Preheat: Heat to 1400°F (760°C) Equalize. Austenitize: 2050°F, hold time at temperature 45-60 minutes. Quench: Oil or positive pressure (4 bar minimum) to below 125°F (50°C), or salt quench to about 1000°F (540°C), then air cool to below 125°F (50°C). Salt bath treatment, if practical, will ensure the maximum attainable toughness for a given hardening […]
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How do I heat-treat 3V/CPM-154 Damascus billet?
Preheat: Heat to 1400°F (760°C) Equalize. Austenitize: For Max Toughness -1950°F-1975°F, hold time at temperature 45-60 minutes. For Max Edge Retention – 2050°F, hold time at temperature 45-60 minutes. Quench: Oil or positive pressure (4 bar minimum) to below 125°F (50°C), or salt quench to about 1000°F (540°C), then air cool to below 125°F (50°C). […]
How do I heat-treat my 1075 or 0-1 Carbon Damascus billet?
Begin with your Damascus product wrapped as tightly as possible in .002 SST foil. Use double folds on all sides to ensure a tight seal. Preheat your furnace to austenitizing temperature – 1,475 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your wrapped piece in the furnace. Allow your furnace to cycle back up to austenitizing temperature. Soak your piece […]
How do I heat-treat my stainless Damascus after purchase?
Begin with your Damascus product wrapped as tightly as possible in .002 SST foil. Use double folds on all sides to ensure a tight seal. Preheat your furnace to austenitizing temperature – 1,925 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your wrapped piece in the furnace. Allow your furnace to cycle back up to austenitizing temperature. Soak your piece […]
What’s the proper technique for etching Damascus?
When you’re etching Damascus, always be sure to wear appropriate safety gear like eye protection and gloves. For detailed instructions for etching Damascus, use this link. The basic process is as follows: After heat treating, bring your Damascus to a 400 to 600 grit finish. This prepares your steel for an even etch. Once your […]
How do I remove spots on my Damascus after I’ve already etched it?
See the question above for some tips on how to prevent spots. If you’ve already done your etch and want to remove spots, very lightly sand your piece with 500 grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth, then re-etch using muriatic acid.
Why am I getting little spots on my Damascus after etching?
There are a few reasons you might see spots on your Damascus after etching. Let’s troubleshoot. If your Damascus was ground too fast, it may have gotten too hot and the pores in the metal may have closed, which prevents the acid from penetrating correctly. This is most common on thin blades, like kitchen knives, […]
Do you offer a stainless Damascus that doesn’t require heat treatment?
Yes. We offer twisted Damascus rods, raindrop billets, ladder billet, typhoon billets, and random billets in 304/316 stainless, which doesn’t require heat treatment.
Does Damascus and Mokume have voids or delaminations sometimes? I’ve heard that’s just the risk of working with Damascus.
It’s a common misconception that working with Damascus means that you’re just going to have to accept a certain amount of imperfections. We don’t think that’s an acceptable way to do business. You put so much work into your Damascus and Mokume products, and to finish 80% of your work and find a void or […]
What will my Damascus pattern look like after I’ve ground and cut it? Won’t it change?
Each of our beautiful Damascus patterns has its own unique characteristics that are revealed when you grind and cut. A couple of our patterns don’t change at all, and others will change dramatically as you work. When you understand how your pattern looks when cut, you can really create a unique piece of art from […]