Damascus - the ancient art of folding iron to make steel, with delicate watermarks like woodgrain. This is a one day introductory course, suitable to beginners,  where you will make your own 180 layered billet that you keep  for use in future projects.

After an introduction to metallurgy and theory of pattern making, you will begin forge welding a 15 layer billet of 1075 and 15N20 steel, using our hydraulic press. Once fused into a single block and drawn out, it will be cut into four, restacked and welded into a 45 layer billet. This is repeated until you have a 135 layer billet.

The billet will then be cut in half and a different pattern worked into each piece before drawing out the billets to their final shape. They are then ground flat and acid etched to reveal the patterning.

It is not necessary to have previous experience in forging for this course.  You will get to use a range of tools and techniques in making your billet.

There is a limit of only four places per course.

The course goes for one day from 8am until 5pm.

• Cost $500 (Incl GST)
• Cost includes: Tuition, insurance, materials, use of tools, workshop consumables, safety gear, morning and afternoon tea.
• Need to bring: Lunch, appropriate clothing and covered footwear
• Booking in advance is essential

For starting dates see the upcoming courses list on the side panel. Or if you have 2 or 3 buddies wanting to do it with you, contact us to arrange a time that suits.

Here is some photos from the courses to give you an idea of what happens.

• Hydraulic Press Hydraulic Press
• T-dies T-dies
• McDonald Rolling Mill McDonald Rolling Mill
• 21 layer billet 21 layer billet
• Heating the billet Heating the billet
• Applying flux Applying flux
• First Crush First Crush
• Clean up Clean up
• Prepping billet Prepping billet
• Cut and stacked Cut and stacked
• Reheat Reheat
• 2nd time around 2nd time around
• Drawn out Drawn out
• 3rd time lucky 3rd time lucky
• Squashing with a Flypress Squashing with a Flypress
• Patterned Billet Patterned Billet
• Final flatten out Final flatten out
• Clean up the scale Clean up the scale
• Buckle Buckle
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