On February 12 I (Aldebaran) and Franz Kleber went to Alexandria for a advanced lesson about damask forging by Silvano Camillo and we forged two steel billets Damasco. Then to implement them, his valuable advice , seeing a real lesson about theory and practice advanced by one of the best shapers in the world of steel and Damascus in particular, a supplier of steel used by Mastro Livi for his damascus straight razor.
Now I'll explain our experience, complete with photos and related explanations.
Abstract: The steel used is K720 and 15N20 (similar to L6). The K720 was given to us by Silvanus, the L6 has brought Franz Kleber.These steels were cut into rectangular sections of about 10 cm in length, 1, 5-2 mm thick and 4 cm. wide.
Were used in all 26 "pieces " of K720 (13 and 13 for a billet to the other) and 24 of L6 (12 for a billet, 12 for other).
I thing that number of sections actually is a bit too much, in fact so many overlapping components (alternating) give rise to a composition too high to be beaten by hand and so Camillo used the hammer. This does not mean that Kleber Franz has also tried his hand in forging the steel, hammering on the anvil.
Council, who wanted to forge Damascus by hand, using half of the "pieces"for each type of steel, compared to the number used by us.
Important: The sections of steel before any heat treatment must be polished to a wheel well on coarse to clean well from calamine.
The resulting stack of overlapping silhouettes of two types of steel is welded on all sides, and one of them is particularly a handle welded iron to make more easy extraction of the billet from the furnace for processing.
The welds on the sides are removed after the first "batch. " Borax place on the stack before it is placed in the oven to 1500 degrees Celsius (temperature as constant as possible) makes the pieces come together well right from start.The most important thing is that the material reaches a yellow-almost white.
Once you get this color, the piece is pulled out and hammered on the anvil or with the help of Hammer.The another most important thing is that the hammer smoothly, even on the sides of the billet and thoroughly clean the debris with a spatula after each hammer . Every now and too good to clean up / debris spatulas.
The secret that's all: to act methodically, turning the material in a furnace at a constant temperature through the handle, pull, hammered, cleaned, re-fired.
Camillo Silvano while working at the Hammer.
Camillo Silvano while press the piece
Franz Kleber front of the furnace while controlling the temperature of the two pieces
Extraction of pieces
I(Aldebaran) while controlling the temperature of the pieces
Extraction of pieces
After the billets reach the desired size, they must be folded to obtain new layers, which are essential in working with Damascus.
In our case, having started from 25 layers for each piece, we came up with 50 sheets bending steel.
Cooled the pieces after further processing on them, using circular saws were engraved designs.
Franz Kleber while affects the pieces.
Lunch with Camillo Silvano. From left to right Camillo Silvano, Aldebaran, Franz Kleber.
After lunch we came back in the laboratory of Camillo and Silvano, even heated up the pieces, we took a further turn, then coming to 100 layers of steel.
Finally, the cooled pieces, we have them polished.
Me and Franz Kleber while we polish the pieces.
Final result after having brushed the billets with ferric chloride
Damascus created by a steel cable
This photo deserves an another explanation .Franz Kleber has brought with it 'a steel cable to show it to Camillo Silvano and ask advice about the Damascus that you can create a similar material.Camillo Silvano first showed us the basic procedure about welding, so that the structure will not come apart, both ends of the cable two "clips" of steel.This clips are then used to twist the lead further after all the times you and' removed from the oven, then working as earlier pieces.
Now I'll explain our experience, complete with photos and related explanations.
Abstract: The steel used is K720 and 15N20 (similar to L6). The K720 was given to us by Silvanus, the L6 has brought Franz Kleber.These steels were cut into rectangular sections of about 10 cm in length, 1, 5-2 mm thick and 4 cm. wide.
Were used in all 26 "pieces " of K720 (13 and 13 for a billet to the other) and 24 of L6 (12 for a billet, 12 for other).
I thing that number of sections actually is a bit too much, in fact so many overlapping components (alternating) give rise to a composition too high to be beaten by hand and so Camillo used the hammer. This does not mean that Kleber Franz has also tried his hand in forging the steel, hammering on the anvil.
Council, who wanted to forge Damascus by hand, using half of the "pieces"for each type of steel, compared to the number used by us.
Important: The sections of steel before any heat treatment must be polished to a wheel well on coarse to clean well from calamine.
The resulting stack of overlapping silhouettes of two types of steel is welded on all sides, and one of them is particularly a handle welded iron to make more easy extraction of the billet from the furnace for processing.
The welds on the sides are removed after the first "batch. " Borax place on the stack before it is placed in the oven to 1500 degrees Celsius (temperature as constant as possible) makes the pieces come together well right from start.The most important thing is that the material reaches a yellow-almost white.
Once you get this color, the piece is pulled out and hammered on the anvil or with the help of Hammer.The another most important thing is that the hammer smoothly, even on the sides of the billet and thoroughly clean the debris with a spatula after each hammer . Every now and too good to clean up / debris spatulas.
The secret that's all: to act methodically, turning the material in a furnace at a constant temperature through the handle, pull, hammered, cleaned, re-fired.
Camillo Silvano while working at the Hammer.
Camillo Silvano while press the piece
Franz Kleber front of the furnace while controlling the temperature of the two pieces
Extraction of pieces
I(Aldebaran) while controlling the temperature of the pieces
Extraction of pieces
After the billets reach the desired size, they must be folded to obtain new layers, which are essential in working with Damascus.
In our case, having started from 25 layers for each piece, we came up with 50 sheets bending steel.
Cooled the pieces after further processing on them, using circular saws were engraved designs.
Franz Kleber while affects the pieces.
Lunch with Camillo Silvano. From left to right Camillo Silvano, Aldebaran, Franz Kleber.
After lunch we came back in the laboratory of Camillo and Silvano, even heated up the pieces, we took a further turn, then coming to 100 layers of steel.
Finally, the cooled pieces, we have them polished.
Me and Franz Kleber while we polish the pieces.
Final result after having brushed the billets with ferric chloride
Damascus created by a steel cable
This photo deserves an another explanation .Franz Kleber has brought with it 'a steel cable to show it to Camillo Silvano and ask advice about the Damascus that you can create a similar material.Camillo Silvano first showed us the basic procedure about welding, so that the structure will not come apart, both ends of the cable two "clips" of steel.This clips are then used to twist the lead further after all the times you and' removed from the oven, then working as earlier pieces.
