nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/10/17 14:21:48
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MSim
My problem with paying $200+ for a knife, i would be too afraid to use it like i do $30-80 knifes. It would end up being a knife to show off, never really used for cutting or stabbing into dirt (might damage or scratch it).
I like my Kershaw 1670S30V Blur Knife with S30V Steel, it's not too expensive to where i would be worried if it gets scratched up or chipped edge.
You wouldn't dig in the dirt with any knife? thats what you use a shovel for. If your chipping the edge your possibly using it as a prybar? Knives are for cutting/chopping. You can cut and beat any chunk of wood into submission with a quality knife. I have put this knife through the ringer with 2x4's and plywood and not a single scratch on it, or had it dull in the least. The processes of folding the steel does amazing things for process hardening and driving out impurities. Then when you actually harden it, and temper it... its nothing short of amazing.
post edited by nateman_doo - 2015/10/17 16:18:37
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MSim
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/10/17 19:50:02
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nateman_doo
You wouldn't dig in the dirt with any knife? thats what you use a shovel for. If your chipping the edge your possibly using it as a prybar? Knives are for cutting/chopping. You can cut and beat any chunk of wood into submission with a quality knife. I have put this knife through the ringer with 2x4's and plywood and not a single scratch on it, or had it dull in the least.
The processes of folding the steel does amazing things for process hardening and driving out impurities. Then when you actually harden it, and temper it... its nothing short of amazing.
If you use a knife to cut weeds or small trees etc, you can end up sticking it in dirt that has stone/sand in it. People use knifes for all kinds of small cutting jobs. You scratch up or put a chip in the edge on a $10-30 knife you won't care as much if it happens to a $250+ knife. Folding steal does indeed do amazing things. What do you use to sharpen your knifes with? I purchased Lansky Professional Sharpening System but don't care that much for it. I replaced it with Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker Knife Sharpener, i find it to be faster and easier to sharpen my knifes with.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/10/19 18:33:26
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I use simple stones to sharpen them. a 3 angle stone set that I bought at lowes works really nice. Splits paper, and the knive shaves arm hair off like nothing. I should put these steel through some sort of torture test. Some more projects on the horizon:  that blob on the left is a pure stainless billet. strictly experimental. And this initial 44 layer stack!  6 folds and its well over 1 thousand layers. 44, 88, 176, 352, 704, 1408... And lastly... PEACE 
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nikkocortez
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/10/21 03:03:55
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/10/22 11:48:01
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bill1024
I used an empty mason jar, drilled a hole in the lid that is the size for a 1/2 in male pipe thread.
Used a 1/2mpt x 1/8mpt bushing and a 1/2 locking nut. I got the locking nut from a 1/2 water proof electrical connector. Used the rubber O ring too
The O ring to seal the adapter to the lid.
Then I used a 1/8mpt barbed adapter to rubber hose to the brake vacuum hand pump.
Dollar store tongs to get the scales out of the liquid hardener
It is the cheapest way to go. Any quart size jar can work. Empty sketti sauce jar.....
I'll watch the video later when I have more time
Also sealing the wood stops oil and dirt from getting into the handle.
It helps stop the wood from curling and shrinking and cracking most of all.
I just finished and tested my home made vacuum chamber. I hope to have some pics by friday-ish. I could take them now (of the prototype), but what fun is that when there is a much nicer version on the way. Polycarbonate tube, Acrylic base, and Delrin top.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/13 22:20:13
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updates on the horizon. Made some forge improvements and another knife in the works.
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Shockjockey
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 04:40:18
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Nice to see someone actually creating something. Nice job! 
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notfordman
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 11:10:33
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Shockjockey
Nice to see someone actually creating something. Nice job!
Nateman is always creating something. It's quite refreshing to see what he is doing. Does it get "easier" with more repetition?
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 16:43:30
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in theory it should get easier, but for this it was HARD. So I started with the second billiet on the left: I drew it out into a single bar, then cut it into pieces edgewise:  after HOURS of forgewelding and numerous failed attempts I had something. A quick acid etch to see the pattern:   Drawing the shape out into a Mora style blade (was the requested shape)  Some initial grinding:  After hardening:  Starting to sand:  And here is what the blade looks like now:  Reminds me of the Zebra machete in Dying light. Or the eye of Sauron (x4) Will be mounted on a (stabilized) Cocobolo handle. Forge updates soon. made some efficiency improvements.
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zophar
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 16:49:33
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Ummm, dude that is nothing short of amazing. Beautiful work.
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wmmills
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 16:55:36
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Man, Nate I love this thread!! I waiting to see you make your first long sword, lol. Please?!?!?!? :P
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 21:03:42
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bill1024
Nice work Nate, keep up the good work.
I do want to mention, when working with some wood, horn, pearl or abalone make sure you have on a respirator.
Spalted wood, horn and MOP/abalone is not the best thing to get in your lungs.
Also when you cut you own wood from logs and use it is dried or you are drying it before you try to stabilize it?
I gave you some knife making supply web site addresses, or do you need some?
I tried a few things. The firewood logs of oak I cut on my bandsaw I have had drying in a toaster oven. Then I just put some boiled linseed oil in the vacuum chamber and went on a few day long suck-fest. Then let it soak for 2 days. Did a cross section cut, and it penetrated all the way to the core. Vacuum chambers rock. I tend to use a respirator for any cutting/sanding/grinding. The heat cured resin also worked on this chunk of cocobolo. Its an absolutely beautiful (AND HARD) dark wood.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 21:05:46
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And here is the parting shot for the evening. Its just after midnight.  just a basic cutout shape. Took me quite a while to burn the tang into the wood. Thank goodness I have an exhaust or I would be sleeping on the couch.
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knightsilver
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 22:54:30
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Nice!
IMOO, so many ways to do hardwoods, oak is a diff fav for me. Kiln drying , seasoning fresh cut trees to dry outdoors vs man made quickies. For handles or anything that get lots oily hand holding, id use lin or some of cotton seed oil, just to reapply and multiple coats. Two piece wood handle with leather sandwiched the hilt and wood pieces would give more, still have firm grip and less of wood breaking/cracking.
so how difficult is stainless steel :) ?
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Vlada011
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/14 23:22:21
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These knives are beautiful.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/23 11:50:14
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Here is #3. A simple low layer count Leuku shape. I needed a template  This is after the hardening process. I did an edge hardening and it got a slight recurve to it. Sexy as hell in my humble opinion. I am especially fond of this one. For overall size:  A huge 15" billet of a much higher layer count. I am getting the hang of forging things. That chunk is 1" wide, 1/4" thick and has over 14" of usable material in it. Starting to grind down that main billet, for a quadruple fold:  This is a quick acid etch of what the pattern looks like:  You can see 2 dark, 2 light with interrupting thin bands of 15N20. The pattern looks like this:  From the left is 15N20, 1045, 15N20, 1084, 15N20 (middle) 1084, 15N20, 1045, 15N20. Not sure which etches darker and which etches lighter, but I know the thin 15N20 steel bands are the thin ones. Cleaning up:  This this is so straight it stands up on its own edge. And here is the slight recurve:  the ruler is placed at the rear of the blade, and the ruler is moved off to the side. Its just a slight recurve, but I really like it.
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Nereus
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/23 19:50:09
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nateman_doo
believe it or not... I want to try to make a wooden topped waterblock. I watched those videos on wood and they practically turn the wood into plastic. I think it would be fun to try at least.
Why stop there? I've seen a few wood cases, keyboards, monitor bezels - they can look very beautiful.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/23 21:45:19
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Nereus
nateman_doo
believe it or not... I want to try to make a wooden topped waterblock. I watched those videos on wood and they practically turn the wood into plastic. I think it would be fun to try at least.
Why stop there? I've seen a few wood cases, keyboards, monitor bezels - they can look very beautiful.
because wood have never been used to top a waterblock. It has to be 100% LEAKPROOF. Its on the to-do list at the moment. way down there, but on there nonetheless...
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Nereus
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/24 00:21:59
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nateman_doo
Nereus
nateman_doo
believe it or not... I want to try to make a wooden topped waterblock. I watched those videos on wood and they practically turn the wood into plastic. I think it would be fun to try at least.
Why stop there? I've seen a few wood cases, keyboards, monitor bezels - they can look very beautiful.
because wood have never been used to top a waterblock. It has to be 100% LEAKPROOF. Its on the to-do list at the moment. way down there, but on there nonetheless...
Ohh ok, not just wood over acrylic, but in place of it.. that's a challenge, not only with the wood not absorbing liquid, but also avoiding heat causing warping. Well if anyone can do it, you're the guy!
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/24 12:19:42
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I appreciate the vote of confidence. But yea, it would be challenging. Figure its worth a try
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/29 15:13:29
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Pictures of my first (almost) THOUSAND later knife will be posted this week.
(Actual layer count 972)
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hellshocker
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/29 15:39:12
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lol come on Nate your killing us with the suspense
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nateman_doo
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hellshocker
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/11/30 16:07:17
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she's beautiful can't wait until you get it done 
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HAZMAN_THE_GREAT
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/12/01 02:04:45
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Hey Nate I know this may sound hard but do you think you can make your own multi-tool? Just think about it dude. You would be able to make whatever tools that you need that fits your work or EDC system. As a multi-tool lover like myself I hate how we have to pick and choose what tools out way more to you than other tools that you may need that one multi-tool does not offer over the other.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/12/01 04:50:00
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It wouldn't be impossible at all.. I do have a CNC you know. BUT, that would take quite a long time to master... the swiss have been doing it for FAR longer and likely have worked out all the kinks that i would just start running into. I have already run into problems making knives, but each problem I run into I learn from. That is where the experience makes me wiser.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/12/02 16:29:26
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The same sub 1K layer knife down to 220 grit:  Down to 1K sandpaper and a polishing wheel:   I edge quenched it and it kind of reminds me of a Japanese hamon if you look closely. It disappears when you etch it in acid.
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HAZMAN_THE_GREAT
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/12/03 00:00:49
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It does look like the hamon. How many awesome knives have you made so far?
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/12/03 17:14:05
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one of them didn't survive the heat treating process (shame on me) so I have 3 made so far. I am recording some video of that huge billet being worked. When I learn how to "make a movie" then I will post that on youtube.
This type of work takes soooo much time. I cant work every day, but i have at least 2 straight days of forging into it, just to its first fold. Thats why the custom damascus knives on Arizona custom knives are so expensive.
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nateman_doo
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Re: My first hand forged Damascus knife.
2015/12/09 09:31:12
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