Sidewalk Mosaic Damascus Chameleon

[PhotonFanatic]

Poor photos, but a very interesting light in one's hands--the colors change as the lighting changes and the viewing angle changes, so it's like a Chameleon, imo. I hope to get a pro to do some better photos.

[Obijuan Kenobe]

The desire I feel is manifesting as a metal taste, chills, and uncontrolled reaching toward the screen.

Sent from a long time ago...in a galaxy far, far away.

[JMP]

Wow. The pattern in that material is mesmerizing. Actually, my favorite type of DA I've seem.

[nfetterly]

WOW - at first I thought it was anodized, from the color as well as the description of it changing colors at different angles. Bit it's not? What the heck is that - it is certainly fantastic!


Thanks for the explanation below - that is too wild, I've seen some nice lights but that is drop dead georgeous.

[PhotonFanatic]

WOW - at first I thought it was anodized, from the color as well as the description of it changing colors at different angles. Bit it's not? What the heck is that - it is certainly fantastic!

Neale,

It is carbon steel, actually since it is a mosaic Damascus, it is comprised of nickel, the shiny lines, and two different steels, most likely something like 1095 and 1018. Made by Chad Nichols.

I think that if I had hardened it a bit better that two more distinctive colors for the steels would have developed. Still, as this was my first build using mosaic Damascus, and my first attempt at nitre bluing, I'm very pleased with the result.

I spent two days, no lie, sanding the pieces to get the surface as smooth as possible--and that was before polishing them on a Baldor buffing machine. It is silky smooth and a joy to hold.

[chipwillis]

That is awesome, Wooooow

[RedLed]

Send it to me, I will shoot it personally in our state-or-the-art studio.

[PhotonFanatic]

Send it to me, I will shoot it personally in our state-or-the-art studio.

Thanks for the offer, Ned. I've already given first shot to a guy in Chicago, but if you are willing to do it later, I would love to see what you can come up with, too.

[Midnight Run]

Amazingl work Fred!
Can't wait to see picts that will truly reflect its beauty.

[jch79]

I've already given first shot to a guy in Chicago...

Sounds like a real slacker to me!

[Launch Mini]

Amazing.could you pm me the details if I were interested in acquiring one?
Thanks

[fyrstormer]

Very strange pattern. In what pattern are the metals bonded together?

[PhotonFanatic]

Very strange pattern. In what pattern are the metals bonded together?

Well, Mosaic Damascus is made by outlining a pattern inside of a 4" x 4" x 4" iron box using a couple different thickness of pure nickel sheets. And the spaces between the sheets of nickel, now standing on end, are filled with a couple kinds of powered carbon steels. That cannister is sealed by welding on a solid plate, but with a small hole eventually drilled into it to prevent an explosion once the cannister is put into the forge. The end of the cannister also has a long handle welded onto it.

Once the right temperature is reached that will lead to the metals being hot enough to fuse together, the cannister is put into a hydraulic press that flattens and lengthens the metal. Eventually the bar is long enough to be cut into four lengths which are then welded together and the above sequence is repeated.

But when one takes a square patterned bar and makes it a round, the pattern is obviously distorted.

Do some reading on mosaic Damascus and you will get a feeling for the artistry that the maker puts into his work--not to mention the sweat and time.

And, need I mention, that they don't give it away either.

[Trave11er]

OMG, yet another mind-blower...

[RIDE]

Another stunner Fred!!!

RIDE

[bf1]

Very nice Fred. I think it went to great guy in Chicago?

[PhotonFanatic]

Very nice Fred. I think it went to great guy in Chicago?

It hasn't gone anywhere yet, as I need to complete the build--the light engine, and some minor tweaks. And then it goes to Chicago, but only for some photos, not to a new owner. And then it travels cross-country for another photo shoot. If this were a woman, she'd be making a lot of money, no doubt.

[gollum]

nice one Fred

always amazing work

[fyrstormer]

Well, Mosaic Damascus is made by outlining a pattern inside of a 4" x 4" x 4" iron box using a couple different thickness of pure nickel sheets. And the spaces between the sheets of nickel, now standing on end, are filled with a couple kinds of powered carbon steels. That cannister is sealed by welding on a solid plate, but with a small hole eventually drilled into it to prevent an explosion once the cannister is put into the forge. The end of the cannister also has a long handle welded onto it.

Once the right temperature is reached that will lead to the metals being hot enough to fuse together, the cannister is put into a hydraulic press that flattens and lengthens the metal. Eventually the bar is long enough to be cut into four lengths which are then welded together and the above sequence is repeated.

But when one takes a square patterned bar and makes it a round, the pattern is obviously distorted.

Do some reading on mosaic Damascus and you will get a feeling for the artistry that the maker puts into his work--not to mention the sweat and time.

And, need I mention, that they don't give it away either.

I must admit, I'm surprised anyone bothers with that nowadays. Layered Damascus was invented as a way to strengthen raw iron, and it worked well for that purpose, but we have much stronger stuff now. Layered Damascus is at least easy enough to make that it's not too terribly expensive, but the stuff you just described sounds almost like alchemy. Then again, artists don't really go for pure functionality, do they?

[PhotonFanatic]

As long as some light comes out the end, why should I worry about functionality?

[Moddoo]

Amazing man.

Thanks for sharing a bit about the sweat involved in the production.

your efforts were worth it.

[fyrstormer]

As long as some light comes out the end, why should I worry about functionality?

I was referring to the utility of the metal itself.