I'm thinking 1.5" wide, but what thickness? 1/8" with the .092" thick 15N20? OR, would 3/16" thick 1080 work good with .092" thick 15N20? Or even 1/4" thick 1080? I don't wish the 1080 to be so thick compared to the 15N20 the bright only shows in narrow strips.

Thank any for comments

Ken H
 
There's no rule. Sometimes I like thin 1084, so I can push up the layer count faster. A billet of 25 layer .092 isn't too tall. Alternatively, it is also all going to depend on how high you push the layer count after the restacks.
 
Yep, I should have mentioned those things. I tend to use around 20 layers for the stack. After drawing out, cut into 4 sections, stack and draw out again giving around 60 to 80 layers. I tend to prefer lower layer counts that give bolder patterns. Perhaps something like this:
Damascus-blade.jpg


Or a higher layer count like this by cutting and stacking again.
Dagger-D.jpg
 
That makes sense - using about the same thickness of 15N20 and 1080. With both about the same thickness it should the amount of bright to match the dark after etching. Thanks to both of ya'll for helping me get it more clear in my mind.
 
Hoss: Thank you for that bit of info. I'd never thought of that aspect. That's why we should have 1/8" and 3/16" both on hand :)
 
Ken H> said:
With both about the same thickness it should the amount of bright to match the dark after etching.
Click to expand...
Probably more information than you want, but I'd say this is true with lower layer billets. The nickel in the 15N20 makes it it a bit tougher than 1080 when forging, or put another way, the 1080 will move more under the hammer during forging so the more you forge/cut/stack the billets, the thinner the 1080 (dark) gets relative to the 15N20 (bright).

**(The parenthesis were not for you, but for the random reader not familiar with the process....;))**
 
Last edited:
Oh, I see Hoss already covered that.
Sorry for repeating
 
Yes, but BillyO, you explained the "why" of the different thickness. Both replies together told the "what" and the "why". Thank you both.
 
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