Heart Spark Forge
1585 S Linley Court
Denver, CO 80219
United States
ph: 303-518-3841
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Damascus steel generally involves a pattern, either from a welding method, steel developing, or in some cases patterning powdered steels to weld together.
Wootz, Crucible damascus or Crystaline damascus is the origional damascus steel. It was developed in India and traveled with merchants through Damascus Syria. Smiths would refine the steel in crucibles with charcoal and wax to reach the desired carbon levels. As the steel congealed from the liquid state it would form small islands of different alloys. In forging these billets at a low temperature (around 1600F) they would form a grain that allowed harder and tougher steels than any other steel of the time.
Forge welded or pattern welded damascus was used both by the Vikings and Japanese smiths (my own little oversimplification...). Both cultures had limited access to high quality steel and compensated by welding layers of higher and lower carbon steel in different manners to allow a better blade.
Mosaic Damscus is a new method. Long tubes of steel are filled with a pattern of one steel and the space in between is filled with a contrasting powdered steel. The tube is then forge welded to create solid bars. The bars are then sectioned and welded side to side to create the blade.
Cool patterns can also be selected by using different materials.
Chain saw blade damascus is made of welded chain saw chains. It's formation is rather tedious, but the patterns are quite pleasing.
Cable damascus is made with high carbon steel cable which gives it an interesting anachronistic pattern.
San Mai is a blade making method that layers 2 different types of steel. Often one steel is used for the hard edge holding layer and either a tougher steel, or a more ornamental steel is used for the outer layer. Many will use a cool damascus pattern on the outside of a hard carbon steel for the cutting edge.
Another type of damascus is Damasteel. Damasteel is unique in that it is only manufactured in an industrial plant. The steel is higher in Chromium and as a result cannot be forge welded in an oxygen rich environment. It is induction heated in a vacuum. It is forgable, but since it commands a high price, most damasteel blades are made by stock removal.
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Heart Spark Forge
1585 S Linley Court
Denver, CO 80219
United States
ph: 303-518-3841
lar