Hi guys,
i have a little question about making damascus.
is it possible to make a damascus billet of A2 and O1?
thanks in advance
/Roger

It should be technically possible, but it's not a good idea. The O1 is oil hardening and the A2 is air hardening, so heat treating well will be almost impossible. Your best results will be from steels with similer HT requirements.

thanks alot. that was a thing i didn´t think about.
/Roger

Generally speaking with Damascus, the more similar the steels/alloys, the easier time you'll have joining them. For example, many or us are using 1080 and 15N20 for our damascus. This is because these two steels are very compatible with each other. 1080 being a plain carbon steel, and 15N20 being basically 1075 with 1.5% nickel. This means that they both will expand/contract with heating and cooling relatively the same, which also means we can do much more in the way of manipulating them when joined, without them wanting to tear themselves apart as would happen if the alloys differed widely.

There are a lot of different things being put together as damascus these days, but I often wonder if those who are doing it are taking the time too understand/realize just what they are doing. Many times the thought of contrast in the steels seems to overshadow all other considerations. I suppose if that's the primary goal (contrast) then it's OK, but I can't help but think that with a little research and effort that the blades could be so much more than just beautiful in appearance.

ED: What vendors would you recommend for prices, quality and service????:confused:

Kelly Cupples and Swain Spring Service for everything except 52100. 52100 is getting hard to find......I've been gathering mine where ever I can find it.

Swain Spring phone: 1-800-378-1246

Kelly Cupples (Cell Phone): 1-509-728-0057

I use both sources. Swain's is only a couple of miles from my shop, but Kelly will cut/shear 15N20 to the sizes you request!

Thanks Ed:D :smokin

I just got my first order of 1084 and 15N20 from Kelly and it was good clean steel and very reasonably priced. My first billet turned out perfect (thanks Ed, Tom, Lyle and Bill!). The idea of buying blade steel from a bladesmith makes a whole lot of sense to me. He also has the high purity anhydrous sodium borate (Borax). Best of all he is close so the orders are overnight almost. After Admiral Steel screwed up my order for the third time I was desperate for a better source.

I am now a terminal forge welder.:101