I was working with some 1 inch squares I picked up several months ago recently and tried doing the oven color temp thing. I first noticed that one set had cracks in it following the patterns all over the place and it just looked bad. The others were not like that.

I put 2 sets in the oven at 350 for something like 12 minutes or so and when they came out one set was no different and the other set had cracks in it. So I put 4 ses in the oven on the clean cycle and all but one set (the same set) had cracks in it.

low temps and seeing cracks? Anyone want to explain what I am seeing here? I can post some very very detailed closeup macro photo's if anyone is interested.

Ed

How about some pics?

ok here goes.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/20314-1/IMG_0815.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/20322-2/mosaic1.jpg

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/20309-1/IMG_0814.JPG

I am going to sand the face and retake the photo's to see what the metal looks like.

Ed

You're not looking at cracks so much as weld flaws, Ed. Incomplete welds. That was a series of bars stacked together in a square matrix and then rewelded to make a multi-bar billet. Not well, either. There was probably a bunch of flux and goo in between the bars that never got squished out and now the heat of the oven is melting the borax and oxides out. Nothing to be done about, really, to repair it.

good thing I got these for scrap and practice etchings. Would seem very odd that such a low temp would bring this out. These blocks are around 1 inch square. So this would actually be a time/temp issue. Hot enough to reshape the steel but not hot enough to fuse the bars fully.

Ed

fitzo is right, bad forge welds.

OK I cleaned them up and re-etched with this new stuff I got and took some more images. In these you can clearly see the weld lines.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/20380-1/flaw1.jpg

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/20383-1/IMG_0860.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/20388-1/IMG_0866.JPG

Interesting to note that on these 1:1:2 macro's you can see splotchy joining of the metal squares, some places they look ok and right next to it it's not. Anyone know from this what went wrong durring the making?

Ed

It's pretty neat looking steel when it's deeply etched. Personally, I could see those used as bolsters on something that conjured the spirit of the ancient Orient. The weld flaws would just lend more ambience, IMO.

Bolster material with that much work in it can get pretty pricey. If you got a really good deal on it, it may be because the maker knew it had the weld flaws and selling it at deep discount. Sometimes they just happen, despite ones best efforts. Sometimes the stuff at the very ends of the billet can be of lesser quality, too.

Can you post a foto that has the whole piece, so I can get the "full perspective"? I'm liking this stuff. I was at a show yesterday and got to see Doug Ponzio's and George Werth's latest efforts. They both make some really interesting steel.

This section is 1.29 x 1.2 inch square and was sold as bolster material. Still not bad for $45.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/20396-2/IMG_0876.JPG

I ended up having to order some etching fluid and I bought 4 units (16oz each) from micromark. This is a 1:3 mix for about an hour.

Ed

I think you should stop wasting your money on cheap damascus, but that's just my opinion.

aye, Am using these to learn with so not to damage the good stuff, things like etching and the like. I do have a growing collection of good stuff.

Ed

Ed, if you get into making blades and ever turn toward artsier stuff, some day you will discover those in a corner of drawer and use them in such a way as to make an expensive knife. I see possibilities. Sometimes the very flaws that make something objectionable technically can be the very thing to make artistic beauty. I see them on a knife made to come from a differnet time, or a fantasy. I see them with holes drilled through those four perfect spots for holes, pinned on with gold or copper, domed to accept very delicate chiseling or fileworking. (You get my drift, I'm sure....)

I agree with Larrin in principle, but would also offer that one must always seek the swan within the ugly duckling.

If you don't plan on using those soon, make sure you wax them or something. A special value may become evident someday. :)