Gary Mulkey Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 As "Old Man Winter" is hanging on, I have gotten into the habit of running the forge for at least a couple of hours the first thing in the morning just to warm the shop even though I have plenty to work on without do more forging. Recently I got permission from my friend Jean-louis Regel to reproduce in my opinion one of his most beautiful Damascus patterns and thought that some of you might be interested in how I go about it. I didn't want to ask him to go through all of the steps that he used to get the pattern as it is fairly complicated one but as best that I can figure out from a photo of one his knives, this is how it should be made: A= 1/8" 1080(1084) B= 1/16" 15N20 Welded pieces referred to as "Billet" 1)The initial stack: AA-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-AA 2) Once welded cut into two pieces 1 1/2" wide x ? & stack: AA-Billet-AA-Billet-AA 3) Do a "W" squeeze and forge to 1 1/2" wide Then cut into five equal length pieces & stack: Billet-A-BB-A-Billet-A-BB-A-Billet-A-BB-A-Billet-A-BB-A-Billet 4) Weld and then square on the bias Orient so that the internal lines direct toward the center, 4-way & weld 5) Tile cut & weld I'm fairly certain that I won't recreate the pattern perfectly as every piece of my Damascus is always unique and has some degree of distortion but hopefully it will turn out something like this: Here's my initial stack: Once welded I cut it in two and added more 1080 to the stack: To this I flipped it 90 degrees and did a "W" squeeze drawing it out to 1/2" x 1 1/2" x whatever. This I cut into five equal lengths and stacked: Billet-A-BB-A-Billet-A-BB-A-Billet-A-BB-A-Billet-A-BB-A-Billet This stack was too thick to go through the door of my forge so I welded it in three parts and then combined them: The next step was to square this billet on the bias: This is where I stopped for the day. I'll try to keep you updated with more as I progress with this one. 1 1 Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Nice. Does the pattern have a name? "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos qui libertate donati nescimus quid constat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 1 hour ago, Charles du Preez said: Nice. Does the pattern have a name? Not that I know of. I don't believe that I've ever heard Jean-louis apply a name to any of his patterns. It's pretty isn't it? Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 (edited) Today I got the billet squared on the bias, drawn out, surface ground & 4-wayed. Tomorrow hopefully I'll get the second 4-way done and be ready to tile cut. (the x's on the four pieces are for orientation since the pattern is directional) Edited January 25, 2018 by Gary Mulkey Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 11 hours ago, Gary Mulkey said: It's pretty isn't it? Absolutely "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos qui libertate donati nescimus quid constat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 6 minutes ago, Charles du Preez said: Absolutely If I can get even close to what Jean-louis had I'll be extremely happy. Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 I’m sure you will. Looking at that first picture, I would love to see the evil twin of this (A&B swapped). "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos qui libertate donati nescimus quid constat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I missed this post Wednesday, but I'm glad I caught it now. The pattern in that first pic is incredible. I'm eager to see the Mulkey version of it! -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 20 minutes ago, Brian Dougherty said: I'm eager to see the Mulkey version of it! Me too !!.......... If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Craft Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Gary, I see why you liked it because that is great pattern for Damascus. Never seen anything like it! I am anxious to see what you come up with!! C Craft Customs ~~~ With every custom knife I build I try to accomplish three things. I want that knife to look so good you just have to pick it up, feel so good in your hand you can't wait to try it, and once you use it, you never want to put it down ! If I capture those three factors in each knife I build, I am assured the knife will become a piece that is used and treasured by its owner! ~~~ C Craft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 I got the 4-wayed billet drawn out to 1"x1"x ?. I then cut it into four equal length pieces and surface ground two sides of each. This I tack welded together into a second 4-way. Once welded I did an additional squaring on the bias to get the final pattern. Here's the billet drawn to size for tile cutting. And my first look at the pattern. ( the ugly gray blotch is the remainder of a MIG tack weld on the ends of the 4-way and will come off when tile cut) The next step will be to surface grind two sides and tile cut. Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I'm very grateful for these step-by-step processes you post Gary. They are extremely inspirational. I hope you post some intermediate pics of the tile cutting & welding steps. 1 “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 6 minutes ago, Joshua States said: I'm very grateful for these step-by-step processes you post Gary. They are extremely inspirational. I hope you post some intermediate pics of the tile cutting & welding steps. Will do. Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Wow, that is starting to look a lot like the original blade! -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 28, 2018 Author Share Posted January 28, 2018 On 1/26/2018 at 3:05 PM, Joshua States said: I'm very grateful for these step-by-step processes you post Gary. They are extremely inspirational. I hope you post some intermediate pics of the tile cutting & welding steps. Here's a look at my process for tile cutting. I number each tile primarily for orientation so that I get them tack welded correctly. 1 Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Wilcox Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Truly inspirational! And the sneak peek of the pattern before cutting the tiles looks extremely promising. Looking forward to the result. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Thanks Gary! 1 “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 You're welcome. Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 (edited) I got the blade forged to shape this morning. Here's a look at the pattern after a rough grind and quick etch. It will get a lot more contrast after H/T'ing, a proper hand sanding and a full etch. Edited January 29, 2018 by Gary Mulkey 2 Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Man, that is a success! I appreciate you showing hte steps to the mossaic work. One of these days I'm going to give that a shot. It is still of a brain bender for me right now. I reacall that you preferr welding without flux. Is that true through all of these steps? -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 13 minutes ago, Brian Dougherty said: Man, that is a success! I appreciate you showing hte steps to the mossaic work. One of these days I'm going to give that a shot. It is still of a brain bender for me right now. I reacall that you preferr welding without flux. Is that true through all of these steps? Yes. The only time I used any borax was to prevent scaling during the normalizing process. Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Very nice! That is a cool pattern, and I looks good when it distorts in the knife forging too! “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Well, it's not the same as JLR's pattern, but dang man, that looks nice! “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Mulkey Posted January 30, 2018 Author Share Posted January 30, 2018 3 hours ago, Joshua States said: Well, it's not the same as JLR's pattern, but dang man, that looks nice! Thanks. I didn't expect to be able to exactly duplicate his pattern but I'm satisfied with the outcome. Gary ABS,CKCA,ABKA,KGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Camper Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Call me crazy, but I like yours better. It's like train graffiti; I'm not sure what it says, but it still speaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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