Cable Demascus

Gliden07

Gliden07

Well-Known Member
So here is the final shape and final sand prior to makers mark and a Ferric Chloride bath for my first cable Damascus blade. It didn't harden up as good as I hoped and I had to reshape the final profile to this shape because of some inclusions on the cutting edge. But I like the final profile better than the original. I'm gonna gussy it up and make it pretty just the same. Lots of firsts for me on this blade, first forge weld, first cable Damascus, first billet made with a power hammer!! This one is going in my personal collection. Can't sell it not up to my personal standards! Just gotta pick some cool scales for it!! Anyone have any suggestions?? I was thinking Desert Iron Wood and Copper pins?? Or some crazy multi-layered G10 and grind like the Half Faced Blade guys to bring out the layers??IMG_20180601_11243.jpg
 
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Cable can be finicky stuff, I made some a couple weeks ago and then added some 5160 between two billets of cable.
 
Having a good look at the blade and handle shape I would look at something other than the desert ironwood, unless you have a straight grained piece that is. In my pinion the georgous grain swirls and colour changes of the typical desert ironwood I see (I have a couple of pieces in my treasure box) are a complement to a handle with some curves to it and as your handle is reasonable straight I would pick a wood with strong lines that follow the handle shape like a zebra wood or as you sugest maybe go to the G10 where the ground edges would reflect the straight lines of the handle.
Edit to add
Leopard wood with its spots might make a good combination with the similar pattern likely to show through on the cable steel after you have etched it
 
I have a small set of Snake Wood scales, or Wingu too. Have a little time. A friend of mine that teaches a forging class wants me to show his students how I etch my makers mark. Gonna do this blade and kill 2 birds at once.
 
Whatever you pick for scales I'm sure will look great. I would pick the pins depending on the scales. I like NS myself. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished blade.
 
How did you make the thumb grip deal on the spine? Is it just file work or hack saw or both or...? I can’t ever get it to come out right?
 
Kevin Zito said:
How did you make the thumb grip deal on the spine? Is it just file work or hack !! saw or both or...? I can’t ever get it to come out right?
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Ancient Chinese secret Grasshopper!! LOL!!! Real easy Kevin you need to get yourself a Checkering File they come in different Teeth Per Inch (TPI). The one I use is the coarsest you can get at 20 TPI. They also have 30 and 40 TPI. For our purposes the 20 IMO is the best choice. Then you just file at 90 degs until the file bottoms out. Perfect result!
 
springer82 said:
If you can snatch the pebble from my hand. How funny. On of my favorites.
Post some pics of the finished blade.
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I will for sure I ordered some tri colored Micarta for it today. Should be etching makers mark and dipping tomorrow. Then wait for Macecraft to deliver scales. Hope the pattern comes out nice?? Time will tell!!
 
Gliden07 said:
Ancient Chinese secret Grasshopper!! LOL!!! Real easy Kevin you need to get yourself a Checkering File they come in different Teeth Per Inch (TPI). The one I use is the coarsest you can get at 20 TPI. They also have 30 and 40 TPI. For our purposes the 20 IMO is the best choice. Then you just file at 90 degs until the file bottoms out. Perfect result!
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Thank you, sir! I’ve been wanting a checkering file and now I have a reason!
 
IMG_20180603_23655.jpgIMG_20180603_36976.jpg
So today I put makers mark on and dipped in Ferric Chloride, one side nice pattern other side pattern not so nice and a 3/4" void near the cutting edge. I'm gonna finish the knife try a couple of ideas I've been thinking about. Like I said this one is staying with me so no worries there.
 
Dude, that’s awesome! I definitely want to do that one day. You should do a raindrop pattern. I bet that would be cool too!
 
I've found the best way for you me at least doing it by hand is to get it hot and burn all the grease out then wire brush,start fluxing when you feel it is clean get it hot and twist it as tight as you can,flux and bring it to welding temp and weld it in a round rather than in a square billet. Just keep working it into a solid round bar and when your satisfied that its your one solid rod then you can start to square it or flatten it.
 
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