View allAll Photos Tagged patternwelded
Pete Mattila, artist, designer, friend and blacksmith at work on the power hammer, forging together a billet of pattern welded steel - (AKA Damascus steel).
The rhythmic, ground shaking thumping of this beast puts the best of the D&B sub-woofer crew into the realm of a tinny transistor radio from the 60s...
Nikon Z6, Nikkor Z 24-200/4-6.3, 1/30th sec at f/6.3, ISO 560
A very big 'Thank You' to everyone that views, faves and comments on my work! It's really appreciated :-)
exp20211016#062
Back in the forge with Pete Mattilla this last weekend. Full on advanced blade-smithing using pattern welded steel.
Pretty standard blade-making steels used in the welding (51n20 and 1084) but instead of hammer or press, the two different steels have been twisted together when nearly white hot. Resulting billet is then roughed out with the power hammer then coaxed into approximate shape with hammer and anvil.
That completed, I've further roughed out the overall shape by grinding out the pits and scale of hammer-forging before the blade was heated to light orange and quench-hardened in sump oil.
When cool enough to handle, the blade was again run over the linisher to further finesse the shape before again tempering the tool by running over the back of the blade with the torch (this pic). The colours visible in the photo correspond to the temperature of the metal and watching the distinct colour line ensures an even heat can be applied where it's needed before a final quench.
This last step ensures the back of the knife is flexible while the edge is nice and hard.
Once the blade had cooled, it was over to the long process of polishing prior to fitting the handle. I'm still in the process of applying a finishing coat to the handle and will post one of the completed knife one day :-)
I've drawn loosely on the Zulu assegai for the leaf shape of the blade along with it being almost double-edged and carrying maximum blade thickness through the upper third of the form in a line corresponding to the tang-to-tip lateral.
Nikon Z6, Nikkor Z 24-200/4-6.3, 1/125th sec at f/7.1, ISO 1000
For a photographer, the forge is full of rich pickings. Lots of direct light and plenty of deep blacks and highlights...
One of the last few steps in finishing a hand-forged blade (or any blade really) is laying down the final bevel ready for the sharpening stones.
Techniques vary immensely and this is but one method. In Pete's shop we run a linisher/polisher fitted with a very fine belt in reverse allowing a little more control over the angle of the bevel. A smooth, firm, consistent, arcing, stroke across the belt is required. First one side of the blade and then the other. Fine control is necessary as is consistency of pressure on the the belt. It's hypnotic - concentration is essential!
As more material is removed and the edge moves into the realm of sharp, a thin feather of metal will form on the upside of the edge.
This is known as a 'wire edge.' When an even wire forms along the full length of the edge and which eventually 'fluffs' off, it's getting close to pretty sharp. From here it's on to the water stones.
Nikon Z6, Nikkor Z 24-200/4-6.3, 1/125th sec at f/16, ISO 400 FL ~ 57mm
Had to add a little grain in post - looked a bit too sterile :-)
A a trio of pattern-welded blades by Pete Mattila of Hobart.
Pattern-welded steel is often somewhat erroneously referred to as 'Damascus steel' but there are notable differences in production techniques, chemical composition and metallurgy in a historical sense. Sufficient differences in fact to start whole wars on blade smithing forums so not going there... :-)
These particular blades are made from railway steel and another, higher carbon steel being forced together under extreme temperature and pressure - either by press or hammer.
The unique banding in the one one-piece design comes from the many layers being twisted very tightly together during the welding process, when the metal is close to white hot. The blade shape has then been hammer-forged out of the circular blank prior to grinding and polishing. The twisting is visible in the handle.
They are a very pretty blade after pickling in acid then strong coffee :-)
Nikon Z 6, Nikkor Z 24-200/4-6.3, 1/100th sec at f/5.3, ISO 400.
Shot in the forge itself, handheld with available light only.
A pattern-welded blade-in-waiting from master blacksmith, Pete Matilla.
Had to have a think about this. What actually was the first tool? I selected the hammer to begin with but then a stone is a dumb lump of rock and while paper may rule the world, steel trumps it.
It's the edge that wins. It's the edge that made us who we are.
OK so stone can blunt a pair of scissors but stone can sharpen steel and both will outlast paper - and us.
From the flints of the Palaeolithic, comes the science of the edge. Here in a pattern-welded blade lies all the secrets of what separates us from our primate forebears. No judgement. We are today what we and fire made us.
It's up to us to remake ourselves.
LOL - as if. We'll keep butchering our fellows for just as long as we can say who has got the biggest donger or got the biggest car...
God speed. She won't miss us.
Nikon Z6, Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 Ai-S, 1/250th sec at f/1.8,m ISO 100
Rediscovered Bob (our Homo Heidelbergensis skull) and then had an idea...
Our Daily Challenge: I Love to Watch... Horror films.
Explored 10th March 2021 (#2)
Single Godox TT685 placed on left/rear (approx 1ft) and aiming straight at orb - full power. No mods.
"Big Larry 2" LED torch on right (approx 1ft) set to continuous red for infill (I need a second flash).
Flash triggered by XT2 wireless transmitter.
Edited in Canon DPP4 for crop, raising shadows, and Windows Photo Editor for removal of a couple of unwanted reflections.
Hand forged 30" Damascus sword
Here is the making of video :
Hand forged tools and flux - available online
front-step-forge.myshopify.com
Or at my shop
Hand forged Damascus steel sword blade I made for BioWare's Dragonage inquisition broad sword. Here is the making of video:
Hand forged tools and flux - available online at
front-step-forge.myshopify.com
Or at my shop
Pattern-welded steel blade, with knotwork engraving. Carved knotwork handle, brass fittings and pommel loop. Handsewn traditional suspension-style sheath with matching knotwork tooling.
Ring in silver, damascus steel, vegetable ivory and garnet. Sadly in need of firestain removal: this didn't show up until I took these pictures!
While the tantou in this other photo look identical when sheathed, they're actually slightly different.
I ended up liking one better than the other. Its patterns were more complex and beautiful (reminding me of smoke), and it also had slightly better balance.
This is that favored blade. I call it Tenkiba -- "Heavenly Fang." =^.^=
I have other photos in 2D of this blade, which show the pattern in great detail. They be found here: #1, 2, 3, 4.
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This version is for crossviewing, no glasses needed.
If you don't know how to view these, here's a guide:
Preview of a patternwelded sword made from a meteorite. The client offered me this meteorite to forge this spatha
Tang: 170X17mm
Blade: 750X7 to 4X50mm
While the tantou in this other photo look identical when sheathed, they're actually slightly different.
I ended up liking one better than the other. Its patterns were more complex and beautiful (reminding me of smoke), and it also had slightly better balance.
This is that favored blade. I call it Tenkiba -- "Heavenly Fang." =^.^=
I have other photos in 2D of this blade, which show the pattern in great detail. They be found here: #1, 2, 3, 4.
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This is the Dubois anaglyph version, for red/cyan glasses.
#damascus #damascusrandompattern #damascusknifeset #chef'sknife #pairingknife #customemade #forging #patternwelded #sheastackhouse #stackhouseknives #nzmade #handmade
Patternwelded woodsmans axe . High layer deep etched damascus axe made in bow tie construction with damascus edge . this is a beautiful piece of steel and one of the finest bits of damascus I have made.
blade 4" head 8"long and handle 22"
Got the idea of using a bit of vegetable ivory from my associate, Janos. (See his pictures at Blind Spot Jewellery.)
#Nakiri #sashimi #japaneseknife #japaneseknives #damascusknife #japanesefoldedsteel #Custommade #handmade #nzmade #sheastackhouse #Stackhouseknives #knifeset #damascusknifeset
Patternwelded woodsmans axe . High layer deep etched damascus axe made in bow tie construction with damascus edge . this is a beautiful piece of steel and one of the finest bits of damascus I have made, there is a great depth and chatoyance to the piece.
blade 4" head 8"long and handle 22"
My first iron piece, kitchen knife-- xmas present for my dad.
Thanks to Jay and Shane for teaching me the ropes. And getting me hooked
Penland 09
#damascus #damascuspocketknife #damascusfoldingknife #Sheastackhouse #stackhouseknives #custommade #nzmade #handmade #forging
Damascus tanto close up. This is the one I demonstrated making in the Damascus research course at Nait in February
Rought core for the patternwelded spatha. There you can see the four twisted rods for the core. They are all made by C45W, C60 an 15Ni20. The two bars in the middle have more C45W because this steel is ropyer and more breakingresistand than the C60. The two outer rods have more C60. This steel is a bit more briddle but flexibel and hard. All four bars are made from 33 layers.
The edge will be forges from Ck75, 2842 and 2714 steel more or less 500 to 600 layers to get a nice breakingresistand and sharp edge.
These four bars are the work from 5 days. I don't work fast for such a complex blade, because all detail could produce a gab or destroy the pattern.