Chad Nichols SS Damascus Lights

[jch79]

Fred, this looks like an awesome "start"!

[PhotonFanatic]

Douoble Trouble:

[AardvarkSagus]

I definitely agree. I can't wait to see continued pics.

[PhotonFanatic]

Added the fluting to the heads. These are almost ready to visit the heat treater and then I will etch, polish and add the final discs or dimples in the head.

This is a rendering of the design:



And this is what they actually look like at the moment:

[cmacclel]

Awesome Fred......I need to learn how to draw. How do you plan on re-indexing the head to add the dimples?

Mac

[PhotonFanatic]

Hi Mac,

I do the re-indexing by hand--it's pretty simple actually since the flute is already there. I just use the ball end from a Starret wiggler set and nestle that in the flute-a little jiggling and then it sits perfectly. Then I tighten the collet on the piece, with the indexer set to zero, remove the wiggler and install the cutting tool.

Speaking of drawing--how are you coming on sending me that CAD program?

[cmacclel]

Speaking of drawing--how are you coming on sending me that CAD program?

I thought you where coming to pick it up

Mac

[PhotonFanatic]

A little more work today, one of the lights, at least. Pretty time consuming doing these indexed machining jobs.

Today I removed some material from the tail end and defined the fins to give them a more aggressive and streamlined appearance. I will say that you wouldn't want the tail end of this light slammed into your face.

[AardvarkSagus]

...ow!

Beautiful though.

[arewethereyetdad]

Fred, those are just incredibly gorgeous, both the material and your shaping of it. The lights are already spectacular. Can't wait to see the end product!

[jch79]

I'd way rather watch you machine some of this than watch the SNOOZER of a Wimby final today... although the TdF was on, and was exciting as all heck. These things look awesome Fred.

[wquiles]

Fred, that is simply beautiful

[J Smyth]

Chads Damascus is off the hook! Freds lights are rock-in too.

[PhotonFanatic]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

Here are the two bodies, now ready for a visit to the heat treater:






Tried another variation on the beveled tails for the second one--not sure that there's a world of difference though. Might have to play with the design a bit, if I ever do this again.

[taewoopa]

Looks like 2 new developed Missles ..

Super cool ..

[taewoopa]

Chads Damascus is off the hook! Freds lights are rock-in too.

Hello , Jim .

Nice to see you here again. How have you been ?

Have you got a build-off knife this year too?

I am so glad you are also a CPFer !!

[PhotonFanatic]

Got the bodies back from the heat treater and they looked great, and I think one of them will get sold unetched, as it is quite beautiful as it is.

The other one, though, I wanted to etch and I wanted to try a slightly new approach, for me at least, this time. And I want to make the 316 stainless steel as bright as possible when the light is done. That meant that almost all the machine marks that I could remove, would be removed. Only problem--the heat treating increases the Rockwell hardness considerably, so my usual approach of sanding the surface with progressively finer grits wouldn't work this time.

But, I did have some mold makers' stones on hand, so I dragged them out and proceeded to spend hours removing the machining marks.

Then a quick trip to the buffer and this is the result:






Hopefully, I don't ruin it while etching.

[jch79]

ETCH ETCH ETCH!!!

I can't wait to see this thing in its finished state. Fun thread to follow.

[RIDE]

Fred.....these are absolutely SUPERB!!!!!

The Damascus is going to look amazing! And if you feel up to it...I would highly suggest a run of these in ti too!

As usual........TOP NOTCH work Fred!

RIDE

[PhotonFanatic]

Must admit that I was a bit apprehensive as to how the etching would come out--this is a different combination of stainless steels than the first Chad Nickols SS Damascus that I etched.

But not to worry--here are some quick and not great photos (regular camera's battery needs recharging):





The 316 stainless came out gleaning--hard to photograph bright and shiny objects well.

[CrowdGather]

very nice!

[PhotonFanatic]

Etch wasn't deep enough, nor dark enough, so I did some more etching. Not as shiny, but definitely more contrast.

Think I'll stop here.

[PhotonFanatic]

- - - duplicate post deleted - - -

[RIDE]

You nailed it Fred! LOVE it!

Ti next?

RIDE

[PhotonFanatic]

Beauty and the beast:



Top one was heat treated, then polished by hand with stones, then etched--the Beast.

The bottom one was heat treated only, no polishing, no etching, just as it was machined. It is smoother, slipperier and more subtle in its pattern appearance--the Beauty.

Of course, I could really etch the Beauty heavily, then machine down the higher 316 SS leaving it shiny and the 304 would be a lighter shade of grey from the etching.

So many options, so few lights to try them out on.

I did order two more bars from Chad Nichols today, so there will be more variations down the road.

[ninemm]

Wow. Totally stunning Fred! Amazing job.

[GLOCK18]

Now thats a Nice light

[PhotonFanatic]

Finally found the time to etch the second light--but instead of using Ferric Chloride this time, which was dulling the harder 316SS, I opted to use sulfuric acid and also hydrochloric acid instead. Neither of those takes the shine off the 316SS, so the contrast between the two metals, 316 and 304, is greater.

Some photos:






I'd still love to find a technique to easily darken the 304 portion of the Damascus, but I'm more satisfied with the shininess of the 316 from this etching, as compared to the appearance of the 316 when etched in ferric chloride.

[taewoopa]

Yes.. Much better.!!!

[Zeruel]

Great finesse in a bold statement. Another true masterpiece.