BLADESMITHING | Making Damascus By Hand - NO POWER HAMMER OR PRESS 

This video shows why the right tool's are important for advanced techniques. Learn more at www.knightforgestudio.com

Something that I've learned in dabbling with pattern welded steel is that the thickness of billet before forge welding is key. Thin metal has more surface area exposed to air which causes it to cool quickly, especially when you lay it on a cool anvil. If the billet is too thin, even if you do have good welding temps in the forge, then it cools too quickly or unevenly and you get sections of metal that don't weld because they've cooled too much. That initial thermal mass is what makes or breaks a pattern welded billet, especially if you're doing it by hand. Not that Jason makes any of those mistakes in this video...dudes a beast at the anvil. Just sharing my experience in hopes it can help someone else watching this video trying to learn some tips for pattern welding by hand.

I started watching these videos 3 weeks ago and thought to myself "its a pitty, that this will be one of the things I never had a chance to try". Today, I am looking for a reasonable DIY forge 😁 I dont care if I will fail miserably, I just want to hit that white hot metal for once

This is why old-time smiths were beasts. This was hypnotizing to watch. Thank you for posting it!

I need to get me one of those bio fueled power man hammers....I mean assistants.

Great to see close ups at the anvil, so we can actually what is going on, instead of a glowing blob gettin' wacked! Cool looking pattern!

Awesome video as always. Thanks for sharing. Great to see the entire process done with only hammer and anvil and without flux.

If you have the means, you should make a damascus battle ax at some point. That would be epic.

Pure determination and the proper technique you can do anything. Great video Jason!

Jason. Thanks for the video! I have made two small stacks of damascus with no power tools and after this video I'm going to do some more with at least 13 layers to start! I also took your advice from a previous video and starting selling some stuff I wasn't using and I am just about order my first belt grinder!!

I love watching your vids!! I'm very new at smithing and you explain things do well. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the help Tiger Lilly ! I could make out the two fisted hammering during the first cycle. Beautiful pattern Jason on the blank. Good to see you again after a week !

It so soothing watching the metal being forged! Amazing craftsmanship 🙂👍👍👍

Mr. Knight I must say I'm speechless...this is so beautiful. You are inspiring others to learn forging and for that I thank you.

As always thank you for your knowledge. Still setting up some things but will be hammering some steal soon!!! Thank you for all the encouragement

Thanks Jason, Brilliant video and wonderful work. Great for us who don't have the heavy machinery. Only lots of energy to practice.

Thank you jason for sharing your craft

The man makes it look so easy...👍

This was super awesome, im slowly building to a forge so I can make my own!

Awesome As always ! Thank you. And please keep this kind of stuff coming.

Sir, you are indeed, a Master. Amazing!

Love watching you work man. Like ASMR

Awesome as always. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻

Thanks Jason!

Wonderfully made thanks

Boom.... that was awesome... thanks for the video and motivation...

That is awesome thanks have been waiting on this video since you said you were going to make it!!

Excellent I am now fully inspired to have a go myself👍

Awesome video, thanks!!

Great video, I’m going to try this soon.

I'm going to have to try that " no flux save the forge" thing.👍👍👍

Great video. Was just going to try to dabble in a bit of damascus myself. Thanks for the intro.

That “half on, half off hammer technique” is something I need to get better at, it moves metal crazy fast

I love the overhead LP gas feed! And, we’ll everything else about your shop set up. I’m a new born beginner, and I love Damascus Steel

And zero flux.....just clamp tight and weld, nothing else? Amazing

Thank you for the inspiration!

You were right.. you made it look easy. Lol That takes me days to do.

Nicely done... Lots of work...

Outstanding....Thanks very much...!

The best asmr on the planet!!

Woa!!!! Just absolutely phuckin amazing!!!! Soooo many ideas of what to do with all that Purdy metal. Great Job

looking to get my first forge.. thanks for this!

I can watch Jason all day long, I would love to be able to blacksmith, 1 day maybe.

You move so fast it’s amazing.

Awesome video!...also best sales video for a power hammer/press. I was exhausted just watching lol

Got my propane forge one more layer of refrac and I get to start my dream of becoming a smith I spend all my time watching and learning thankyou for this Awsome video and sharing youre knowledge.

That pattern looks awesome!! 🔥 Just shows what a Master Smith is capable of without power hammers and the press. Amazing Work Jason 😃😃 Now, after all that physical labor, time for a few 🍺🍺🍺, LOL 😂😂

Wow great work

It’s so awesome watching you work and also seeing that your daughter is involved is even better!! I’m newer to all this so bare with me lol. With the twisting I see a lot of slag coming out. Do you do that for that purpose to take as much of the impurities from the metal as possible and also I’m guessing that contributes to the design as well?

Very cool video. A lot of work condensed into 20 min. Thanks for the edit. Miss seeing you on FNF.

I love the low layer counts.

Strong dedication 💪

Thank you sir!

Team striking FTW!!! My best friend is my power hammer... Still amazed you can get solid billets without flux. I guess maybe I gotta try that. Badass as always 💪

Beautiful!

I like it better when you talk more. It is very helpful for ameteurs like me

Just discovered your channel, but I like your work. And that big double horn anvil you're forging on.

You are an amazing Smith And forge welding with no flux any pointers?

Beautiful Master...

the *ting* *ting* *ting* *ting* *ting* *ting* is just so statisfying to listen to

Masterful.

Holy shit if that isn't the best blacksmithing editing I've ever seen! For those harboring the accusation of hyperbole in their hearts; ask yourself: "How is it fast-forward but I'm seeing that many exact hammer-blows?" 3:40 you can see the efficacy of the "half on half off" pre-forming but when it transitions into the footage of the team-striking the trick is revealed to be just doing the fucking repetitive work of editing by hand! It's also exactly what I want as an intermediate-beginner (I learned/taught blacksmithing simultaneously at a school for adults with autism for about 18 months with an emphasis on small-scale item production (read: knick-knacks... ha!))

Damn...ya gotta want it ! Get some!

I'm kind of curious what the mass of the initial bilet was compared to the final product.

Nice video. Glad you have help 😜 lol. I love the information and demo. Thank you

This really shows just how technology makes more efficient work.

With the time, elbow, and propane savings, I can see where Big Blue pays for itself in short order. This video pretty well cured my desire to forge any sizeable Damascus until finances allow for a power hammer.

I consider an assistant a power hammer lol. Still it is done by hand, and Jason Knight is a master blade-smith for a very good reason.

Great video! shows how metal is supposed to be moved and the importance of the heat for the metal moving Im a huge fan of your work I have made some knifes, and tried making damascus in my homemade coal forge, ended up working on that piece of metal for 2 days, trying to forgeweld, chased some delaminations, seemed alright, and then split in two. it was a good learning experience but a bit demoralizing in the end.. seeing this video gives me a boost in confidence that i can do it! Thank you!

The pattern almost looked like little anvils. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Very nice! Shows why hammer control and accuracy are fundamental skills of blacksmithing, along with good fire control ( coal) and proper anvil setup always helps move that material. Tho I personally am not ready to try damscus yet this was awesome to see.

That's great!

My shoulders and arms ache just watching this. :)

Thought it would be more dramatic after the twisting. Still pretty. What are the layers made of? Awesome as always. Just did my first class and I am hooked. Did a horseshoe knife bottle opener at Lawless Forge in Seattle. Fun fun. Hooked now.

With pattern welded steel existing at the same time as Wootz Damasca, do you happen to know the circumstances surrounding pattern welded steel's co-opting of the term, "Damascas"? I've not been able to find anything about it online. Thanks for another great video.

Literally just starting to put together my blacksmithing station in my garage and wondered what it would take to make damascus without a power hammer or hydraulic press. Long way off for me, but nice to know it CAN be done

As always your showing everyone that you can do it if you put your mind to it.

I didn’t see any flux or borax used. Will grinding clean the surfaces of the metal before welding together suffice to prevent a flaw?

The damask looks great. I must try such sometime.

Awesome video, I was wondering what size/ weight is the hammer that you were using? I'd love to get one that looks like yours

From 02:40 when the music died down this was fantastic to watch! love Love love the shop sounds. such great ASMR. more without music please

I'm not sure you twisted the billet enough haha. This was very satisfying to watch. Can't say I'll be attempting it myself any time soon.

Wow that coupon looks like a piece of beskar steel from the series The Mandalorion. thanx a bunch again.

Awesome wow 👍👍👍👍

I plan on starting to forge soon. I'm going to take your advice and make a bunch of leaves first. But, my challenge to myself is to make my first knife a Damascus knife and I am going to use your knowledge, instruction and videos as a guide. Great stuff as always, simply love your videos man. Your "Hammer Assistant " must have some guns! 😁

Damascus by hand = Awesome!

And that's a damn pretty Damascus

Quite impressive! Just curious how heavy that anvil is?

Jason, once you have a billet, is it easy to tell which direction the grain is going? Or does it have to be marked on the handle so we can remember?

Very helpful. I'm trying to get started forging and need all the help I can get. My goal is to become a master smith so if you have any advice I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you

cool thansk for shoing us.

Hell yeah man!

Newbie question. What type/ grade of steel? Do you prepare steel for the forge welding? Borax/ turpentine pre-soak?

What metals are used in the video? It looks incredible and I would love to make a similar pattern

Does twisting make for a more solid damascus piece? Or is it purely cosmetic?

Which type of steel did you use?excellent video

Awesome name.

i hope someday i get as good as you my friend

Hi Jason, love watching your videos, they are so informative. I was just curious to know what attachments you use for your angle grinder and what you use those attachments for while forging a blade. Thanks.

on the initial billet, did you use flux? if so, what did you use? borax?