Thread: Fresh Damascus

This is 1095 and 15N20, etched with ferric chloride first for the depth, and then strong instant coffee second.
It is important to use the coffee cold, for several hours, instead of hot. Hot coffee will turn the nickel steel blue.



The steel I use generally costs quite a bit more. I wouldn't go for the cheaper stuff for the simple reason that in a razor, I want all high carbon steel. Plus the makers are friends of mine, so I buy their steel regardless of the price.

Those are the kind of results that I saw on other steels using the coffee method, even those with a highly buffed finish which is sometimes trickier. I want to try that out on some W2/15N20 damascus when I fire up the forge in the next few weeks after I finish my current halfway done batch of 1084/15N20 stuff. I will be interested to see if I can still get that "3D" shimmer with high layer count ladder pattern using the coffee.

Originally Posted by Bruno

This is 1095 and 15N20, etched with ferric chloride first for the depth, and then strong instant coffee second.
It is important to use the coffee cold, for several hours, instead of hot. Hot coffee will turn the nickel steel blue.



The steel I use generally costs quite a bit more. I wouldn't go for the cheaper stuff for the simple reason that in a razor, I want all high carbon steel. Plus the makers are friends of mine, so I buy their steel regardless of the price.

Well so much for that ,ran into a cold shunt.To say I'm ticked is a understatement ! First and last time I buy a piece of steel from them !

Wow I would be hacked too! That is disappointing to say the least...
Are you going to try again with steel from someone else or maybe give those blanks a try?

Yup getting some damascus from a source I've used a lot in the past.

Yeah even if the guy would replace it, by now you've sunk so much time and effort in it that that is the least of your worries.

Originally Posted by Bruno

This is 1095 and 15N20, etched with ferric chloride first for the depth, and then strong instant coffee second.
It is important to use the coffee cold, for several hours, instead of hot. Hot coffee will turn the nickel steel blue.



The steel I use generally costs quite a bit more. I wouldn't go for the cheaper stuff for the simple reason that in a razor, I want all high carbon steel. Plus the makers are friends of mine, so I buy their steel regardless of the price.

Liking that knife Bruno�� Tc

Originally Posted by Bruno

Yeah even if the guy would replace it, by now you've sunk so much time and effort in it that that is the least of your worries.

So true Bruno,to say I was just completely let down is a understatement,time is something you can't replace.

I think that this is going to extremes here. There should be an acceptable failure rate. A factory rejects X amount and it is part of the game. As an individual your time is worth a lot to you. When thinking of it overall as a business it is part of the equation.

I digress but a good example to me is if a country sends 100 soldiers to war and one gets killed, as far as the country is concerned that is no big deal. If you are part of the individual soldiers family it is a big deal to you.

If you are going to make things out of custom or unique materials and are not accepting that failure is part of the equation then it is not for you.

Actually they guarantee there steel to be free from defects thuse a refund.As I said I hate wasting time.