Damascus steel in detail, M. Kunelius - Part 1

[@johnmallett6805]

as some one who has just started to explore iron working .forge nearly complete :) and selection of hammers at the ready i would just like to say seeing workmanship like yours is what has inspired me to train. keep up the good work

[@DeathGhost809]

i am not a blacksmith but i love to watch a blacksmith working on a masterpiece

[@ArnoNoxFordSteyn]

I find it very relaxing watching forging video's Please tell me I'm not the only

[@sarahotto8190]

Arno 'NoxFord' Steyn maybe a little late, but you are not alone :D

[@workwithnature]

Three

[@tomaschagoya1967]

For a person that works with metals and forging them...he has extremely beautiful hands...holy wow.

[@Omnitapp]

That was amazing detail, he even let us see the type of steel he used. One of the best videos I've seen on the subject so far. I would be interested in a materiel selection video if any one knows of one

[@user-sm9qk5xj3i]

Love the camera shots man. And cool way of folding, never seen that before

[@Imachowderhead]

This is the coolest thing ive ever seen! I just bought a handmade damascus knife...I love it!

[@johnroberts6695]

That's a lot of detail. I love this type of steel and even have found that the cheap folded steel is very strong and keeps a decent edge. The real Damascus can be beautifully made, though it's well outside the range of most peoples affordability. Alas, the only kind of stacked, folded steel I can afford is made on the other side of the earth.

[@MrPrezi2]

Is this really the process of making Damascus steel? It's the same thing over and over again...cool stuff and great video!!!

[@nexus1g]

Relatively high- and low-carbon steel plates. Not only do they provide the Damascus steel pattern after acid bathing thanks to the varying hardness of the metals, but it provides a very plastic steel able to hold an edge very well. Methods for making Damascus steel were long forgotten until fairly recently when it was accidentally rediscovered. It may still not be authentic, but it's the closest we have.

[@JohnReslerpages]

Beautiful piece of art in any case.

[@mishadundua]

The video thar gives you real information. My respect to autor!

[@KumoJuJitsu]

Awesome work, just wondering at the very start when you did the first layering before the first hammering. you layered with two different kinds of steel and then after the hammering and drawing out you kept cutting it and re-layering useing the already layered steel correct?

[@pqppokemom]

UM DOS TRABALHOS MAIS BELOS QUE JÁ VI

[@Xiras1985]

Thanks for the great video! Is it really necessary to grind the surface of the steel bar, before folding it again?

[@gregorytremblay4913]

Patrick Inotell: it's forge welding flux, that one looks to me like straight Borax, or Sodium Tetraborate. The flux melts at forge temperatures, and forms a liquid barrier on top of the steel that prevents oxygen reaching the weld site. Oxide layers prevent the weld from forming properly. Or... at all really. It's why electric welding systems use either flux or a shielding gas (or both) to protect the weld.

[@gregorytremblay4913]

... Google, you ... confuse me... I didn't realize I was sharing my comments with my G+ feed. Interesting...

[@missingspindle]

Wow. How can something so hot be so cool. Thanks!

[@mamaoptions]

And yet now you get to see how many of your friends have secretly always wished they had a forge....I mean...ummm...are wow'd by the cinematography of those KZbin clips ;)

[@sean14powell]

Google is sky-net... but I will have to be careful about what I comment on then. :)

[@DarkFire515]

Are the sprinkled granules flux of some sort? Great video by the way...

[@yolomcswagginz1034]

+Cen Blackwell borax yes

[@minescape8074]

2:12 you have to season your steel

[@Erajaara]

Kaunista työtä ! Luin jostain että olit Japanissa opissa?

[@MrMarioman569]

Is there a limit to how many times you can stack the layers of steel before they become weaker? Or is it just the more you do it the stronger it is?

[@TheMrkylester101]

the more layers the more uniform the steel will become but with that the pattern becomes less notifiable

[@batrezz]

I love this video... answer me about my old question how to make a damascus steel... thanks to you mr mkunelious

[@DevonReviewer]

Amazing, some serious man hours going into that material!

[@honeywatson1658]

Who the Best High Quality Damascus Knives Maker in the World

[@abo3dnan76noaimy4]

U can funde damscus knives in syria in damascus city

[@ericlheureux9300]

curious as to what the white powder is called and how often this is applied. Also never done this but very interested. What are the two types of steel used?

[@matthewj.f.191]

Hello Sir Kunelius, how do you do? My question is: how long do you warm the steel until the forging point (like a very brilliant yellow) ? Thank you very much! Matthew J. F.

[@Jakelol1980]

Is there a reason why you dont use the power hammer at the beginning? Awesome video :)

[@rowanmcintyre]

Excuse me, but I'm curious - when you're working the hot metal, there's a great deal of gray flaking coming off as you hammer. Is that the flux after it's been heated, or oxides, or both? (I only work in silver so I'm unfamiliar with the vagaries of working white-hot metal!) Thanks!

[@justavian]

I've watched other videos of damascus steel - was wondering why you choose to cut the bar and tack it back together, vs bending it over itself like most others i've seen. I should clarify that i know nothing about this process - just interested in the process. Is it just easier to cut it repeatedly, rather than bend it over itself?

[@geoffreybynoe5308]

The flux also flows between the welded together pieces of the steel with heating and capillary action in the forge. when taken out and hammered it allows the steel to weld together creating an homogenous lump of steel again. Repated cutting into little slabs, heating and welding back into one piece of steel creates the pattern weld or Damascus layering of the steel.

[@huntergreen99]

Thanks very much Willie. I'm learning slowly but surely lol

[@GGaievski]

6:00 what is the music name????

[@FalltoAbism]

You are smart sir. Insted of folding the the metal in the forge you just cut it in cold ...smart:)

[@TheIronspike1982]

Nice video! Just some question: 1) At 4.50, what's the white dust? 2) How do you spend for all the instrument to produce it? I mean: power hammer, forge, hammers, ecc.

[@MrIndiemusic101]

the dust is some form of flux powder used to prevent the steel from oxidizing

[@kimmyfrost3877]

the technology of making those sword is still a secrecy that no one knows exactly

[@leathalEly]

Did u pour glass or sand over the blade early on? Was that to draw out slag?

[@Technie87]

Why are there two different types of steel, is this the specific alloy blend and how you make it?

[@MrJsowa]

also helps with material loss,if you did a dozen forge welds with no flux youd end up with a billet half the size you started with.thought that would be worth mentioning

[@opmike343]

Borax is a flux. Fluxes don't really do anything themselves, they help other processes along. In this case, they help reduce the production of the oxidation layer that forms on the hot metal so that the welds will form properly.

[@stone-cold-dreaming9599]

so borax is the powder being used? ive never done smithing work, so I would just like to know what the powder does to the steel? some kind of ongoing conditioning?

[@smrts]

how would they have done the layers before welding? would it just be endless folding?

[@newsomeian1]

What do you put on the billet before pounding it, is that salt or sand or what?

[@twire]

Pattern welded ≠ Damascus. Very beautiful work regardless

[@scrabby19800]

How much does it cost for you to keep that furnace running all the time you are crafting the blade?

[@alasat]

Curious, what is the purpose of that stuff you sprinkle on it?

[@sirspikey]

no explanation on what you're doing or why etc?

[@BulletShogun]

Point taken. Now I wonder where I could buy one

[@silouettesshadow]

different paths to get to same place. i've seen several methods of making damascus steel.. twisting... making billets with chains, cable... even springs(failed, but could have worked it out eventually)

[@SynoDesign]

well to be more specific it is literally akin to putting a blanket over the steel to stop the rapid formation of iron oxide (scale) borax melts to a treacle like consistancy and covers the steel stopping oxygen from mkaing contact with the hot steel, completely stopping the forming of scale however if he is using a good coke forge or charcoal forge with just the right amount of air passing into it he will not need flux at all

[@MrTacticalwolf]

hi bud im wondering as to what the material is your sprinkling on it i know its some sort of flux i think but what are some alternatives?

[@huntergreen99]

Question please,,, what does the borax powder do to the steel ? Thanks. Mark from Ky.

[@AAABatteryGaming]

im sorry for my limited knowledge but at 2:25 is the heat from the metal burning the air?

[@CannibalLecter]

why not fold the steel rather than cutting it and welding it back together?

[@lsubslimed]

This billet is a lot "less likely" to end up with bad welds and iclusions when it's finished if you grind off the scale on the mating faces in between forge welds. A lot of bladesmiths figure it's worth the bit of extra work and time to insure a nice flawsess blade in the end.

[@liquidfire1206]

***** Can you please explain this in layman's terms?

[@lsubslimed]

liquidfire1206 All the black stuff that forms on the steel when it's exposed to high heat + oxygen is called "scale". If the faces of the pieces of steel that are being forge welded together are covered in that scale (which can easily happen when folding hot steel) it can prevent the steel faces from making a good "bond". All of the trapped scale within the layers of the now mutiple layered steel "billet" would show up on the blade and bevels when they are ground in. This would result in an ugly, and more importantly, weak blade with weak spots where those inclusions (trapped scale between layers) are. So basically a lot of bladesmiths making pattern welded steel, also widely termed "damascus", will let the billet cool down, then grind off all of the black scale to expose the clean steel surface underneath. Next they'll cut the bar up into however many pieces they want. Then, using a mig welder, they temporarily tack weld those pieces together along with a handle on one end (rebar is often used for a quick handle) to make it easier to work with while forging. Next they'll put the new stack (billet) into the forge and let it heat up a bit, but before they "set the weld" they will take the billet out and cover it with flux (borax etc.) before the steel gets hot enough to start forming a lot of scale. This powder flux will then melt into a clear liquid and seep down between the layers after it's put back in the forge for more heat, coating them with what is basically like a "clear candy coating" of molten flux, which protects the cleanly ground steel faces from all the oxygen in the forge. Done correctly, when the layers are hammered together, all the flux will squirt out from inbetween the layers and the layers of steel will bond together at the atomic level, becomming essentially one piece of steel. And that is what "forge welding" is. It has nothing to do with the welders used to get the pieces to stay together while heating up, those are just used to make things easier to work with. BTW - You don't need a welder to make pattern welded steel, many people also use things like bailing wire to tightly wrap the pieces together, then after the first forge weld is made, they will snip it off with wire cutters so it doesn't get in the way, since the individual pieces are now "stuck" together and don't need it anymore. I know this is long, but I hope it helps you have an idea of what is goin on. If not, just research "forge welding" "pattern welded steel" and "damascus" and you'll find plenty more info. Take care :)

[@liquidfire1206]

Thank you so much for clearing that up! I want to get into some amateur blacksmithing, forging and stuff, and this helps immensely!

[@lsubslimed]

liquidfire1206 No problem, glad I could help :) You should join some forums. Check out www.iforgeiron.com and join it. There are always plenty of great guys willing help others out and 'this' specific forum has a lot info about general blacksmithing, as well info related to knifemaking/ bladesmithing. If you're interested in more knifemaking specific related forums then let me know and I can name about 5 great forums off the top of my head that each have tons of info and good people willing to help out :)

[@SneerfulWizard]

What types of steels are good to use in Damascus?

[@monstermam2232]

what's the name of this song playing in the back round

[@pablopicasso6699]

This is an awesome video of a guy with incredible skill. By the way, the last time I spoke to you on Facebook you were planning a trip to Japan. Did you go? Bear in mind, I haven't spoken to you in some time......

[@CrusadeGamingTBO]

I was wondering exactly the same thing, glad its not just me

[@dericcormier38]

im wondering about the borax, its the soap right, not sure if thats what you meant

[@e6363ee]

mistä muuten saa noita teräksiä ja mitä paksuuksia? olen muutamalta sepältä kysellyt mut aika nuukia ovat tietoa antamaan!! vaikka mielestäni olisi parempi koittaa säilyttää tämä katoava kädentaidon laji! hienosti sulta kyllä homma käy! kiitos hyvästä videosta!!

[@MrPafleouf]

What types of steel did you use to make the layers?

[@jim9win]

Wow a lot of work

[@drizzt811]

how long does this prosses take by hand? i dont really have accses to a welder is there a notherway to do it?

[@MrDaybr8ker]

Try using line or glass. Clay is also very good as a flux. If you're using sand, make sure its sylica sand (quartz)

[@Nomparelli69]

Moro. Ite oon aloitteleva puukkoseppä (vasta 15v.) ja tavoitteena olis joskus tehä tollanen damascus puukko, nii kannattaako edes yrittää tehä tota ilman power hammeria tai muuta vastaavaa hydrauliikka härpäkettä? Onko se liian aikaavievää ja raskasta?

[@fastvinny6281]

What kind of steel is being used? Iron content? Chromium? Stainless blends??

[@dsaasfadsfsaf8822]

Apparently, when viewed by scientists under a electronic microscope, they found that they were made by introducing chemicals to the steel during production to change its electronic makeup. Literally, it was Dark Age Nanotechnology

[@lsubslimed]

+fast vinny It's just a mix of two simple high carbon steels, except one of them has a bit of nickel in it, which resists the acid etch (because nickel is very corrosion resistant) and becomes the "shiny" layer in the pattern. :)

[@doctim111]

What kind of steels are you using and what kind of flux is that?

[@MarianoMiguel]

Muy buen trabajo. ¡Great!

[@zernestro]

hi, i'm starting to get interested in blacksmithing...but i have no money, so i'd have to make my tools...big question for me is, how did you manage to make a power hammer for 5€ ??? :D

[@santsfactory]

what types of metal are u using?is it 2 or three types?

[@droidmaniac2]

is it possible to make damascus without an air hammer?

[@memox1985]

what did he put in the hot steel in the beginning? something like salt but i know ins't

[@comrademod4503]

Is he using just one kind of steel or more? What are the best types for blades like this?

[@lsubslimed]

You need to use at least two diffrent types of steel to get a nice contrast in the layers when the finished blade is etched to show the pattern. For best performance, most bladesmiths will use a plain high carbon steel (i.e. 1095, 1084 etc.) as well as a high carbon steel with a bit of nickel added to it (i.e.15n20, L6). When the blade is etched in acid, the acid will "eat away" at the plain carbon steel more aggressively, and less so on the steel containing the nickel, because the nickel adds corrosion resistance to the steel. So in the end, the steel with nickel will remain bright and shiny, and the plain high carbon steel will be dark, which will give contrast to reveal the pattern in the blade. TIP.. It's best to only use steels that would make great knives by themselves so that the the pattern welded blade will have good edge performance. Also, it's better to use steels that have similar heat treating methods for the same reson. An exception would be if you were making "san mai" damascus since you would only need a good blade steel for the core, then you could use steels that aren't that high performance for knives such as mild steel, pure nickel, low carbon stainless steel etc. since only the good core steel will be used for the cutting edge, and the other steels or metals areonly on the sides on the blade Sorry if that's too much info, but I thought it might help to explain "why".

[@comrademod4503]

***** Thank you very much for your tips and knowledge, your reply has been most helpful!

[@lsubslimed]

Comrade Mod No problem :) Glad I could help!

[@roryhamilton4026]

This is from forever and a day ago, but I figured I'd add that warikomi-cladding is more common than sanmai-cladding (cladding=awase). Warikomi-awase style, the bladesmith will pound a groove into the soft jacket steel (jigane), insert the expensive, high-carbon core (hagane), and then pound/fold the jacket sides down around it, thereby leaving only one exposed edge-the cutting edge. Sanmai-awase style splits the jacket completely in half and then forge welds it together with the core metal sammiched in between; the core metal will be exposed along the spine. Sanmai requires more of the expensive steel to do, whereas Warikomi need not go all the way to the spine-often will only go halfway up the height of the blade-thereby reducing costs in manufacturing the blades. Obviously, this principle applies to using layered steel as the jacket, thereby enabling one to expose a uniform cutting edge every time the blade is sharpened, which makes a lot more sense than having a cutting edge that changes from one steel to the next along the length of it (this will greatly affect ones ability to get a consistent edge sharpness every time it is sharpened, since one metal will wear more easily than the other, not only when sharpening-which can lead to an uneven edge-but also during use; though I doubt most people would notice unless they're used to using the highest of quality steels).

[@TrollDragomir]

I might be wrong, but I think this isn't damascus steel? Damascus steel is a cruicible steel cooled down in a special way to form crystallic bindings in the structure of steel, resulting in the pattern visible outside. This here is pattern-welding, welding together steel and iron pieces with different amount of carbon in them, so they make patterns and vary in colour.

[@Troggination]

More technically, this would be called Pattern Welded Steel. Damascus steel is a very specific kind of historic steel (don't know details) but this is usually called damascus because it looks like the damascus of old. There's also wootz steel, which is a whole different can of worms.

[@TrollDragomir]

ummonk Thanks! Very informative indeed.

[@nuclearpi7198]

Lincoln Oberst From what I was able to learn (which is admittedly more than half derived from Wikipedia) proper Damascus steel refers to blades forged in the city of Damascus from Wootz steel, which apparently originated from a mine in india that produced unusually pure iron. It has supposedly been recently discovered that the iron contained trace amounts of a couple of carbide forming elements which were responsible for the characteristic patters and legendary toughness of Damascus steel blades. you can read more here: www.tms.org/pubs/journals/jom/9809/verhoeven-9809.html

[@carlosarango7210]

Composition of the original steel plate?

[@thetoplap]

What is the substance you sprinkle over the steel?

[@Goobaaaaaa]

Could a press be used in place of a power-hammer?

[@ferrero129]

yes it can will do the same thing but can just use a hammer old school

[@buenasnoches2]

How much times could you cut and press the steel?

[@tnt73762]

Bartuc Samplambio infinite, technically

[@SneerfulWizard]

What types of steel is he using. I'm sorry if it's in the description, I can't see it because my iPad is being stupid.

[@ironman127b]

is damacus steel basically very dense steel?

[@aggelos23i]

hi sir! the layer is one piece about 1cm? and you compress 160 of theese layers? p.s. my english is bad i hope you understand what i mean

[@yolomcswagginz1034]

+Αγγελος Ζωης No. He folds them. He takes like four layers and makes them thin and cuts it in to 4ths he then stacks those. So it basically multiplies it by itself four times every time he welds

[@petergraham9267]

How can this be described as "in detail" when there are no details?? What are the two metals? What is the powder? What temperatures? etc. etc. etc........ I was hoping for SO much from this video

[@PatrickRecordon]

wikipedia can give you the complete theory about damascus. detail means the complete proccess to make a blade so that's what you have in this topic

[@tagerinio3317]

How much it will cost to buy a Damascus sword...pls somebody tell?

[@tzoscristodoulou]

what type of steel you are using ?

[@varchas99]

what kind of welding is that

[@arcotramathorn384]

I'm guessing for the dark hes using carbon steel, and for the lighter part nickel steel? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@rickets60]

I love this stuff. I just have to do one.

[@yustepercusion]

What is the white dust?

[@BurbanMilitia]

What are the metals used

[@pnq8787]

can you show us how to make Valyrian steel?

[@Tarbos]

what do you use to put your mark on your blades?

[@yolomcswagginz1034]

+Tarbos Are you talking about etching? It's probably acid from radioshack

[@erikbertilsson]

What's that powder you're putting on?

[@seamineranger]

whats that white powder? is it some kind of weak base?

[@nerxboy]

im having troubles finding some good steel in europe to start making my own damascus billets...

[@noahbradshaw3466]

What's the powder he puts on it

[@ChaBawbe]

all those layers damn

[@MrLiamCooley]

What is it that he puts on it after hitting it on anvil the first time. It looks like salt or something.

[@MaxSic1]

What's that powder you put on it.

[@christianmygind2358]

Where can I buy flux, please answer ;)

[@TheMudboggers]

You can get Borax from Walmart or any store like that. Should be in the detergent aisle

[@ferrero129]

you don't need flux to weld but a lot of people use it so they can get a cleaner weld but if you can forge weld with out it your a pro

[@TheMudboggers]

The weld will always be stronger with the flux.................. Use the Flux Luke

[@ferrero129]

Joe Grove i been forge welding today different size steel and all just keep your fire clean from dust,slag and clinka and your anvil (or hammer/harden plate) and brush the slag off your metal and your will be fine flux don't mean anything and just a wast of money and time to me

[@hammerman947]

Why the continuing to re cut and re arc weld instead of folding and forge welding? Looks like it makes for a lot more extra work????

[@razerade]

At 1:14 what kind of metals are you using

[@polarisy1296]

What grade of steel are u using??