Thread: 2020 Texas Razor Meet

Originally Posted by jfk742

Are there some guys interested in doing a San mai demonstration? Particularly stainless jacket to carbon core? Is this even possible with a open air gas forge?

Online with Zoe Crist, he mentioned that he heats in a nitrogen atmosphere and uses a press. He stated that the press was key as the steels dont take a set under a hammer. I have bought several stainless/1095 billets from him.

He really didnt want to share more as its one of his money makers and there are few others offering it.

I found a couple of different threads on BF and guys were completely mig welding the the 3 pieces of steel together to keep oxygen from getting into the forge weld. I found a couple guys who successfully set the welds with hand hammering. I’m thinking if we tried some razor sized billets we might be successful with one of them.

There was a couple of pictures of finished knives made from 4xx series ss and 1095, they were striking. Looked like a seriously active hamon. Gave me the bug.

I’ll order some 304 or similar and bring some 1095 and see if I can’t convince one of you to try it out with me.

I have never tried to weld stainless to carbon. Check those sources for what gas and wire they were using. I will bring my mig. Its set up for flux core (no gas) carbon steel wire right now, but thats a simple change. Can't hurt to try small billets.

At a hammer in last summer I was trying to forge weld the reins on a pair of tongs. This is a 'drop tongs' weld and is much harder than welding billets, but within my ability. After countless failures I'm thinking "Come on, I'm better than this!" It turned out that the 3/8" rod that I thought was cold roll was stainless.

Saw this Gyuto by Don Nguyen in person.


It was stunning. The area above the signature is hammer/forge finished. Stainless forms a beautiful forge scale/patina. I'm pretty certain that he bought the san mai though.

Originally Posted by ScottGoodman

I have never tried to weld stainless to carbon. Check those sources for what gas and wire they were using.

I think that for our purposes regular 70S-2 with argon/CO2 will work OK. I also think that stick welding with 7018 would work OK. The metallurgy of this would be bad, and for structural or corrosion resistance 347 would be better, but all we would be trying to do is seal the billet and all of the weld affected area can be ground away.

I'll try a couple mig and stick welds with the above.

Another thought would be to weld up a mild steel can around the san mai. I think that the can approach has the best chance of working. The in plane can walls could be pretty heavy to even out the hammer blows.

As far as the internet is concerned there isn’t anything saying we couldn’t weld ss to high carbon steel, the strength and corrosion resistance would be compromised but who cares, just need to hold on long enough to set a weld and keep out that pesky O2.

Blue demon makes a gas less flux core for ss, but I think I’ll just try the fcaw I have in my little welder and see what happens before I spend $30 on a 1lb spool.

On another note, Charlie, how did the treadle hammer come out? Did you and Shaun finish that before he left last year?

Originally Posted by jfk742

On another note, Charlie, how did the treadle hammer come out? Did you and Shaun finish that before he left last year?

Shaun and I finished the hammer, it is working. I think using the hammer in a shop full of people, would lead to an accident. It is very loud and more than a bit dangerous. I would not trust my welds or the moving parts around the chaos that is the meet.

Hey Bruno

Looks like a well rounded breakfast to me.

What’s with the toast.