Forging Damascus By Hand (No Press or Powerhammer)

I forged this 120 layer damascus san-mai from sawblades and an 80crv2 core. I started with a 20 layer stack and re-stacked once to get roughly 120 layers. Here is the HUGE problem: I was not careful enough forging the re-stacked billet and the core ended up being horribly off center for about half the billet. This is frustrating but I think i will be able to make a knife from it. I am not sure how the pattern will look yet in regards to contrast between the alternating steels because my test etch was quick and at a relatively low finish, and the steel was not hardened which would show better contrast. Also the layers are very close together and it is hard to see the pattern on the endgrain of such a thin piece. Hopefully I make something from this soon so make sure to subscribe and let me know what to make. Thanks!

Instagram: ljpenn_

[calebgant]

Awesome vid man! Glad to see I’m not the only one who reaches for zues at the top of every hammer blow when drawing out Damascus.

[sandison_steel]

That’s why I stopped doing damascus by hand but it’s still a great forging experience! I went ahead bought a press! it’s on the ship and headed to anchorage! 🔥⚒💪🏻 awesome vid man!!

[Junkmann-kpmv]

Cool man. Nice work, fixing up my new shop and getting ready to give Damascus a try. Can’t wait for the next video.

[Kratos_God_of__BMG]

I just talked to Prometheus and he said he's gonna stop by and drop off some Fire of the Gods to help on whatever you choose to do for your next Damascus build 🤘🏽😁

[kren]

I know this was several years ago, but do you recall about how many heats and how long it took to hammer out to those final dimensions?

[Drew_lininger]

Make a competition chopper. Or some sort of identical double bladed dagger would be cool

[MarvinConman]

Dude you give me hope that I can make my own damascus even with my piddly coal forge. How long did it take you to forge it out?

[rmchargue]

How many heats did it take you to get the billet to 120 layers?

[arkonwolves]

Hey how much oxygen are you letting in through the burners? Im trying to forgeweld in a cast master forge and I want to make sure the forge is the right environment.

[lostmypicks]

I have tried and tried and tried and tried to get any metal to stick together in my forge. Air valves open damn near closed. It seems impossible. What's sad is I weld on nuclear parts in my real life. Lol . Very disheartening

[fullerblacksmithing]

I think a sleeker knife with an integral finger guard might be cool. See how much you can get out of it. Honestly, whatever you make, is gonna be sick

[benperkins]

Nice maybe a make a hand forged Bowie knife?

[Munxcub]

Forge the tang on the end where it's not centered well, no big deal. Looks good. 👍

[WJBlades]

If you want arms like mine it's worth it to do it by hand. 😉

[BiggusDiggus]

he picked up that 10lbs hammer up like a rubber mallet lol

[opa_plays_mw]

Considering a good press is thousands -and a press is 10's of thousands the loss of material is affordable.

[dragonstonegemironworkscra]

Ponderings of a silly old man.
So I'm looking at the billet. I can see a pot belly blacksmith knife. Course the centered end would be the blade. The other to be drawn out... twisted... square up then drawn to a taper, leaving a cube on the tail...cube is drawn to a semi leaf shape and left fairly thick and curved in reverse like a trigger bow., Sorta forming a finger gaurd to keep the finger from slipping forward and giving it a bit if steerability.
Now the twist n squared would show the Damascus pattern perhaps better in the handle.
Idk like I said, old man ramblings.
🙏 Blessings Sir, job well done
Crawford out ⚒️🧙‍♂️