cutting tool

[jacob7]

Ed, do you know what metal to use for a hot cutting tool for feathering damascus so it doesn't melt. I melted the edge on a maul so I know that won't work. There's something I'm sure. Thanks

[Ed Caffrey]

I generally use 4140 or H13....but honestly, it's not going to matter if you're cutting feather pattern with a press...nothing will hold up to the heat and pressure. Well, let me rephrase that.....nothing that I can afford will hold up! I'm sure some of the "super" alloys might....but a piece the size needed for a hot cut would make you faint!

I'm lucky enough to have a friend who works on heavy equipment, and he brings me dozer cutting edges and such.....I always count on a cutter used for feather pattern to only be good for one or two billets....then I build a new cutter for the next.

[jacob7]

Ed, did you forge it hot and reshape it on the press?

[Ed Caffrey]

Are you talking about the feather billets, or the cutting tool? The first time I made a cutter, I forge it to shape on the air hammer, then went through heat treating it, thinking that would help it hold up. NOT! After that I just forge to shape on the air hammer, let the cutter cool on the shop floor, then finish it out on the grinder and use/destroy it. Then make another when the need arises. I don't make a lot of feather pattern simply because my press has such a short "throw".....between the room needed for the cutter and the billet, the longest feather billet I can make is about 4". Hopefully that will all change soon, as I'm in the process of acquiring a much larger press, with much more "throw".

[jacob7]

Thanks Ed that answers my questions. I appreciate it.