Can Copper Weld into Steel Damascus?

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Alec: @alecsteele

My name is Alec Steele and I am a 24 year old blacksmith. We make videos about making interesting things, learning about craft and appreciating the joy of creativity. Great to have you here following along!

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Alec Steele Blacksmith 2022

[Azmodon]

it's brazing - technically once you make your steel boat, so long as the opening is at the top, you can fully melt the copper and let it cool. The copper as a liquid will fill every crevice and void without the need to hit it (so use copper shims in the final thickness you want from the start). You can also make patterns in the copper by gouging the steel before melting it in place (giving you lines or waves of copper).

[prozacgod]

I've seen a few of these non-ferrous metal damascus videos, and something I have not seen, is attempting to increase the melt temperature of the copper, by alloying it first. IIRC Chromium+ Niobium can increase the melt temperature of the copper, and it might not lose it's coppery luster.

I ... don't think you need much maybe 5% by weight of each? But... like I'm no metallurgist, so... YMMV!

(Might be something worth looking up.)

[patrickosullivan]

When I did mokume I dipped the metal into barrier flux, bound them all together in a stack and brought them up to temperature with a tort in a darkened room. As soon as I noticed any indication of that gooeyness around the copper edges I would remove the torch and give it a slight tap between two very flat surfaces. Rinse and repeat a couple times and then treat it like a Billet of material as normal

[GiladBarad]

Alec I dare you to make a sword without any power tools

[Durkan]

So in a former life we used explosively welded stainless steel and copper to make heat exchangers…

you pack the billets of stainless and copper in high explosive and set it off and the high pressures fuses the dissimilar metals together.

The bond was tight enough to be leak tight to superfluid helium.

[TheTrueOSSS]

Quick answer: yes.
Copper is a problem contaminant in steel recycling because it's virtually impossible to separate once its been incorporated. Copper in steel generally follows Hume Rotheroy rules which strongly suggests the ability to form solid solutions. Unfortunately, the peoperties of Copper in steel tend to be undesirable. Nickle is similar, but gives better corrosion properties than copper without sacraficing microstructural integrity as much.
You'll need to be wary of the fact that martinsitic phases can't be generated in nonferrous alloys, so any form of heating will soften the supplemental metal. To retain blade strength it may be best to peen the edge instead of relying exclusively on heat treating.

[marvin]

With the Dark Steele Color and the Copper "vein" it would be a perfect knife, if you put a Handle out of Some sort of Dark Wood on it it would look awesome

[ColeDedhand]

6:21 That's exactly what I was afraid would happen. That molten copper squirting across the shop is extremely dangerous. But I guess you can't make anything cool with some third degree burns...

[blacksmith]

One incredible idea I heard for the mix of Mokume-Gane (multiple different non-ferrous metals forged together like damascus) with steel was to make a knife or sword with a steel edge embedded into a Mokume-Gane jacket. You can then grind and etch them so that it looks like the steel is emerging from a wood grain or any other pattern. SUPER pretty

[spookmineer]

That would make for a great watch dial. No strength needed, all visual splendor.

There have been a fair few of copper dial watches, but I don't know of any with this combo. They did a few with damascus in the bracelets, but not ina dial. Could be a winner!

[garretvantrease]

The videos have gotten so short would like to see some longer bigger projects these videos are awesome

[JPsBladeworks]

Cool idea of twisting it. Ive never thought of trying that. Ive had a few successful tries using it in Go Mais. All you have to do is make sure the weld is air tight all the way around and forging it out. Then do a stock removal. Good luck.

[KageStelhman]

The Ideal Temperature for forging CU Mai (Copper Damascus) is under 1800 F give, just barely red. I'd like to see you turn the billet into a Harpoon Point Hunting Knife with a Hidden Tang, or perhaps a Bowie if you have enough material to make one.

[mshafer]

Happy to see you back in Montana Alec. Hope all is going well after I am sure a long plane trip and drive back to your greatest shop. I started watching your channel when you were still on Barker street. And Sam was helping you do videos. The Montana shop is definitely the most impressive.

[rider-]

I would love to see bowie knife, a short Japanese knife that can be carried. Also a canister Damascus made from octagonal stock and copper.

[nicholastrigeiro]

Seeing you in your Texas shop gives my joy to no end. Glad your back, hope to see all the new things you have up your sleeves.

[jonathanhobson]

The steel jackets seemed like a pretty sweet idea. Maybe going for a full canister damascus could be cool.

[frankierzucekjr]

How does it feel to be home buddy. In your shop, with all your tools, and memories. I'm so glad you're back, I hope you guys stay. We miss your videos in this shop

[arvilmaddox]

I have made two knives out of Cu- Mai and currently working on my third, the best way I have found is to weld all the way around and keep the forge below 1800 F

[matthewf]

All the successful copper Damascus I’ve seen has been done by forging the steel to size, completely sealing in the copper with welds/sheet metal and ground to shape.