Easy damascus patterns?

**tenderfoot** · 10-08-12, 05:43 AM

Well as I am finally getting around to finishing a billet (two years in the making

) I was wondering about a realitivley easy pattern to make, other then random. Im torn between twist and snake eyes (I think I can just drill dimples in the billet before I finish drawing it out and get some 'eyes' no?). What other easy patterns are there? Im still new at this so don't recommend W's (been there, tried that, didn't work well at all). I have about 10lbs of good steel to play with so if I screw this one up theres more to us.

However I am having trouble enough welding in solid fuel (propane forge is down so I'm stuck with straight fire wood), so don't judge me if I can't get anything to stick!

As of now the plan is to shoot for about 80 or so layers, and then split the bar in two and make two square bars and twist each, then weld them one on top of the other and forge that into a knife (weld being parallel with the spine).

**bashup** · 10-08-12, 09:19 PM

The first pattern I did was just grinding Xs in to the billet and drilling shallow dents between the spaces beside the Xs. Very easy, supposedly to result in a butterfly pattern. It wasn't great but I could see what was possible if I'd had more time to grind it nicely. The layer count was also about 80.
Raindrop pattern must be about as easy as they come.

**John N** · 10-08-12, 10:00 PM

I agree, carve some 'XXXXXXX' along the billet with an angle grinder, then forge to shape. It gives a much nicer effect than the lack of effort should!

One really stunning knife was made by Jerry Fisk, again a modified ladder patten, but carved like a fan (the kind victorian ladies used!)

this link should show it!

http://www.fototime.com/DCA3E7FEA37FB59/orig.jpg

**Alan Wood** · 10-08-12, 11:06 PM

Once you have sufficient layers it must be a tight twist pattern. Theoretically, such a blade will also give the best "damascus cutting effect" unless you are simply after decoration.

**tenderfoot** · 11-08-12, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by bashup

The first pattern I did was just grinding Xs in to the billet and drilling shallow dents between the spaces beside the Xs. Very easy, supposedly to result in a butterfly pattern. It wasn't great but I could see what was possible if I'd had more time to grind it nicely. The layer count was also about 80.
Raindrop pattern must be about as easy as they come.

Unfortunately I don't have an angle grinder (just a hacksaw), but I do have a drill press and a buffer/bench grinder. Perhaps I could use a small round file to do the same thing (or round out cuts from the hacksaw)

Originally Posted by John N

I agree, carve some 'XXXXXXX' along the billet with an angle grinder, then forge to shape. It gives a much nicer effect than the lack of effort should!

One really stunning knife was made by Jerry Fisk, again a modified ladder patten, but carved like a fan (the kind victorian ladies used!)

this link should show it!

http://www.fototime.com/DCA3E7FEA37FB59/orig.jpg

OOOH that looks rather pretty! I imagine that I could do something like that (sans ladder patterns). I wonder what that would look like twisted, has anyone tried that?

Originally Posted by Alan Wood

Once you have sufficient layers it must be a tight twist pattern. Theoretically, such a blade will also give the best "damascus cutting effect" unless you are simply after decoration.

How tight is tight? One twist per inch? Or tighter?

**GHEzell** · 11-08-12, 11:56 PM

A ladder pattern is about as easy as it gets. Forge to profile but +1/3 thick, cut grooves across the billet, flip it over and cut opposing grooves on the other side, forge it down and presto!

Something else that works well is forge the profile but +1/3 thick, and just wack the heck out of it with a cross-pein or ball-pein on both sides leaving deep dents all over it. Grind it flat, then forge it on down to shape. This results in a very busy random pattern. Expect to loose that +1/3 thickness to grinding.

Angle grinders are cheap compared to how useful they are...

**tenderfoot** · 12-08-12, 02:21 AM

Originally Posted by GHEzell

A ladder pattern is about as easy as it gets. Forge to profile but +1/3 thick, cut grooves across the billet, flip it over and cut opposing grooves on the other side, forge it down and presto!

Something else that works well is forge the profile but +1/3 thick, and just wack the heck out of it with a cross-pein or ball-pein on both sides leaving deep dents all over it. Grind it flat, then forge it on down to shape. This results in a very busy random pattern. Expect to loose that +1/3 thickness to grinding.

Angle grinders are cheap compared to how useful they are...

I agree about the angle grinders and just having paid for first semester of university I am flat broke. I can see why parents complain about it so much.

So unfortunately, no new toys are in the cards (yet!).

Also, the ball pain whacking pattern (does it have a name?) is fun. But now I have to go make a new billet as I burned my current one to slag today.

**GHEzell** · 12-08-12, 03:05 AM

Ouch, sorry to hear about the billet.

Originally Posted by tenderfoot

Also, the ball pain whacking pattern (does it have a name?) is fun.

It is still a random pattern, just an interesting one...

**tenderfoot** · 12-08-12, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by GHEzell

Ouch, sorry to hear about the billet.

It is still a random pattern, just an interesting one...

Aha. Well I may call it something like 'whackamole pattern' or something to the tune of that.

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