swarf damascus

[Lord Farquhar]

can you get swarf of decent sise and make it in to damascus?
i have a big machine shop near me that has a huge skip out the front full of massive swarf.... can it be done ?

[Kevin]

can you get swarf of decent sise and make it in to damascus?
i have a big machine shop near me that has a huge skip out the front full of massive swarf.... can it be done ?

I cant see why not. But what steel is it? (carbon or mild?)....If its not good enough to make a blade , then maybe fittings?

Also, is the swarf all one steel?...If so, then you may not get much, or any contrast!!!...unless you use an other known steel to add the conrast.


I think it would have to be 'canned'.....placed in a steel can and sealed......and forged like canned powdered steel damascus mosiacs...

Just my 2 cents worth.

Tai Goo once made a cool looking damascus form bottle caps.

[MushiSushi]

one thing to consider is that the swarf will be covered in cutting fluids and/or oils and would require a lot of cleaning. it's almost definitely going to be mild steel so no good for blades

[PS_Bond]

The surface area with swarf is almost certainly going to require a can - you'll need to prevent oxidation.

[Colin KC]

Plop your swarf inna can, top up with powdered steel, away you go:D

[Colin KC]

one thing to consider is that the swarf will be covered in cutting fluids and/or oils and would require a lot of cleaning. it's almost definitely going to be mild steel so no good for blades

Some peeps put diesel in cans anyway Mushy, so shouldn't be a problem (unless it's got some yucky "mess with welding" **** innit:()

[one_rod]

Many machine shops use "Free Cutting" steel. This has additives which make machining easier and allows higher cutting speeds. The additives tend to vaporise at welding temperatures, making this stuff an absolute PITA to arc or gas weld.
I know fire welding is a different process, but I can imagine all sorts of problems if it is F.C. steel.
Were you planning on asking for some of the swarf, or just filching it when nobody was about?
If you are going to ask try to find out if they use F.C. and avoid it.



one_rod.

[Mike Blue]

Sometimes the free machining steels will have lead alloy in there to make the cutting easier too. That's nasty stuff to breathe off the forge. Can welding will burn off the cutting fluids which is what you want, something to take out the oxygen. Try to squeeze out all the air and get as much swarf into the can as possible. Then hammer it down in there a lot more. Filling the spaces with powder is good. Even so, you'll get a pattern from the weld boundaries even without a contrasting steel. Very subtle. It can turn out quite cool looking.

In my shop, that's called either "shop floor surprise" or the metallic equivalent of head cheese.

[Ross]

Is your Swarf Eager?

[MushiSushi]

" ....and nothing was heard but the creak of the chains on the sign swinging in the wind and the rustle of tumble weed as it passed by ....... "

[Ross]

You loved it really Mushi eh?