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Thread: Cable Damascus

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default Cable Damascus





    Yesterday I spent about five hours at the forge making this cable into a solid bar along with another piece about half the length.

    It seems to have forge welded up nicely with no signs of inclusions or delimitations.

    I need to prepare an enchant. There seems to be great controversy over the best acids, or combination and strength/dilution.
    Hydrochloric, sulphuric, white vinegar, ferric, muratic.

    So not sure what I will use yet.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  2. #2
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    Dec 2007
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    Melbourne
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    I forgot to mention that the bar reduced to bout a third the diameter of the original cable without much noticeable increase in length. Shows how much air is in between all the small strand twists and larger grouped twists making up the cable.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  3. #3
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    Melbourne
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    I drained some acid from an old battery and left it for an hour.


    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
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    Far West Wimmera
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    Default

    I am waiting to see how it looks when finished.

    Dean

  5. #5
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    Aug 2015
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    QLD
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    Default

    The concept were new to me so I had a look-see at google pictures. Some amazing knife work made from old cables. I'm looking forward to seeing whats made here.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    ACT
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    Default

    Looks nice. I have been wanting to give it a go myself. What process did you use etc. I have seen people combine a few length of cable - looks like yours was a decent diameter to begin with.

  7. #7
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    Melbourne
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    I'm wondering what it will look like finished too….I'm also wondering what it will be as I haven't decided yet.


    It's about 1" cable. The process is pretty simple.

    Use tie wire to tie off each and to stop unravelling, cut length off.

    Throw in coke forge heat to mid orange, coat heavily in borax and put back in forge, keep rotating the cable so it heats evenly and soaks through without burning the cable strands.

    Pull out and lightly set the end, brush off, coat with borax put back in forge, fireweld ends and shape square may take a few heats, repeat other end.

    heat whole length of cable to weld ing heat put one square end in vice and other in a shifter and twist the cable tighter. Brush..borax..heat. Start at one end and fireweld by hitting in a rotation following the cable Brush..borax..heat..reapt until solid. Forge to shape.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Picton NSW
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    Default

    That is coming along really nice!

    Here is one of my cable damascus blades..






  9. #9
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    Dec 2007
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    Yeah nice job!
    When are you doing a stall in melb next?
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Picton NSW
    Posts
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post
    Yeah nice job!
    When are you doing a stall in melb next?
    I believe the next one down south is the Melbourne guild show on 30 April and 1st May.

    You should come up for a top weekend at the Symposium though in March.
    Worth the trip!

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