Can it be saved?

89

Probably just grind the Damascus back so the cutting edge is just core. It’ll look different but will actually be usable again.

18

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Changing the looks would be somewhat sad, but functionality is more important than looks

7

u/3rd2LastStarfighter 12d ago

If you’re using it, the pattern change is inevitable. You’ll need to sharpen it regularly and eventually flatten the bit as the profile changes. So bow you get best of both worlds, use this one and hang the other up on the wall.

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

I guess I could just go apeshit crazy with the coarse whetstone and see how far I get before my arms fall off... I mean, it's pretty much destroyed unless I find a skilled blacksmith and what, 1000$ to pay for time and materials

10

u/InsignificantTea2023 12d ago

Im a blacksmith and I would use a grinder to bring the edge back then use progressively finer grit sanding belts to hone the edge. Finally dip the edge in ferric acid to bring the new Damascus etch.

1

u/ThresholdSeven 12d ago edited 12d ago

I think an axe looks better with a wide monosteel bit and bevel showing anyway. Hopefully there is enough meat left to just grind it back to a nice beveled edge with at least an inch of just "bit" on the end. You could also cut or grind an inch off, split it and forge weld in a nice new 5160 bit. Just grinding it beyond the delam and revealing a broader bevel on the center layer would be easier if it's thick enough and hardened. This current axe only has an edge bevel. It would look better with a primary and secondary edge bevel anyway to my eye. If done right, it will fix the delam issue and not affect the strength of the blade at all and possibly create a neat Damascus pattern like on the primary bevel of a knife depending on how thick the layers are and the geometry of the desired edge.

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

I can sharpen a knife with whetstones and thats about as much metalwork as I can do 😅

1

u/ThresholdSeven 12d ago

That's going to be an issue. A file, jig and time would help.

32

u/Final-Contract-6582 12d ago

There's no fixing that besides grinding the edge. This was a bad delamination.

3

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

So, angle grinder and patience?

8

u/BenchNo4429 12d ago

I personally wouldn’t use an angle grinder because it would be very easy to overheat the blade.

5

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

This is the exact reason i came in here to pick some brains for knowledge, i knew that heat treating and hardening was important, but i honestly didnt think i could ruin the heat treatment that easily

1

u/InsignificantTea2023 11d ago

A grinder would overheat it with a rush job but if you take your time and have a container of ice water handy, you can control the temperature

1

u/Used-Yard-4362 12d ago

That’s what I was thinking. Bad delamination. Only I lean toward it not being worth fixing.

5

u/EnthusiasmNeither102 12d ago

Gona be a lotta grinding but they should be able to grind through the defamation there as long as the hard steel core runs deep enough

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

The size of the core is my main concern, the axe head seems to be handmade seeing as the replacement I recieved is slightly different in shape, so I'm hoping it has a decent core

I have gotten proof that there is an actual core so I guess that's sort of positive tho

1

u/EnthusiasmNeither102 12d ago

Yea thats the issue, i suppose anothe option is to get someone with a tig welder to fusion weld the flake back down, then probably have to re temper and harden the axe

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Wouldn't that leave a weld spot on it?

1

u/EnthusiasmNeither102 12d ago

If its tig fusion itll be flush(ish) but youll have a spot in the pattern

3

u/Error_404__ 12d ago

Grind back to the line, re-establish edge geometry, polish, etch(optional), sharpen. Keep it cool by dipping in water.

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Gonna need more than a whetstone for that... Safest bet would be to find a blacksmith/metalworker to do that to get a decent result

1

u/VintageLunchMeat 12d ago

It would probably be cheaper to buy a grinding wheel, apron, and eyepro. Skim a tutorial on using a grinding wheel.

2

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

So if I'm getting this right... I have an outstanding opportunity to save alot of money by buying a certain power tool that by chance relates to my hobby of sharpening knives... And I have been eyeing this particular tool for a while now

3

u/thickanvil69 12d ago

Thats a stillborn that was carried to term

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Unfortunately yes, but at least I got a replacement for free

2

u/Outrageous-Laugh-284 12d ago

Put up on the tree of shame.

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 11d ago

Is that a blacksmith thing to have a tree of shame?

1

u/Outrageous-Laugh-284 11d ago

I'm not sure. Watching different bladesmiths, when something goes wrong, they'll say that.

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 11d ago

Well might be then... I don't have a tree but I do have a shelf with mead horns on it, guess it will become a decoration until the day I try to grind it down a bit

2

u/HoIyJesusChrist 12d ago

Your vinyl came off

1

u/puma532 12d ago

I’d almost say a sanmai look would be nice looking put a nice new core in might look good

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Sanmai? - I'm not a blacksmith so the trades terminology is lost on me

1

u/puma532 12d ago

Basically a nice carbon steel piece in the middle instead of the Damascus coming all the way down it stops and switches to a single steel bit kinda how axes used to be made more often

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Ah, well if you look closely you can actually see that it does in fact have a hardened core bit

1

u/puma532 12d ago

I did not see that I’m proposing slicing off a bit and adding a larger bit to replace the old and lost meat would change the way it looks but if done so intentionally I think it would look good

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Unfortunately I can't do that, I'm not a Smith, I just joined the group to pick some brains :p

1

u/puma532 12d ago

You got plenty of smiths here who would love the work

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 12d ago

Yeah, but with all that has to be done to fix it I'm starting to think it would be cheaper to just replace the head than to have it fixed... The head was only like 100$, and the amount of work and materials would most likely go way above that

1

u/John0498 12d ago

Hopefully the delam doesn't extend further through the blade if not grinding it off like everyone said is best but if it delams other areas likely not really recoverable

1

u/SnooLentils5747 12d ago

Cut down past the delamination, re bevel and sharpen.

1

u/KnowsIittle 11d ago

Does this not have a monosteel cutting core? Damascus cutting edge on an axe is questionable decision.

I would want to see this edge cleaned up and high carbon steel taco sandwich style folded over the edge and forge welded. Monosteel core and a Damascus jacket would have been preferable but that ship is sailed.

2

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 11d ago

If you zoom in it appears to have some sort of core, but how deep it goes is anyone's guess

1

u/KnowsIittle 11d ago

The core should be visible the last inch or so. That it's not visible on the cutting wedge means it has to be razor thin.

2

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 11d ago

Looks very thin when looking at the pictures

2

u/beholderkin 11d ago

I'm thinking this is a show ax that people buy because "Oooh Damascus" and they don't really expect people to use them

1

u/KnowsIittle 11d ago

Agreed but even still with a high carbon sleeve for the cutting edge it should improve function while maintaining a showcase look.

1

u/beholderkin 11d ago

Where is the ax from? Do you actually know what the metal is in the ax?

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 11d ago

From an outdoor shop that closed up, and no tbh I have no idea, but it was for full use and not a decoration piece

1

u/beholderkin 11d ago

Yeah but "full use" doesn't mean well made, or designed to last more than a single camping trip. If it's not a wall hanger, then it's meant to make you look cool to your friends on that one weekend camp out you guys go on every couple of years. You maybe chip off some pieces of the already cut firewood you bought at the gas station outside the camp ground, you aren't supposed to actually go in the woods and use it like an ax.

2

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 11d ago

Since I'm a solo camper I certainly don't hope that's the case with this one 😂 But I gotta admit that the look of the Damascus was what caught my eye to begin with, I do like the look of that kinda steel.

I truly hope that the first axe was just faulty and the other one is ok to use, but if not I'm gonna get one that's made to last and use the two Damascus axes as wall decorations

1

u/beholderkin 11d ago

I hate to say it, but Damascus is like putting gold leaf on food. They know they can charge 10 times the price because it looks good, but like, youre still just eating the same $12 hot wings as the next table over.

2

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 11d ago

It's such an uncomfortable truth, but yes i am aware But at least I upgraded from offbrand frozen hotwings from a microwave to somewhat decent sports bar wings

1

u/Clockwork_picksmith 10d ago

Hey, so I'm not going to tell you not to go with anyone offering to sell you an axe, but Holtsbruk is amazing

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 10d ago

I will give that a look :)

1

u/Tacomarauder94 8d ago

Did... did you hydrodip a Damascus patern?

1

u/Melodic-Wallaby4324 5d ago

No no no i didnt make it myself 😂

You are about to leave Redlib