WIP Damascus Eastside

[canineforge]

You have done a great job of making this a very informative WIP thread. These threads always take a great deal of work on the part of the maker and I for one am very appreciative for all the time and effort.

Me, too! Great thread, Craig. Enjoying this one a lot. :thumbup:

- Joe

 

[C-Camerer]

I finished up the finish grinding tonight. I didn't get any pictures as this is mainly just repition on the grinder. Tomorrow I should get it hand sanded and etched. Friday at the latest and then handle and finished over the weekend!

I alternate the layeres of w and the layers or random as each bar will have a different pattern showing in the face of the steel. This pattern is basiaclly a multibar pattern. The randon will give me straight lines down the blade and the W will give me the "w" pattern. When I hit it with the ladder dies it cause both patterns to undulate up and down the length of the blade. Once I get a clear etch on it you will be able to see the two distinct patterns.

 

[RogerP]

Looking forward to seeing that pattern Craig - thanks for this cool thread.

Roger

 

[RMLamey]

more pics, more pics, more pics more pics!

 

[mohd]

I alternate the layeres of w and the layers or random as each bar will have a different pattern showing in the face of the steel.

Any idea how many layers of damascus steel are in this blade, Craig?

And what's so spectacular about the number of layers in a damascus steel that it always being mentioned by some knifemakers? And how to count the number of layers in a bar of damascus steel? I guess these last two questions are open to all knifemakers who happened to read this particular posting, please

Mohd.

 

[C-Camerer]

There are 660 layers in this billet. The layer count gets kind crazy with this pattern as you are edge folding and restocking on half the pieces in the billet and the other half you are just folding normally for a random effect.

Here are som more WIP pics:

The blade has one side taped up for protection as I get ready to hand sand the other side. Don't pay any attention to the dirty shop floor.

These are the tools I use to handsand, minus the sand paper.

I start at the swedge and work that area first. The tip of the blade is dark as I am impatient and had to take a sneak peak at the pattern after finish grinding.

 

[C-Camerer]

The swedge is finished up on this side and now I am working the bevels. I use a longer bar to flatten and make sure everything is true with no waves or dips.

Both sides are done and I am getting ready to etch my name on the blade.

My stencil is taped on and ready to go. I only tape one side so that I can raise the stencil to check the progress.

Here is what the name looks like after etching. I did not reverse the polarity on my etcher to darken my name as the blade is going to be etched in ferric chloride to bring out the damascus pattern anyway.

 

[C-Camerer]

Who is that guy in the dirty mirror? It is me. the guy who owned my shp before me was a wood worker and he had stain splattered everywhere in this part of the shop. You will see the sink in the next picture and it is covered with stain.

Here is the dirty sink with my tube of ferric chloride. I hang the knife in the PVC tube to get an etch.

This is the etched blade.

a close up of the pattern.

 

[Jon Brand]

Beautiful steel!!

 

[John White]

That blade and that pattern are looking good, Craig.

John

 

[John M Cohea]

That steel is awesome Craig!:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[RogerP]

Gorgeous pattern Craig. :thumbup:

Roger

 

[peterinct]

Gorgeous pattern Craig. :thumbup:

Roger

+1 Love that steel.

Peter

 

[mohd]

A macho blade with a handsome damascus pattern :thumbup: :thumbup:
Great work, Craig

Mohd.

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I've seen that sink!
You haven't cleaned it up yet?

Here is the dirty sink with my tube of ferric chloride. I hang the knife in the PVC tube to get an etch.

Absolutely beautiful pattern, Craig.
Beautiful.

This is the etched blade.

 

[Amnesiac]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. This is great information for a new guy like me. I've really enjoyed walking through your post and look forward to your next posts.

 

[stewart]

Craig thanks for posting all of this very informative. The blade looks awesome cant wait to see the finished knife!!:thumbup:

 

[jjtjr]

Craig,

This is a super thread. I really like the damascus pattern. Great job.

Jim Treacy

 

[JParanee]

Great pattern and a dynamite looking blade .... thanks for taking the time

 

[jdm61]

Who is that guy in the dirty mirror? It is me. the guy who owned my shp before me was a wood worker and he had stain splattered everywhere in this part of the shop. You will see the sink in the next picture and it is covered with stain.

Here is the dirty sink with my tube of ferric chloride. I hang the knife in the PVC tube to get an etch.

This is the etched blade.

a close up of the pattern.

Okay.........that just answered my question as to why you combine the W and random layers.:thumbup: