Raindrop damascus pattern

R

ronpardue

Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
3
I would like info on how to make raindrop damascus. Can anyone out there give me directions on the best way to make it or can tell me where to find info. I like the very regular patterns with the drops evenly spaced.
 
Welcome to BF!

I moved this to our makers area.
 
There are a couple of ways to make raindrop pattern. One is with die plates in a press. Make holes 1/4" or larger in a plate. Countersink the holes deeply, make them maybe 1/4" deep. Do this to 2 plates, a top and bottom plate. Half inch steel is a minimum. Make these into a set of spring diers. Bring your billet up to near welding temp. then squeeze the bullet between the plates. A set of platess 2x4" works. Squeeze, release, and continue down the length of the billet.

The billet may stick in the holes, just deal with it and continue. I wouldn't make the holes larger than 3/8" personally, others might. The countersinking reduces the sticking.

Press the billet through one time, you are done. Grind all the high spots off, flatten the billet a bit because it gets wrinkled just a bit in the process, and you have it.

A second way with die blocks is to drill holes in the blocks and mount ball bearings in the holes. Then the bearings press the pattern into your billet. It's probably a bit easier, once the die blocks are made, but you run the risk of pressing inclusions into the billet.

Another method is to drill holes in the billet. Use a 3/8 drill bit, do not go over 1/3 of the thickness into the billet. Make sure that the holes are staggered from side to side. You don't want the holes superimposed. Heat the billet up to welding temp, flux, and press flat. You need to press the billet flat so no holes are visible.

Another way yet is to get the billet near size, then take a ball pien hammer, while the billet is hot, and whang the heck out of it with the ball. This nethod produces the least effective method, but still works. After the billet cools, grind it flat.

I personally use the die plates with holes. Devin Thomas uses those with ball bearings.

If you upset the billet and then do the raindrop pattern, you get vines and roses.

Gene
 
Gene Martin said:
There are a couple of ways to make raindrop pattern. One is with die plates in a press. Make holes 1/4" or larger in a plate. Countersink the holes deeply, make them maybe 1/4" deep. Do this to 2 plates, a top and bottom plate. Half inch steel is a minimum. Make these into a set of spring diers. Bring your billet up to near welding temp. then squeeze the bullet between the plates. A set of platess 2x4" works. Squeeze, release, and continue down the length of the billet.

The billet may stick in the holes, just deal with it and continue. I wouldn't make the holes larger than 3/8" personally, others might. The countersinking reduces the sticking.

Press the billet through one time, you are done. Grind all the high spots off, flatten the billet a bit because it gets wrinkled just a bit in the process, and you have it.

A second way with die blocks is to drill holes in the blocks and mount ball bearings in the holes. Then the bearings press the pattern into your billet. It's probably a bit easier, once the die blocks are made, but you run the risk of pressing inclusions into the billet.

Another method is to drill holes in the billet. Use a 3/8 drill bit, do not go over 1/3 of the thickness into the billet. Make sure that the holes are staggered from side to side. You don't want the holes superimposed. Heat the billet up to welding temp, flux, and press flat. You need to press the billet flat so no holes are visible.

Another way yet is to get the billet near size, then take a ball pien hammer, while the billet is hot, and whang the heck out of it with the ball. This nethod produces the least effective method, but still works. After the billet cools, grind it flat.

I personally use the die plates with holes. Devin Thomas uses those with ball bearings.

If you upset the billet and then do the raindrop pattern, you get vines and roses.

Gene
Click to expand...

Thanks Gene. Thats all good info.
I always wondered how Devin does the vines and roses.
 
Something I've got in my notes which Joe Szilaski said about raindrop pattern damascus at Wulf's hammerin in Vermont was that he uses a dull punch (I believe he said his punch was made from S7 which he said works better at the higher temperatures to not become too soft / un-tempered) and makes deep indentations with that along the billet, rather than drilling holes. He said he much prefers this because there is less loss of material when making damascus.
 
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