Subject: HELP: Knife Pattern Welding

From: [email-masked] (Chris Knowlton)
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 1995 20:57:53 GMT

I am doing some basic pattern welding for knife blades.  I have done
straight layering and cable damascus, but I have a problem.  When I
get the first (second, third... next to last) weld drawn out and I cut
the resulting bar in half for the next weld, I have to grind off the
scale in order to make the next weld work well.  Can someone suggest a
low tech alternative as this removes a good portion of the top layer
especially in the later stages?

Chris Knowlton
Ring of Steel Armory
The Prince of Hearth Home Castle

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From: [email-masked] (JHrisoulas)
Date: 4 Oct 1995 20:29:52 -0400

I read your post about the grinding and material loss due to the
same..>well, you can always sand blast the surface. I have done this and
well, frankly I don't think that it works all that much better. Actually,
I wouldn't worry all that much as to how much material you are loosing,
simply weld up a larger faggot and cut it into thirds.

As for myself, I usually start with a faggot of approx 18" in length and 1
1/4" square of approx 50 layers. I am done in three weld/draw courses.
This really cuts down on material loss, carbon migration and most of all
time. I can weld up several pieces of 1 1/4" x 3/16" by 48 " ladder, hugs
and kisses or star twist in a day....

I really think that the ammount that you are loosing (at least the ammount
that I loose) is rather small compared to the total volume, but then
again, I am not aware as to how you work, whether you are using gas or
coal, a powerhammer or by hand....Too many variables.  I would however,
suggest that you weld up a larger billet and cut into thirds as it save a
whole lot of time.

Yours,

Dr. J.P. Hrisoulas