Making Stainless Damascus Rings

[@955iTT]

Always a pleasure to watch a true master plying his/her trade.

[@wazpacman]

I've wondered for a long time how you made the damascus for these. Thank you for sharing the process.

[@Thommie63]

I have one of his rings.. A pure work of art ... thom davis

[@craneoperator4]

the ring turned out amazing

[@ernestsheffield9976]

I have the same anvil, press, and a Salvati cutlers hammer. Now I just need your skill...LOL. Just made a 5 pound 66 layer billet for a friend's wedding present, and my first try at a multi-bar pattern welded hauswehr. This has been by far my largest billet. Fun stuff. It still kills me how much material loss I get.

[@chrisbannister2137]

Just like to say thanks you for making one of these for me and shipping it to me her in U.K. it's the thing I am most proud of wearing as my wedding ring and as unique as a fingerprint in its pattern

[@j.arthurloose4373]

My pleasure, Chris!

[@sixtoramos6323]

Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to show your method. My approach to stainless damascus is a bit different (the billet making, I mean), but it's a pleasure to watch a master of your skill at work. I've been following your work since I saw your niello presentation on the first Arctic Fire, and I admire your care and attention to detail. Thanks again for sharing...

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Thanks for the kind words, Sixto. I just watched your PW videos- nice work. There are indeed many ways to skin a cat when it comes to the stainless damascus, but this method works well enough with my limited studio set up. :)

[@sixtoramos6323]

My pleasure. And please don't get me wrong. Your method seems much better. It's my lack of skill what forced me to try other ways. I tried the canister method, but never got it to work. So now I weld the billet shut with 316L electrode. It's a lot of work, but at least it eliminates the need to peel the canister.

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Oh, no worries at all. Every method is tuned to every shop. If I had a nicer welder I'd probably go your route...

[@cindyharrison1829]

Love the ring

[@larsstrohmeier2320]

this has been really great to watch. No fussing about, just your craftsmanship - not that i mind fooling around in the workshop, but for this video this was definitely the way to go =) Thank you for taking the time! Cheers =)

[@tylerturner865]

this is so fascinating. when i've got the dough, i'm coming straight to you for one of these! :)

[@demonokron]

wonderful craftsmanship

[@FordFracture]

You do beautiful work !

[@billwoehl3051]

I got an automatic welding helmet for about $30 new at the local farm supply store (Baumgaars) lot nicer than the old flip ups, and alot bigger viewing window.

[@bentleygt3716]

looks GREAT. Thank you for sharing .

[@neilpetersen5287]

I like your style dude

[@sharmanknives3490]

Brilliant video thanks for sharing do you have to remove the shine finish on a belt grinder before putting in your can for forge welding Thanks again

[@navarrvandyk5120]

Thank you for sharing your process. would love to kniw the welding temp you are using for the stainless. Great video. Thank you

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Different shops seem to have different results with different temperatures... The general range seems to be 2000-2400F.

[@navarrvandyk5120]

J.Arthur Loose thanks very much for your reply.

[@Venzina1]

Great video, I liked how you showed the whole process of how to do it. Is there a reason why you machine the ring from the blank by cutting the hole etc. as opposed to punching the whole? I would imagine punching would save alot of material and reduce waste. But with damascus that may be tricky because stretching it like that could cause delamination or something? Cheers!

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Thanks, Wesley. I get much more consistent pattern development, and punching would actually create a great deal more labor. There's no risk of delamination by the time the material's been forged to the blank stage though. You can cold forge it if you like.

[@reiswinkeljohn680]

This video was extremely helpful thank you. Where you you get your steel? Can the same form of ring come out of 1075 and 15n20 steel or would the etch not be as noticeable?

[@billwoehl3051]

Think I would have made a jig with a set of sheers for all those pieces, musta taken a couple hours cutting them with snips.

[@edvinaskuncevicius174]

amaizing!! What kind of acid you are using?

[@firefrostice]

Do they have to be lined? How durable/scratch-resistant are these? Awesome video, thanks!

[@j.arthurloose4373]

I prefer to line them to make them easier to resize. The labor would be the same without the lining, as I'd have to put a resist on the inside or account for etching depth and re-grind the interior. They are very durable / scratch resistant, though of course, any hard material can have an impact. See my FAQ: www.jloose.com/damascusringfaq.html

[@2000pjp]

Thanks very much for this video! Very cool. Would you mind sharing your source for those coils of stainless strip?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Alas, the jewelry world is not as friendly as the bladesmithing world, so I don't usually reveal too much information. Try searching for stainless coil. :)

[@tracyfriesen9164]

What kind of acid are you using to etch??

[@AlexA-yj9ft]

Where did you get those rolls of stainless steel? And how mush were each?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Billy Bob, try searching for stainless coils. I keep my jewelry info a little close to the heart due to competition in the jewelry world being much less civil than the camaraderie found in the bladesmithing world. Ask me anything about knives! :)

[@AlexA-yj9ft]

@@j.arthurloose4373 ok I understand, thank you

[@ansayaz4958]

amazing work... i use the same way like you did and i did not use canister instead i weld both stainless together.. but problem is when i try to twist the bar it broked.. i used 316 and 420 steel mixture please help me why my bar broked.. i hardly twist 6 or 7 times.. and on. 8th time when i twist the bar it broked.. i twist it on automatic gear machine not by hand like u did... and also my steel slabs are not thin like yours.. they are a bit thick.. is problem with thickness of steel?

[@gwcstudio]

You have to use a can. Stainless like aluminum forms a thin oxide layer that keeps it from oxidizing. It also keeps it from welding. The can keeps air (which is heated and oxidizing) away from the stainless. It is not optional.

[@chickenlips8696]

At the start of the video I was like holy cow those are some big rings

[@thepatientartisan]

Your work is beautiful! Thanks for generously sharing your time and techniques with us. BTW, what would you charge for a matched his and hers wedding set?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

See www.jloose.com for examples and pricing. :)

[@thepatientartisan]

J.Arthur Loose Thanks for the informarion and the link to your work. Be well.

[@timothyqualheim391]

I LOVE those coils of stainless! Where do you get them?

[@64t120r]

Thinner stock is transported in much larger rolls and then the distributor straightens it out, cuts it, . . . and sells it as smaller strips. If you ask them, they'll usually sell you a roll.

[@timothyqualheim391]

Sweet. Just gotta find a distributor near me. Thanks.

[@64t120r]

Keep in mind that the rolls can be VERY dangerous if they open up unrestrained. Take note of how he unwinds enough to work with. Keep 3 heavy gauge wires around it at different points at all times. They are extremely long springs with sharp edges and a lot of force. All the best with your endeavors.

[@paulvanzweel8287]

Thanks for sharing your process. What were the steels that you stacked and put in the canister? Did you coat the canister with someting to prevent it from sticking to your welded damascus?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Hey Paul. The steels are 304L & 316L. I just let it all fuse, usually it only sticks to the top and bottom. I just cut & grind it off.

[@paulvanzweel8287]

J.Arthur Loose have you done high carbon knife steel with enough chrome to make it stainless and then damascus? I think they call it damasteel. Very expensive here in South Africa. Any thoughts.

[@j.arthurloose4373]

The Damasteel I'm familiar with is from Sweden and is a powder version of 304 & 316. I haven't worked with any stainless blade/tool steels as I prefer simple carbon alloys for blades.

[@paulvanzweel8287]

J.Arthur Loose Thank you

[@brohends]

Please MAKE A SKULL RING

[@bobhaehn5470]

Beautiful!

[@jetrage2506]

hey, one question, did you put powdered stainless steel in the can too? or was it just 316L & 304L purely?

[@Huxleybluehair]

that is amazing! thank you for the video. quick question.. are they magnetic.. if you hold a magnet to them, will they stick? please help, need to know for a project. Thank you again Hux

[@j.arthurloose4373]

304L & 316L are non-magnetic.

[@serafymhlubish9291]

Hello, suggest what acid solution do you use?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

I don't reveal all my secrets when it comes to jewelry. ;) Just try some experiments.

[@twocentproductions5326]

nice shop i wonder who built it? ha

[@joelfoster3402]

What type of acid do you use?

[@elitaylor5802]

what kind of acid do you use

[@EstarLetitShine]

do you sell rings

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Yes, see www.jloose.com and be sure to click on the Damascus Ring Gallery, and also the Etsy shop linked at the bottom of the page.

[@rflopes3]

So stainless Damascus is not All stailess steels right ? It's a carbon steel + Stailess Steel ? Is that correct ?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

I use 304L & 316L for my jewelry, which are both austenitic stainless steels. But you can make damascus out of pretty much any steel combination.

[@rflopes3]

but for Stainless there is a problem with scale and oxidation isn't that right ?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

Yes, the nickel and chromium will produce oxides that prevent fusion in the presence of heat and oxygen.

[@larrybair8074]

Price?

[@j.arthurloose4373]

They start at $400. See www.jloose.com for more information. :)