Show notes
014 Show Info – Stephan Fowler Talks Damascus
Show Topic: Stephan Fowler of Fowler Blades
Overview: Today we have Stephan Fowler back with us to talk about Damascus and how it is made. Stephan was on the podcast in show 010, and is very knowledgeable about the art of pattern welded steel. It was a joy for us to have him back on the podcast to share a ton of great knowledge again!
Show Hosts: Dan Eastland of Dogwood Custom Knives and Kyle Daily of KH Daily Knives
Knife Perspective Music: Tom the Brit
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- Knife Perspective Podcast
- Website: www.knifeperspective.com
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- Dogwood Custom Knives
- Website: www.DogwoodCustomKnives.com
- DogwoodCustomKnives on Facebook, Instagram
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- KHDaily Knives
- Website: www.KHDailyKnives.com
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- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Shout Outs and Reviews
- The woodsman pilot apparently hold the current record for listening at the highest altitude (40,000 feet). And might also have the record for highest speed while listening
- Beyond Wood Products
- Casting Kings
Knives in the News
- Harbor Freight Recall alert: 1.1 million $5 pocket knives recalled for posing ‘laceration hazard’
- HF Statement “locking mechanism can fail to engage on extension of the blade, posing a laceration hazard.”
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/10/04/harbor-freight-recall-1-1-million-gordon-folding-knives-recalled/3870578002/
Damascus Interview
- What is forge welding
- Historical significance
- How does it work – big picture and technical (general and microscopic)
- Heat and Force
- How much is hammer technique vs. how much is proper heating of the material
- Heat – Common types of forges
- Propane – Advantages / Disadvantages
- Coal – Advantages / Disadvantages
- Force
- Power Hammer
- Hydraulic Press
- Hammer and Anvil
- 2 or more strikers and an anvil
- How to properly size an anvil – 10 times the weight of the hammer
- What is the deal with flux/ borax
- What does it do
- How should one use it
- Why do people use so much
- The “No Flux Club”
- Forge Welding Patterns
- Monosteel
- Cladding
- San Mi
- Layered Steel
- Folding monosteel (all 1 material)
- Historical Significance
- Pros / Cons
- Advantages in dealing similar with working heat
- How to finish it to get the wave pattern to show
- Cladding
- Historical Significance
- Pros / Cons
- Corrosion protection vs. save cost of steel?
- San Mi
- Historical Significance
- Pros / Cons
- Damascus Center / Outside Layers
- Folding / Layering Different Metals (Commonly thought of as Damascus)
- Historical significance
- Pros / Cons
- What are some common metals that can be mated?
- How different can they be
- Why is silver and nickel alloy used a lot
- How are some of the patterns made
- Ladder / Rain Drop / Twist / Feather
- What are your favorite patterns? Feather W patterns
- What are your favorites to make?
- What is the best pattern for a new maker / limited tools
- What are common mistakes with these and how to avoid them
- Hamon
- Historical Significance
- Any other advantages than looking pretty? Pros / Cons
- Etching
- Ferricholride
- Mix Ratio
- Safety first – Ferrichoride added to water never the other way around
- Other things to mix it with (Distilled water, Vinegar, etc.)
- Muratic / Hydrochloric Acid
- Why does it need to be warm?
- Safe ways to warm it
- Ferricholride
Where you can find Stephan Fowler?
- Website – https://fowlerblades.com
- Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/fowlerblades/
- Feral Production Knives
- Website – https://www.feralknives.com/
- Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/feralknives/
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