Making Damascus Steel 2

[drewbob901]

could you do this without a power hammer and if so how long woud it take

[Conan568]

@drewbob901

You could do it without a power hammer, but it would take quite some time.

I've done it, but it was so long ago that I can't recall how long it took.

[MrNarty]

how do you make engravings into the sword?

[Conan568]

@MrNarty

Those patterns are caused by the layers in the steel being exposed by an acid bath then polished.

[Conan568]

Anyone can forge, you just need a few simple tools.

[sjingelling]

i wish i could learn that, :p i love manual labor xD

[Cowman4351]

I sure am glad to see somebody carrying on with an almost lost tradition

[Conan568]

@Cowman4351

Thanks, this art it's lost no more.

[Cowman4351]

@Conan568

My grandfather had some digging bars he brought in to get sharpend thinking they could do a better job.. they did not the were sharpend all right but they really messed up on the temper and must have tried to draw them out to cold.

[jonneyj]

Nope i do not, wish i did LOL can anyone tell me or show me??

[kylongrifle]

25lb Lg is not what most would consider a big hammer but they can do an amazing ammount of work.. With the high BPM they generally operate at they really move metal..

[BryanzOwner]

I'ts good to see ye olde blacksmithers like you on youtube.

Appreciations from Italy.

[Conan568]

@BryanzOwner

Thank you.

[asleeperj]

@Conan568 What is the machine called that you are using? Is it operated by a foot pedal?

[Conan568]

@asleeperj

You've got it.

It's a trip hammer, powered by an electric motor and activated by a foot pedal.

[trfinck]

@lilblitz actually, the material to make damascus was introduced in India (called Wootz steel), and spread to Persia. It was actually the Celts and Germanics that created Damascus steel blades.

[Conan568]

@lilblitz

Not once have I said I hated Muslim's, I hate Islam and Muslim's are as much it's victim's as anyone else.

Now learn to read English before commenting again.

[ThisGuyGamesOK]

@lilblitz you sir, are sadly mistaken, steel was discovered shortly into the iron age, long before the birth of Muhammad. before you type a hateful comment have some knowledge of what you are talking about

[jonneyj]

Does it cost alot to use a air hammer?? im looking into gettign one and im thinking it is too expensive to run

[Conan568]

@jonneyj

This video shows my ancient trip hammer being used, but my new air hammer draws about 50 amps.

They are very inexpensive to run.

[jonneyj]

@Conan568

ok thanks, i think ill go for an air hammer over converting my log splitter to a press, sides i can piss my neighboor off with the air hammer :P

[blacksmither1]

@jonneyj do you know how to convert a log splitter?

[snooch1975]

@Conan568 where can i get one of these air hammers?

[Conan568]

@snooch1975

Actually the hammer I use in this video is a 25 lb. trip hammer which is now retired.

I bought a Striker air hammer to replace it, but Striker was bought out by another forging hammer company in China.

Angyang are the cheapest, but they aren't as strong and heavy as the Striker hammers are.

[blacksmither1]

@Conan568 where does one go about acquiring said power hammer?

[Conan568]

@snooch1975

Unfortunately the Striker hammer company was absorbed by a larger forging hammer manufacturer in China, so I have no idea where to get one.

Type in "Striker forging hammer" and see what comes up.

[jabara83]

how do u make the fire that hot? it doesnt seem anything like wood

[Conan568]

@jabara83

It's a propane forge that I built.

[jabara83]

what types of steel would you layer together to make the damascus?

[Conan568]

@jabara83

Low carbon steel and high carbon steel mixed alternately.

[jabara83]

@Conan568 i'm taking a metals class in highschool, and im hoping to learn some forging type stuff like this,  i'm thinking i would get some files and some springs and do this process, wat do u think of doing something like that?

[Conan568]

@jabara83

That's exactly what you use, I still use leaf springs, and files.

If you heat treat a file knife correctly it will bend past 90 degrees and hold an edge damned near forever.

[jabara83]

@Conan568 what about the heat treat? that detail has always confused me, i put it under the flame for so so amount of time then quench it under oil, how do u calculate how long to put it under the flame and when to quench it, because i no that a small mess up at this step can make a big difference

[Conan568]

@jabara83

Get a hot fire going, stick a piece of iron in, heat it red and stir your oil with it.

I thread the tang and put a nut on so the blade doesn't slip out of tongs .

You want the blade back cooler and the edge area orange, and non-magnetic.

Quickly plunge the hot blade into the oil point down and stir for 30 sec.

Pull the blade out check for warps, then file the blade edge.

The file should bite into the spine, but not the edge.

Next, temper it in your kitchen oven @ 500 for 2 hours.

[jabara83]

@Conan568 thanks that helps alot, is there any possibility u could make a vid of this on the next knife u make? and when ur sharpening it, do u use a belt sander or a wet grinder or just by hand?

[Conan568]

@jabara83 I just use a medium then fine Arkansas stone to sharpen.

[deadlywithguitar]

im still not seeing the difference

[SillyEddyPhotography]

Would you be able to explain what the 'layers' bit means? I'm aware of metals having layers in the atomic level, but I don't know where 448 comes from, or what this number means. Is more better? Cheers.

[Conan568]

@SillyEddyPhotography

There are 448 layers of steel in the bar I forged this blade from.

I start with 7 layers and weld and re-stack until I hit, now 336 layers for small knives and 448 for large knives..

[Ilovehossain]

How much is the automatic presser?

[Conan568]

@Ilovehossain

It's called a power hammer, and they sell for $2500 to $3000 or more.

[Badco99]

Why make it "damascus" instead of a high carbon alloy? More or less to say "look" at my "damascus" knife? Just curious. As I understand it, there isn't any more damascus materials and the modern alloys can outperform the traditional damascus/wootz steel.

[Conan568]

@Badco99

I don't name the Stuff, that happens to be what it's called, Damascus steel.

There were two types traded in Damascus, Wootz and pattern welded.

Both are classified as Damascus steel.

[Badco99]

@Conan568 Yes...I know that. The question was why not just forge a really good alloy, unless you were looking for that particular look. I'm not bashing you, I am just curious.

[Conan568]

@Badco99

It's for the beautiful patterns in the blades, that's what it's all about.

You have to see one of these things up close to appreciate it.

[attackoftherandom]

this is probably a stupid question but what is that pounding machine and how much is one?

[Conan568]

@attackoftherandom

That is a 100 year old + trip hammer.

I've since retired it, and in the next video series I will be using an air hammer.

You can buy the old hammers on ebay, they go for $2000 and up.

[attackoftherandom]

@Conan568 i bit out of my price range but thanks for the info and thanks for quikly responding to questions poeple post

[Conan568]

@attackoftherandom

Thanks, I try to reply to as many people as I can.

[shrivak]

How do you make these "patterns" that I see so often?!

[Conan568]

The third video in this series shows me forging in the "Ladder pattern" on the stag handled Bowie's blade.

I ground alternating grooves in each side of the bar, then forged it flat.

[shrivak]

That's pretty cool!

Now what is that swirly gas-looking pattern i see alot in damascus blades?

[peevy1]

hey iv bin watching and i would like to start makeing them myself better yet to learn how but theres no one here to teach any advise

[littlecheckerbox]

do you guys have a website where I could buy one of your knives?

[Conan568]

I'm going through some surgery this year for arterial blockages in my legs, so I'm not taking any orders or making knives until it's all finished.

If you pm me in the Spring hopefully I'll be all done by then.

Thanks for your interest.

[Conan568]

Thanks we will.

We're making more Damascus this fall, and it will be filmed.

[Nightsfield]

Huzzah! I can't wait to watch! I can't tell you just how much fun I have watching the dross get hammered off the glowing metal.

[Conan568]

New air hammer too, it'll be something.

[Ballpythondude420]

If you dont mind me asking how much did your metalworking shop cost to setup?

[Conan568]

It didn't cost much at first because I scrounged my equipment.

I couldn't give you an exact figure, but it would be under $2000.

[1metalnation]

oh, sweet, next time you make a knife you should also show the billet assembly, I would like to see how you get the 1095 count up, like you mentioned in a comment on one of your other videos

[Conan568]

I believe there's a pic of an assembled billet in on of my slide shows.We do plan to film more of the process in the next series of vids. but right now it's too hot.

[1metalnation]

ok cool, I will go look for it

[1metalnation]

I havnt seen you putting the flux on the steel, and you have the same auto-hammer as my smithing master

[Conan568]

There's flux on there alright.

A lot of those sparks flying off were borax.

Cool about the power hammer.

[kalashnikovrus]

Well hm first of all id like to thank you for showing how to forge damascus steel always wondered what process you go through im starting to work with damascus myself so if you have any suggestions please tell them . thanks

[Conan568]

Yeah I have one suggestion.

Buy the book "The Complete Bladesmith."

It's the best book on the subject there is, and I wish I'd had it when I started out.

[obertin16]

hahaha i've found myself watching each vid over and over and over again

[obertin16]

ok well im amazed by the quality of your blades i am 16 but have been collecting/admiring blades since i was about 6 and therefore have always been relatively interested with forging what age do you suggest an individual starts forging?

[Conan568]

Thanks, you're old enough to start forging now.

Start with small blades and go to bigger knives as you get better at forging them.

[obertin16]

alright i just need to get some metal a hammer and a forge i suppose luckily my great grandpa was a blacksmith haha

[Conan568]

Do you have access to any of your Great Grandpa's tools?

You could tell your Aunt's and Uncle's you want to starting forging.

If they have any old smithing tools they might give them to you.

[obertin16]

actually my grandparents have all the tools i think anvil hammer tongs i think im gonna havta get a new hammer but that shud be every thing except a forge right?

[Conan568]

You can usually rehandle and dress old hammers.

That would be really cool for you to put those tools back where they belong.

In action.

[TheDevilsRubberDucky]

im 13 and i want to start forging, but i dont have a forge, if i got an old brake drum or rotor, what would be the cheapest source of fuel/ something i could make?

[Conan568]

You can make your own charcoal for fuel.

There are several instruction videos here on Youtube that show you how.

[subOceanofoilfilm]

Where do you live? not to be creepy but I'm looking for a place close by that sells forging hammers (mechanical) like that striker you got there. where'd you get yours?

[Conan568]

I live on the west coast of Canada, but that air hammer was in Quebec when I bought it.

[PrestonProductions1]

so some where by calgary?

[sc00ny]

I see your Coote now!

Did you build your gas burner or was it a diy job.

Nice looking shop pops

[Conan568]

I built it from plans I found in the book, "The Complete Bladesmith."

If you want a book that teaches it all, that's the one to get.

[OutdoorsBlackMan]

Can you make high quality blades without any power tools?

I am interested in becoming a bladesmith and like doing things with "manpower". I also don't have a great deal of money to buy starting equipment.

[Conan568]

Yes you can, it just takes longer.

I do a lot of work by hand anyway, because I put a convex edge on my blades, and I also polish them by hand.

[Conan568]

The hammer is powered by a 5 hp. electric motor.

[Conan568]

That power hammer is powered by a 5 hp. single phase electric motor.

This batch of Damascus wore the old girl out.

I've retired it, but it can still be used.

Now I use an 88 lb. air hammer.

[Conan568]

You can find those "Little Giant" type hammers on ebay.

Be aware that some may need new babbit bearings made, and if you can't do that yourself it will cost you a lot.

The hammer in this video has that very problem, and can only be run a short time now.

I bought an 88 lb. Striker air hammer to replace this old one.

The old hammer is still usable and I will be keeping it as backup.

[jonneyj]

where can i get a hammer like that?? and howd you make your forge??