WIP - 3 bar layered braided damascus

M

MacroPc

Joined
Aug 10, 2021
Messages
7
So here's how the idea came to be. At work yesterday we were talking about our "knot" tree. (Its a tree we tied knots in the branches years ago and it all grew together). And in tieing more knots and doing a couple braids with the smaller branches the thought popped in my head to do it with steel and make a blade out of it.

My plan is to use a 12 layer bar, a 1/2" W1 rod and a 12 layer billet cut into 4 chunks, forge welded and drawn out then cut in half for a total of 96 layers. I am so excited to see what kind of pattern this will produce (if successful) I left work an hour early just to get started, lol.

So far I have the 12 layer bar done around 5/8" thick round, the W1 is cleaned up and ready and I got as far as cutting the 2nd 12 layer billet into 4 chunks. Hopefully I can get those welded up and drawn out today and get the braiding started this weekend.

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Ive only been able to find 2 videos/pictures of someone braiding steel for a blade but in both instances the pattern was never shown. Has anyone attempted this or have a picture of what kind of pattern this process will yield?
 
So heres a progress update. I made a mistake when cutting the 2nd 12 layer billet up. Instead of 4 peices I cut it into 5 and then left one in the vice (doh!). So its still the same number of layers except not as much material. Its obvious when you look at the rounded bars length.

Anyways I got the 4x12 (48) cut in half and welded together - so were at 96 layers. Just finished rounding the bars into about 5/8" thick rods. The W1 is 1/2".

Its my daughters bday party this weekend and the wife has me doing a bunch of stuff in preperation for that (shes turning 5). Hopefully Ill find some time this weekend to get these braided up.

My plan is to weld long handles on each rod and weld one end together. Ill heat all 3 up at the same time using one burner on the forge and as I wrap them around eachother I want to be able to hand hammer them together to keep them as close as possible.

My only real concern is getting them to weld together without having to smash them together so much that the pattern is lost. I plan on using something similar to the jelly roll process in braiding these (as in hammering them together keeping them tight and closed as I braid them).

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Got done with work early so had some time to work on this. Braiding it was tough. Its most definately not a perfect braid but I beleive I got it all welded together. It got a bit short on me so Im going to cut it in half and stack it to get some height on it. But the sad time has come for any bladesmith... when the propane runs out in the middle of a project...

So anyways, heres the pics I took.





Pics are backwards
 
Ok finally got the tank filled. Got the billet welded together and rough shaped. I believe I need to remove more material for the pattern to be more of what I expected (although I think it got smooshed and stretched a bit too much). Anyways heres the pics from today. Just a quick clean up and quick etch.





post images
 
I should have twisted it after braiding. That would have made things alot tighter. If/when I attempt this again I will try that
 
I cut the billet in half, forge welded it and twisted it. Came out like a regulsr twisted billet. Cant even tell it was braided.

I will try again some day.
 
The pics look like it made a very unique pattern...great job on the idea...trial and error is usually the best way to learn, at least in my case it is...I like the patchy pattern it made...nice try man
 
Yea I like the pattern but really wish it was much, much tighter. I think when I do it again Ill have to wrap it/braid it super tight and maybe use smaller diameter rods. That and once its welded together not stretch it out of course. Im definately not done with this idea, just have to finish up some other projects first.
 
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