Forging My First "Cu Mai": Copper / Damascus Pattern Welded Drop Point Skinner Blacksmithing

[@traviscampbell7081]

I just attempted to do a cumai blade for my brother for his birthday. Long story short, he might get one for Christmas 🤣

[@GammahDamage]

These videos give me confidence to try new techniques!

[@FireCreekForge]

good deal!

[@bakkenta1]

Very nice narration. Many channels don’t provide adequate description for the tasks they are performing.

[@FireCreekForge]

Glad you liked it!

[@81selfmade1]

Even though you didn't get the affect you wanted it's still a really slick looking design

[@D.Schrader]

Thank for taking us on your journey

[@FireCreekForge]

You bet, thanks for watching

[@mtnbkr8480]

How to videos are an important part of learning, but these How NOT to videos are equally valuable. 👍

[@gregwaters944]

Like the way you experiment with different techniques and show the results.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

Great to see you try this technique! When I do it I keep it right below the melting point. Around 1800F or a bit higher. Never try to forge the edge, it’ll split no matter how well it seems to be brazed together. Great video showing your attempts. 👍

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for the tips!!

[@brandonrogers6596]

So are you saying not to hammer in the edge bevels? Or not to forge the edge to shape?

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

@@brandonrogers6596 both

[@bobmurray3229]

Another beautiful and well crafted knife 🇺🇸

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@fireplusbirdfilms6517]

Thanks for sharing your learning process. It's valuable to see things that don't work out right just as it is to see stuff that does work out. I think the way the copper flowed around the final billet unevenly actually looks cool.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir

[@brysonalden5414]

As others have commented, I appreciate your sharing your processes, especially when they didn't work the way you wanted them to. I'm finding that some of the skills I now have as a smith are a result of screwing things up in the past and figuring out a way to do it better. And, of course, I still screw things up!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@russellvonastel7111]

I already know,this knife will be a unique and beautiful work of art

[@Derekmoss82]

Learning to forge myself and your information and technique was very helpful def earned my subscription

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@troyswain1310]

I really appreciate all of you KZbinrs content. I’ve built my own forced air forge, 2x72 belt grinder and am currently converting a log spitter into a hydraulic press. I agree that you do not own a skill until you learn it and actually try it until success.

[@mgmcd1]

This is good stuff. I like the explanation of steps as you work along.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@dc8836]

Big fan of your videos. Been going through them at a steady rate after the algorithm dropped me on your channel. I think it's really good that you share and talk about your mistakes, because that will help others avoid making those mistakes themselves, or help them learn why they made that same mistake and learn from it.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the channel

[@jendrayani543]

​@@FireCreekForgedid you still use 1600-1800 Fahrenheit to get a good Bond on steel to copper?

[@GibsonCutlery]

Still a beauty! Kudos for the perseverance!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@richardzago5562]

Thank you for the full experiment both successful and learning

[@FireCreekForge]

You bet, thank you

[@polehenge8237]

Thanks for sharing your learning experiences. Very entertaining and inspiring.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@SuperRobertheath]

I think that turned pretty cool.

[@derrickguthrie4704]

I wish I could come apprentice with you and learn bladesmithing. Great vid again and keep up the great work.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@samuraidriver4x4]

You are right, it's pretty much brazing and not welding. Good learning experience and when you have got the technique down it's going to be satisfying. Thanks for sharing.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@ironhammer3734]

Gorgeous pattern, nice work!!!

[@dsikes618]

Awesome video. Keep them up. This knife looked sick. I would keep it as a show piece. I love watching the videos. I’m very interested in forging but have never tried it. I will one day give it a shot.

[@publicblacksmith9467]

Nice and goodjob

[@xaviersonntag4302]

I've tried out 2 cu mai knives and did acually run into the problem of having the molten copper come out of the billet....however I learned on my second knife if you let the copper completely melt between the layers and cool then you can forge it at a lower temp knowing that it was completely fused together...thats my experience on it anyhoo....I enjoyed the video and little talk at the end...keep up the beautiful craftsmanship and can't wait for your next build!

[@FireCreekForge]

Yes I think that is the key

[@chewyakarieckenicholas6049]

I love the way it looks and I am going to give it a shot and I hope to make it look as good 👍

[@justanothajoe]

I look forward to seeing take 4. I like that you post videos even if you don't get to your desired result. I think your humble nature and honesty is refreshing!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@MrGOTJOE]

Very cool knife. Great job on trial and error visuals. 👍 Keep it up

[@johnw.brunson9400]

Cool looking knife.

[@steveschlobohm5793]

Hello Elijah! I'm finally back after a year and its great to see you are still doing videos. I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks for all you do. Stay safe my friend!

[@FireCreekForge]

Hi Steve, good to see you back! Thanks for watching

[@kevenbeene4585]

Always enjoy the vids

[@kenglass1980]

Great starting point. Blade looks amazing with the black edge steel. Get that right and the copper will glow! With the layered Damascus it kinda looks like an OS map of hills meeting the sea with the copper being the beach....

[@russellvonastel7111]

You have an amazing talent

[@stantilton2191]

It's all, learn as you go. I've made a ton of mistakes and tried to learn from each one. Cu Mai has it's, rules like most things in life. Carry on and most of all have fun.'

[@Fanroghscorner]

Even tho it wasn't what you set out to make it's still a very beautiful looking knife 😊

[@lyonsden7830]

I still think its a cool littel knife end thanks for shareing it with us all

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@shepardsforgeh2031]

I've used nicke the way you used copper and got good results. Good on you for not giving up man those are tricky builds!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks man, yeah I like nickel; it's way easier as the working and melting temps are similar to steel

[@jonritenour8329]

Nicely done

[@garyfetrow8324]

I’m a bit late to the party but that’s a GREAT start! I absolutely love it! Thanks for posting this and the prior attempt video! My first forge build was a brazing oven. If I can give one bit that I learned along the way, fully encase your billet/workpiece in flat stock and weld it on the face sides of your billet/work piece. You’ll get a better weld and better containment of your nonferrous element that way. Damn fine job man! Keep up the good work!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@jeffcopeland3958]

It still looks great!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks Jeff!

[@jeffreycarter1223]

It still came out pretty cool looking, with the tiny spots of copper it looks more like a patina or somthing along those lines. As always great work.

[@406751]

Still looks awesome bud. Practice makes perfect, keep at it and it'll start to look better and better. God bless

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir

[@rockbutcher]

At the end of the day it was a great learning experience, and interesting to be led through by you. I must say that the copper ringed raindrops is NOT a pattern I've seen other blade smiths create. You could be onto something there!

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@markj284]

Thank you for sharing this information, New to all of this, I would be excited to achieve what you ended up with, looks good to me...

[@2speed818]

Wow awesome job 👍

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks!

[@donknotts5625]

Great video

[@jonathanengwall2777]

Truly awesome looking knife

[@PhoenixIronworksNS]

When I make CuMai knives I keep the heat below the melting point of the copper and weld it completely closed. The weld is for 0 atmosphere more so than liquid copper. Pressure is your best friend with these so use the press not a hammer and you’ll get a better weld. Same with Damascus, prep is key. Make sure all the oils are cleaned off, i soak everything in kerosine for 2 to 3 days before I put it together. Nice knife

[@donvandenberg5301]

I know that's not what you were hoping for, but it's still a damn nice looking blade.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@renepicard4225]

GREAT JOB

[@christianborghi7544]

I’ve been experimenting with copper too , currently I’m trying cable fused with copper for the outsides , from test piece I done it’s looking good

[@theriversexperience9383]

One thing to make sure of is to only forge on the flats, never while vertical. The layers separate/shift easily when the billet is hot.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks man

[@peterskey8155]

Still looks great.i like it.

[@lancemillward1912]

Good lessons there.

[@danielclawson2143]

Hi Elijah. Just thought I'd jump in the comments and say hey.

[@FireCreekForge]

Hi Daniel, thanks man

[@christobaliancantu7112]

I keep watching your videos and keep forgetting to subscribe 😆 I'm subscribing now. Thank you for your videos

[@rhodie33]

great vid

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir

[@Anothermachine]

I have seen this technique performed successfully using a canister in which the copper goes molten but cannot escape the layers. It is extremely beautiful when completed.

[@phillipparker8947]

I usually don't care for Damascus type forging although I think it is an art , but I really think this could be interesting. Thanks my friend

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching

[@Anderson-HandForged]

great video i have recently been messing with this as well with some good sucess use the 1095 and get your heat up just below that melting point and press it good try some rounding dies too it will give the copper lines that look like a ekg pretty cool actually look for ward to seeing more Mark

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks Mark!

[@ryanblystone5153]

Thank you

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@salvothegermanshepherd4399]

Awesome stuff

[@Hopeknives13]

Beautiful either way 👍🏼

[@joshy0369]

Pretty cool 😎 man

[@jimtaylor6663]

Even if unintentional, it's still a great pattern.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir!

[@deanscott9876]

I had a similar experience doing my first laminated knife with copper. I could not get the outer 15n20 layer to stick but the inner 1085 layer bonded perfectly, so I turned it into a copper clad blade. I was thinking my anvil may have been to cold and drew the heat from the outer layer.🤔 Customer wanted for me to make another copper clad knife and I told him I probably couldn’t do it again if I tried lol.

[@VexChoccyMilk]

You could use an oxyacetylene torch and braze a layer of copper onto a finished knife, Michaelcthulu has done large blades like that.

[@dlbknives4869]

Practice makes perfect

[@herreragonza5891]

Really cool

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir

[@lorneclose7312]

Nice work tried this recently thought I had a bond till I cut into it. Tyrell knives says to keep your heat under 1800f

[@tonyhedgewolf]

This has been on my mind recently, I've got two commutators from broken motors here and have wondered if it would be possible to forge them...

[@kyarmwrestlingcr1115]

What were you using to hand sand with an cool knife

[@eagleriver900]

Bing Bing bang boom bam !! Woohp Doowhp !

[@jeffreycarter1223]

Either way this looks way cooler than my Damascus. I can barely get twist or raindrop to come out cool looking because I’m poor and can quite make myself buy a press. What I would like to see you take a stab at is like a canister build with copper and maybe some scrap Damascus cut offs with a good core .

[@FireCreekForge]

Thats an idea, thanks for watching!

[@00flyingsquirre1]

I’ve made about 4 CU Mai blades now, and I usually have better luck if I use 5160 or 1095 and I get my billet around an orange heat. Any hotter and the copper tends to work its way out when I use my power hammer.

[@butthedd0233]

Onward and upward. Keep going

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you sir

[@APs.Custom.knives]

Thanks for this

[@jameshines8095]

Nice

[@peterskey8155]

Still a good looking blade.

[@Bikers920]

i like this knife 👍🏻

[@williammorton8555]

Clean your shop. Nice work.

[@mellorarma]

You say youve failed, but i think them copper bits look cool

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you

[@joshortiz1576]

Have you tried welding all the way around the edge so that you can get the copper to liquid state on Temps to help get the copper to stick as it cools?

[@FireCreekForge]

Sort of, I need to make sure my arc welds are solid all the way around

[@joshortiz1576]

@@FireCreekForge i personally have never done it but seen it done many of times. I really like contrast with the copper. I hope your able to do it. Would love to see the outcome!!!

[@canifixit3504]

I like it

[@scotttod6954]

Nice to see someone stepping out of thier comfort zone. Canister cumascus possible?

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for watching!

[@dankaczor8965]

You are absolutely right that 52100 will not stick to copper. If you have seen Tryell Knifeworks he has done a good amount of pieces like this as he normally uses 15N20 and basic carbon steels. If you want to use 52100 it might be a good idea to use one of those metals as a buffer zone between the copper and 52100. The chromium content in 52100 does not forge weld well with many materials, and the higher forging temperature does not help either.

[@georgetaurozzi8785]

Sweet

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you

[@ianfuller312]

The reason you are getting cracking is your temperature was just a bit too high. The copper actually gets in between the grain boundaries of the steel. Fine line between sticking together and causing this.

[@leoneljm]

Is it just cosmetic or does it have any advantages?

[@outbackladas]

Good effort, nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. Regards from Down Under.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thank you!

[@GT_Racer347]

Sweet 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@russellcrawford4809]

awesome

[@bruceb51]

Copper is very unpredictable, you never know where it's going to go.

[@ericwilliams2733]

Is it possible to add copper into the Damascus pattern. If so i wud love to see that

[@FireCreekForge]

Probably is possible, would likely be tedious

[@afg122602]

it may not have much copper but thats a beautiful damascus pattern

[@johnfire7346]

I litterly just finished my first cu-mascus it was interesting. I did a canister Damascus cladding and 5160 for the edge. Great job definitely not a easy process I got 20 hours in mine all hand hammer and grind time how many hours do you got?

[@FireCreekForge]

Cool! I don't know but too many!! haha

[@bamabry]

Beauitful!

[@Mr16bit]

It looks like a very difficult task.

[@stevenconyon4685]

Pattern looks awesome tho

[@alcohonis]

I’m new to Knife making and I was wondering if you can recommend any books.

[@FireCreekForge]

Step by step knife making by David Boye is a great start