repair crack in homemade knife.

[Wendelspanswick]

I was taught that Damascus was a piece of wrought iron and a piece of steel forge welded together and repeatedly folded and welded?

 

[Maker]

I was taught that Damascus was a piece of wrought iron and a piece of steel forge welded together and repeatedly folded and welded?

Pretty much, I think you usually use lots of layers of mild steel and a higher nickel content steel.

 

[TechnicAl]

interesting reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_steel

 

[Jan]

That reminds me; my spade (inherited from my late grandmother so it's older than me) has a crack running half the width of the blade. With some careful MIGing I reckon it could be good for another few decades of use - and abuse.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Not sure a spade is hardened anyway, so probably got no temper to lose.

 

[TechnicAl]

Ive got a few spades and a fork welded together. I think I used 309L on them. One is stainless. Even if the heat of welding softens the blade a little its still better than half a spade or fork

 

[Jan]

Several years ago I stick welded a damaged stainless fork tine with a mild steel rod. The weld held, but eventually the wooden shaft broke. It was cheaper to buy a complete fork than just the shaft/handle so the remains went for recycling.