http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p2b46a9ab56750597bf68e97d17752e64/fe39f90c.jpg.orig.jpg
take 2 different steels and arrange them in an alternating pattern, weld the edges makeing sure the billet is tight, then weld a rod to it.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p0b1aeef05957a423835df0f088054604/fe39f90a.jpg.orig.jpg
Borax, used for fluxing
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p6dea26e940543fc06ec498f1dd650466/fe39f909.jpg.orig.jpg
Heat to red and get ready to flux
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p7e7ef2cfb89f8206dbaed8899c13612d/fe39f907.jpg.orig.jpg
when the steel is red, lightly sprinkle with borax till the whole billet is covered.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p6dea26e940543fc06ec498f1dd650466/fe39f909.jpg.orig.jpg
then back into the forge till the flux bubbles and looks like melted butter all over the billet.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p386984978034d34b8a05972c50755220/fe39f905.jpg.orig.jpg
when ready, pull billet from the forge and with light taps starting from the handle and the middle of the billetto the tip then down one side and up the other, then back in the forge.I repeat this process till the billet doesn`t split when hit on the end grain. If it does split flux again and reforge weld the billet.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p2942d7c5d65b6bf60a2823f9b855ab4d/fe39f8fd.jpg.orig.jpg
this is the pattern i hit in.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/pa4d22f23d669e903c14dc14a90f372d7/fe39f904.jpg.orig.jpg
I like to see the flux spit out of the sides of the billet, it ensure that the weld is taking form.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p9b0ca3ac0a708136b15bf396eec6b566/fe39f902.jpg.orig.jpg
not a verry good pic but i like to wire brush every so often to get the built up flux off.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/pe923c1d02ef636ec04f7e5ca1cf24a6a/fe39f901.jpg.orig.jpg
once welding is complete, I draw the billet out till it is about a 1/4 inch thick and about an inch wide then grind all of the slag of both flat sides of the billet, cut into 3 pieces, restack.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p583f900c4084758285832d4cc6a593ac/fe39f84f.jpg.orig.jpg
this is a pic of the billet cut in 3 pieces and stacked upon itself.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p11d8196ba8c4e724309623b85bf25c96/fe39f900.jpg.orig.jpg
here is a pic of the above billet after the first weld sequence...about 1"x4" then finish welding and drawing out.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/pe8e89c66ad0413e973c6d07e76d0def7/fe39f5b6.jpg.orig.jpg
once the billet is drawn out to about a 5/8 to 3/4 square, then hammer the corners flat, this is to help stop the layers from shearing when you twist the billet.Then heat the billet to a yellow color and put end in vise and twist.The number of twist per inch is up to you.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p386984978034d34b8a05972c50755220/fe39f905.jpg.orig.jpg
Once the billet is twisted, then knife forging begins, forge out what knife shape you want,grind,etch,heat treat, etc
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/pba772a5b3682840520aaadba517fd6fa/fe39f84e.jpg.orig.jpg
here is a pic of the knife forged from the billet.57 layers of O-1,L-6,one stip of 15n20.

ENJOY! and happy hammering!

Good job Ron. You make it look easy.

Well done, very nice tutorial. And that's a good looking blade too :)

You could have made it harder and used coal ;) Just giving you a hard time.

Thanks,
Nick

Great tutorial Ron
Nice looking Moose rack in the background, looks like there's a muley rack with it or the moose is very nontypical???????
Jon

thanks guys, yes ther is a mulie rack there along with a bunch of other horns....and they are all held in an old coal forge that I`m gonna rebuild!

Very nice tutorial Ron. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.


fitzo

Great pictorial! I particularly like your conscientious hammer pattern. It may be the hard way, and certainly from my experience it doesn't come out quite as clean as yours the first time. We wire the billet together rather than weld, but I think adding stainless foil to the equation is also a step in keeping the carburization down. Neat forge too!

thanks for all the great replies! I was hoping I couls shed a little light on damascus for those who have never done it and thought they`d try but diddn`t quite know where to start....hope this helps. Also for everyone else, to see how I make my damascus.