Thoughts or pics of wire rope damascus?

[imskippy]

I haven't even forged my first blade yet but really want to try my hand at some wire rope damascus blades. Who here has done this and do you have any pics or pointers or common mistakes to avoid?  Thanks SKippy

[Wampus]

Only pic I could find is the first wire blade I made about 6-7 years ago.  I bought Wayne Goddard's video on making cable damascus knives before I started and it's got lots of good info.   http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26&products_id=652

Before you start forging, get the cable good and hot and clamp one end in a vise and twist it up as tight as you can get it to help get rid of any voids.  Use lots of flux.  Always cut and fold the billet double when you get it forged flat because it helps get rid of voids too.  Maybe I've just been lucky but I haven't had any problems with cable.  Wish I could say the same for motorcycle chain, chainsaw chain etc.  

 

[kbaknife]

That's a great lookin' knife!
How have you found the performance?
Do you remember what kind of cable it was?
Did you know the carbon content?
How did you treat the final blade - like 1084 or W1 or 2 or something like that?
I'm dyin' to try some and have no experience with it.

[Wampus]

My father owned heavy equipment and worked in various kinds of construction his whole life and he has lots of leftover cable from draglines, dozers, etc in his old shop.  I have no idea what steel or the carbon content.  I used the "generic" heat treat, basicallly heat to a little above non-magnetic and quench in warm used motor oil cut with trans fluid and then temper at about 375* and draw the spine and tang to blue with a torch.  That was back before I got my used pottery kiln with digital control and proper quenching fluid.  I did part of the ABS test where you chop through two knotty 2x4's and then shave hair and it did fine.  I didn't do the 90* bend of course, but the guy I gave it to reports that it works good for a general camp chore knife. The photo doesn't show the pattern very well, but it looked neat to me after etching with FeCl.

[imskippy]

I bought a small piece from Ellis Custom Knife and he states to treat it like 1084 right on the website. I haven't messed with it yet as I am still trying to get my ducks in a row. And I still need to find an anvil of some sort too.

[imskippy]

Also some stuff I read said to weld the ends to prevent unraveling. Then heat and twist as tight as possible before welding. Skippy

[kbaknife]

Gotcha!
Thanks.