Wee Da Order list & Clarification

[Osprey_Guy]

I know you guys are all (understandably) chomping at the bit. The type of damascus that was selected for this project is a ***** to etch (austenitic stainless damascus...it's the austenitic part that's making this challenging). It's easy enough to reveal the pattern, but to get a nice, clean, deep etch...with lots of contrast, is another matter altogether.

I've lost count of how many different combinations and ratios and protocols I've tried over the past couple of weeks. The good news is that I think I've finally got it. I'm now working on something "extra" (in addition to etching) to help bring out the contrast a little better.

If all goes well I should have pics for you by tomorrow night (Monday). I just sent Rob an in-progress pic. I'd show it to you guys but I didn't take the time to fully clean-up the light prior to taking the photo and I'm afraid it would scare you. :nana:

Thanks for being so patient. I'll try to make sure you're not disappointed.

Dennis

 

[Steve L]

Hi Dennis,:wave:

I hope you and yours are having a Happy Holiday Season:twothumbs!!! Speaking for myself, Take all the time you need with mine, you really can't rush art. I will always choose quality over speed and I have seen first hand what you are capable of:faint:.

Best Wishes,
Steve

 

[orb]

:twothumbs Dennis.

 

[olrac]

I'm guessing Rob likes the in-progress pics :thumbsup:

 

[orb]

I'm guessing Rob likes the in-progress pics :thumbsup:

Correct, I will hold fire until Dennis is happy with what he wants to show. :thanks:

 

[gollum]

Hi Dennis,:wave:

I hope you and yours are having a Happy Holiday Season:twothumbs!!! Speaking for myself, Take all the time you need with mine, you really can't rush art. I will always choose quality over speed and I have seen first hand what you are capable of:faint:.

Best Wishes,
Steve

Quite so.....:buddies:

 

[olrac]

the suspense is killing me!:crazy::faint::green::sick2::ohgeez:

 

[Osprey_Guy]

I'm sorry about the tease...But the Wee's really had me going. Working with the steel was challenging...to say the least.

It's something like 3:30am and for the umpteenth time I've been working on the these all night long. And I think I've taken this as far as I can...

As always, I was going for dramatic contrast... and my goal was to get an etch that was deep enough that I could "blacken" the valleys and not worry about it coming off through handling. I never quite achieved that goal...But I came close.

Here's a shot that pretty much says it all. Two extremes, one dark, one light....

And a couple more...

Try as I might I couldn't find a way to get contrast w/o some amount of a mottled appearance. It's not at all unatractive, just not what I was looking for... But then more than anything, the unexpected stuff is the most fun aspect for me (as long as I don't get too frustrated...and I came close a couple of times with these). If the etchant is too strong it'll pretrty much level both metals at the same rate...which does us no good. And if it's too weak...no deep etch. In the end I came up a formula/protocol that's not too bad, but the metal has to be immersed for over two hours! And it has to be done outside due to the toxic gases that are formed. We've got an actic "blast" heading this way by the weekend, which means I gotta hustle to finish up this batch of wee's in the next two days (it's supposed to drop into the teens).

Here are some individual shots of the lighter version...

One problem that was and still is a real bear...Trying to get to the inner areas (such as the base) to clean and polish. I've got an idea how to finish it a little better, but it's nothing that will inviolve my spending any more time with "experimentation."

I've gotta grab some shuteye...I'll check back here tomorrow to respond to comments/questions.

Enjoy!

Dennis

 

[Osprey_Guy]

I couldn't get to sleep right away so I thought I'd jump online again for a few minutes.

The Wee's look pretty good in the pics, but I'm gonna try to grab a few more shots, perhaps I'll try some good 'ole natural daylight. I was just hand polishing these two Wee's and they look wayyyyyyyyy better than they do in the above pics. Contrary to what my photos suggest, the finish is very highly polished...almost gem-like!

I'm sure that Steve L. can tell you what I'm talking about... Like these Wee's, his Raw Da also has a much more polished finish than my photos suggested (although to the best of recollection, I think that the Wee's are even more highly polished).

Another comment... Following a bit of hand polishing, there's considerably less difference between the two wee's. The dark one lightened up and oddly enough, the lighter of the two seems to have gotten a little darker. So they're kinda meeting in the middle.

All-in-all, I suspect that you Wee Da owners are going to be pleased when you see the final results....I certainly hope so....

I'll be back later with a couple more photos.

D-

 

[Steve L]

Hi Dennis,

The Wee Das are looking very, very good, I can hardly wait to see it in person. My Raw Da has a Very Nicely Polished finish. I was really excited to get it back after seeing Dennis's pictures and was literally floored once I saw it in person:faint:. The pictures just didn't do it justice.

Dennis, You really are a Night Owl:grin2:. I hope the New Year is bringing you and yours Good Health and Happiness.
Edit: The Wee Da integrated reflectors look sweet:thumbsup:!!!

My Best,
Steve

 

[pauly]

Can't wait for Da bling to be hanging round my neck! nice work!:twothumbs

 

[orb]

I feel your pain Dennis :ohgeez:
These Damascus Wee's are proving to be a complete headache all-round.
Regardless you have nailed the etching & the photos look great.
Huge :thanks: for your continued works & skills.

 

[olrac]

Thanks for the update and all the hard work Dennis!

 

[Osprey_Guy]

It's really tough to get a shot that shows the high polish that's on these...

I thought this had the potential to be a fun shot (I'm sure it would have been a lot better if I knew more about what I was doing behind the camera)... I pulled out some of the damascus steel that I've acquired over the years... Lots of different, fancy patterns (Since I mostly only make very small knives, most of my damascus bars are rather small...This is just a sampling). The photo doesn't do such a great job of showing the pattern of the Wee's, but at least you can tell that the surfaces of the Wee's are shiney! (Once again...they actually have even more of a high finish than what this photo suggests).

There's quite a contrast between the Wee's and the unfinished bars of (mosaic pattern) damascus steel!

 

[jch79]

:ooo: Dnnis, that's awesome! :twothumbs

You could make Damascus throwing stars out of the squarish-shaped stock.

Thanks for the pics! Wee're gonna be some happy Wee owners! :rock:

:wave: john

 

[gollum]

thanks for the time taken to do this dennis...
as I myself know etching is a very testing ordeal

btw any chance of a pic of your small knives?
you've got some nice material there
cheers Jason

 

[GeorgeMaggos]

Hey Dennis,

thanks for all your hard work on these :) They look great :thumbsup:

~George

 

[Osprey_Guy]

btw any chance of a pic of your small knives?

Ask and you shall receive...

This is one of my Topo Gigio "mini-butterfly" knives. Each one is in some way different from the others. I carved the ivory scales. The Eggerling Damascus blade was carved and then etched. Titanium liners are carved (aka filework) and anodized blue. Rubies set in 14K are inlayed on each side. It's 2.25" closed. Although I've made most styles of knives, I'm best known for these little fellows and I enjoy making them.

I've got a new one in the works now and I have something very different planned for the handles. Like the work I do on flashlights, my knifemaking is more hobby than work and I only make a couple of knives per year. My price for one is $1500.

Here's another one shown in the "upright" position:

This one has been featured in several books and magazines. It took a ridiculous amount of work to complete. Getting all the angles to hit just right when opened or closed pretty much drove me nuts (and to this day I've never fully recovered from it). :banghead:.........:D

 

[olrac]

Those belong in a museum of art.....absolutely stunning!!!

 

[gollum]

thankyou...and WOW ...very nice indeed
very much unique,which isn't easy these days.
I can see why you have gone nuts LOL
love the carving you've done on the blades aswell as everything else

cheers Dennis

:thumbsup: