Subject: Cable Damascus

From: Robert Ehrenberger at mcctrp2 <[email-masked]>
Date: 25 Sep 96 11:33:00 EDT

I am going to try to make some cable damascus steal and wanted to know. Once I 
have welded the strands of the cable into a solid piece, do I need to fold and 
reweld like with layered damascus? Or am I done?

Thank you,

Bob Ehrenberger

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 21:22:21 +0000

> Date:          25 Sep 96 11:33:00 EDT
> Reply-to:      [email-masked]
> From:          Robert Ehrenberger at mcctrp2
>                <[email-masked]>
> To:            theforge <[email-masked]>
> Subject:       Cable Damascus

> reweld like with layered damascus? Or am I done?
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777

Bob:

If you are new at this, there are a few things that I would like to 
discuss with you before you start folding the cable.  

First, do you really have a solid weld on the cable?  If you cut 
through the welded cable, you can see whether it is solid or not.   
It may look solid, and ring when you tap it, but on cutting, you may 
see lots of round sections squeezed together with small spaces 
between.  In this case, more forging of the cable is needed.  you can 
also cut the cable and etch the ends to see whether it is really 
solid or not.  

Second, you need to learn how the pattern in welded cable is altered 
by your forging.  For instance, if you draw the cable lengthwize, 
then forge and etch, the pattern looks like nylon pantyhose would if 
you stretch it longways.  If you forge the cable so as to make a 
short piece wider, you have a much more impressive pattern, such as 
if you grabbed the panty hose on both sides of the leg and pulled.  
Sorry about the pantyhose example, but it is the best way I know of 
to illustrate the pattern.

If  you want to fold the cable and reweld, you certainly may, but be 
conscious of the pattern.

I go through several steps with welded cable.  I burn out the tar, 
bring to low red or orange, and flux with borax, then twist the cable 
tight.  Twisting helps the pattern, and compensates for some of the 
untwisting that will occurr as you weld it.  I then weld the cable, 
refluxing as necessary.  Once welded, ;you will have a series of 
creases where the strands of the cable come together.  I know of no 
way to get rid of this other than grinding it off.  I do this until I 
have a clean billet.  Then, I plan the pattern, and forge the piece.

Hope this helps

Jack R. Smith Jr.
J.R. Smith Handforged Knives