Thread: Welding Rod Damacuss

Interesting thought, but if I was to do it, I'd likely go with 1084/1095 powder and can weld it. Reason being, I've never had a perfectly flaw free billet of wire rope. I've never seen a perfectly flaw free billet of wire rope either. The best I can do is get it to where there's only a few near microscopic shallow pin holes, but I'd think that'd be enough to cause issues with shaving. Another thing to think about, with normal wire rope the edge is a bit more "toothy", so I don't know how well it'd hone up for shaving. Might be fine, might not. With normal wire rope damascus the pattern is mostly from the decarb from around the wires. Larger wires means more carbon to iron ratio and better edge holding, smaller wires means prettier pattern but not as good an edge holding due to more iron to carbon. A possible solution is a sanmai construction, put wire rope on the outside and 1084 or such for the core.