That is a beauty. There is a guy in Portland OR that specializes in Damascus. He places a hot piece of iron in his his press dies prior to drawing out his Damascus billet. The dies really suck the heat out of the hot steel. Awesome work and really liking those Patreon videos.
Correct ,but thats only advantages during first few cycles in the press. After the first few cycles the press dies get hot fast anyway. The first few times you just need to go fast and dont press to deep at the same spot.You have to keep loocking at the steel and never let it go black when pressing.Using narrow dies can help a lot preventing heat loss. But even when the dies are very hot they keep sucking heat fast since the whole press is one big chunk of steel( its a heatsink)...centainly when you use a slow system like an air over oil press like Lawrence does. A heavy and fast 25-30 tons electric hydraulic press is the better option...but the very best tool for damascus forging is a power hammer because the contact with the billet is very short and so the heat remains in the billet much longer.
Thank you for the information. I am learning a lot and seeing things from various perspectives. People sharing helps so much, I love this info sharing media.
Hi Lawrence. That is a very wel made damascus cladding knife. I found the most difficult in making these is to keep the core centered in the billet. If its off to much you get a blade that has damascus patches reaching the cutting edge. What i do to avoid this was to first make the damascus billet a bit thinner before i added the core. I usually try to get it to max 4mm thick and i grind it parralel before adding a 4mm thick core to it. Then i forge the stacked billet from about 12mm thick down to 6mm and grind the edges clean before i sand the blank flat. I dunk it in ferric for a minute to see where the core is at and adjust the grinding so that the core remains a bit more in the center. From 6mm to about 3.5-4mm . I also do not forge weld the bevels or the shape of the knife since it has the tendency to distort/bend the core unevenly. My latest knife looks a lot like the one you show here....i only added an extra layer 99% pure nickle between the core and the damascus to get a visible wavy transition between those layers. This was the result facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1709835229098560&set=a.125354204213345.31899.100002162994745&type=3&theater
Thanks mate, yes i did a quick etch after surface grinding to see the edge, realised i had deformed the core quite alot which meant the damascus was not an even thickness each side, knew at that point it might be off on one side a little but as it was a trial run was not concerned. next time i can get it right working the sides evenly. The damascus down one side on this was caused by not hammering on the bevel enough the other side got more work, but good to find out these things for the job to come. Cheers.
I have a question for you Lawrence ...does the damascus steel that you forge anneal well in the ash you put it in hot?I have a hard time getting it soft enough to make drilling of handle holes somewhat easyer. Tried normalising/annealing it by putting it 3-4 times back in the forge to glowing red and let it cool down slowly....it does soften but it stays very tough to drill.
yes its really soft annealed after the ash only really needs 2 hours in it. Most carbon steels will harden just cooling in the air so you need ash or vermiculite etc to bring the temp down slowly to soften it.
Man oh man, would love to try my hand at some San Mai... Damascus too... One day I'll get there.. Really love the press you made, the knife came out sweet and that pattern is SICK!!! Take it easy...
Awesome video......and an awesome knife. Looking forward to see the finished product. You make beautiful and usable knives as I see it. I am into knives myself. I am a hunter and knives are nessesary tools during my hunts. Greets from a subscriber in Norway😊👍
Another informative video, thanks, and yet another beautiful knife - a quick question, please. Can you tell me what type of press you are using and where it came from? Many thanks
Fine job Loz. You mention doing San Mi from stainless will it have a high carbon core ? If so do you weld the stainless solid on the outside of the core or do you use a special caustic flux? It would be nice to see the process you use . That is something I'd like to try I really like the contrast from the stainless and high carbon. Martin
Hi Martin, yes the core will be 01 or 1095 the stainless will be mig welded all around the edges to keep oxygen out during forge welding, no flux needed
Nice to see a true craftsman that has a wealth of knowledge in his craft.
There is sharp and then there is Harrop sharp. Nice one.
I have been planning a similar project and now I run across your video...must be a sign!
Go for it mate. cheers
That is one terrific creative pattern mate - the pure 1095 on the bottom with the Damascus along the top. I love it Loz!!!!!
Thanks Rick ive just dressed it in nice clothes
That is a beauty. There is a guy in Portland OR that specializes in Damascus. He places a hot piece of iron in his his press dies prior to drawing out his Damascus billet. The dies really suck the heat out of the hot steel. Awesome work and really liking those Patreon videos.
Correct ,but thats only advantages during first few cycles in the press. After the first few cycles the press dies get hot fast anyway. The first few times you just need to go fast and dont press to deep at the same spot.You have to keep loocking at the steel and never let it go black when pressing.Using narrow dies can help a lot preventing heat loss. But even when the dies are very hot they keep sucking heat fast since the whole press is one big chunk of steel( its a heatsink)...centainly when you use a slow system like an air over oil press like Lawrence does. A heavy and fast 25-30 tons electric hydraulic press is the better option...but the very best tool for damascus forging is a power hammer because the contact with the billet is very short and so the heat remains in the billet much longer.
Thanks Pascual yes i do the same to warm the dies up, cant get them too hot or they deform when squashing the billet, faster press one day.
Thank you for the information. I am learning a lot and seeing things from various perspectives. People sharing helps so much, I love this info sharing media.
Hi Lawrence. That is a very wel made damascus cladding knife. I found the most difficult in making these is to keep the core centered in the billet. If its off to much you get a blade that has damascus patches reaching the cutting edge. What i do to avoid this was to first make the damascus billet a bit thinner before i added the core. I usually try to get it to max 4mm thick and i grind it parralel before adding a 4mm thick core to it. Then i forge the stacked billet from about 12mm thick down to 6mm and grind the edges clean before i sand the blank flat. I dunk it in ferric for a minute to see where the core is at and adjust the grinding so that the core remains a bit more in the center. From 6mm to about 3.5-4mm . I also do not forge weld the bevels or the shape of the knife since it has the tendency to distort/bend the core unevenly. My latest knife looks a lot like the one you show here....i only added an extra layer 99% pure nickle between the core and the damascus to get a visible wavy transition between those layers. This was the result facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1709835229098560&set=a.125354204213345.31899.100002162994745&type=3&theater
Thanks mate, yes i did a quick etch after surface grinding to see the edge, realised i had deformed the core quite alot which meant the damascus was not an even thickness each side, knew at that point it might be off on one side a little but as it was a trial run was not concerned. next time i can get it right working the sides evenly. The damascus down one side on this was caused by not hammering on the bevel enough the other side got more work, but good to find out these things for the job to come. Cheers.
HoutmeyersP Glad to see some discussion on this aspect as noticed it myself. Had a look at your picture very nice knife, the nickle works well.
ppotty1 very nice knife Loz, I like that look a lot, almost Hamon like, big thumbs up.
I have a question for you Lawrence ...does the damascus steel that you forge anneal well in the ash you put it in hot?I have a hard time getting it soft enough to make drilling of handle holes somewhat easyer. Tried normalising/annealing it by putting it 3-4 times back in the forge to glowing red and let it cool down slowly....it does soften but it stays very tough to drill.
yes its really soft annealed after the ash only really needs 2 hours in it. Most carbon steels will harden just cooling in the air so you need ash or vermiculite etc to bring the temp down slowly to soften it.
AT 6 03 SHOULD BE YOUR THUMBNAIL. Good video and knife.
thanks yes you are right nice still that one
Nice knife sir,,very sharp knife
That came out awesome!
Thanks bill
Man oh man, would love to try my hand at some San Mai... Damascus too... One day I'll get there.. Really love the press you made, the knife came out sweet and that pattern is SICK!!! Take it easy...
Hey Dave yea its all a learning curve, will do a better job on the next one
Wow, looks pretty impressive to me as it is... Have a great day..
Wow. Perfect outcome
Thank you
Wow, just wow! Absolutely gorgeous!!!!! You are a master metallurgist! Thank you for sharing
thanks Mate
Loz. stunning is falling short on the description, She is gorgeous. You hit a home run with this one.
Cheers Joe
Wow, looks great!!
Thanks Dennis
Great San Mai Damascus !
love the pattern. One day when I can afford it, I order one of your knives.
Thanks Thomas
Nice work
Looks great mate :)
Awesome video......and an awesome knife. Looking forward to see the finished product. You make beautiful and usable knives as I see it. I am into knives myself. I am a hunter and knives are nessesary tools during my hunts.
Greets from a subscriber in Norway😊👍
Hi Kjell and thanks you
Beautiful blade! 😊
Thanks Penny
Man that's beautiful!
Thanks bud
Very nice sir
thank you
That is beautiful blade
Thanks Charlie
Another informative video, thanks, and yet another beautiful knife - a quick question, please. Can you tell me what type of press you are using and where it came from? Many thanks
Thanks Andrew, i made the press i have a video on it giving an overview
Brilliant. I'll have a search through and take a look. Many thanks
Fine job Loz. You mention doing San Mi from stainless will it have a high carbon core ? If so do you weld the stainless solid on the outside of the core or do you use a special caustic flux? It would be nice to see the process you use . That is something I'd like to try I really like the contrast from the stainless and high carbon. Martin
Hi Martin, yes the core will be 01 or 1095 the stainless will be mig welded all around the edges to keep oxygen out during forge welding, no flux needed
What oil you using for quenching? Beautiful pattern and blade!
hi its equiv to parks 25