Thread: Damascus frameback?

Here is a closeup pic of the Wostenholm frameback. Notice the extreme regularity of the blade pattern...real or etched?

Croaker thank you, I feel honored by your question but I can not say from pictures.

The closeup is etched. IMO

Yeah Olivia, I think it is etched too. McWolf's original posting and picture look a lot like my French frameback. BTW-it takes and holds a great edge, whatever kind of steel it is made from.

Originally Posted by Croaker

Here is a closeup pic of the Wostenholm frameback. Notice the extreme regularity of the blade pattern...real or etched?

I had a different Wostenholm frameback that had the same Damascus pattern. I'm pretty sure it was not really a Damascus blade, because the pattern was etched onto the blade. It would also be an extremely difficult pattern to create for a real Damascus blade. It still looked really cool, though.

Should be fun to make such a pattern.
Haven't done it since school.

I haven't seen an old frameback that said damascus that was actually Damascus. The razor closeup you posted is obviously just made to look that way- i.e. etched.

Just found a better picture of my frameback, i found in wiki...the razors are identical...w/ exception of the scales. There is no consistent pattern on it, however the pattern is 'raised,' a bit...not sure what that means.
Either way, i cant wait to shave with it!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...anciers-2.html

It was a common practice to write Damascus on blades in the day. It meant nothing so I would doubt you will uncover a damascus pattern. I'm told you can buy this stuff in radioshack- iron permangamite or something like that which will bring the pattern back.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

.... I'm told you can buy this stuff in radioshack- iron permangamite or something like that which will bring the pattern back.

I'm willing to help here. The chemical is ferric chloride. If Radioshack is not selling it anymore, as has been rumored, you can find it in some art stores where it's used for etching copper. That solution needs to be diluted between 3-4:1 with water.

You can make some at home buy going to your favorite home hardward store and getting some Muriatic acid (hydrochloric) and putting some steel wool into a container together with the acid. Plastic will do, I use a PVC pipe with a cap, it's not horribly aggressive as acids go. Once it turns a dark coffee/tea color (Do Not Drink etc. etc.) it will be a form of ferric chloride. This is a little less concentrated and you'll have to play with it to see how it works. It will improve the more you use it.

The basic process is to leave the metal in the acid for a few minutes then scrub it clean. If the pattern is not to your liking, repeat. Finish by neutralizing in baking soda, then lightly polish the surface with some ultra fine wet/dry paper to bring out the highlights of the layers. Oil per your routine after cleaning.

Looking at the closeups on this razor, this appears to be a superficial etch pattern to give the look of pattern welding. It just doesn't look right for a laminate.