Damascus Steel
Damascus Steel is surrounded by a significant amount of history and mythology. The original Damascus Steel dates from the 3rd Century CE and was made from Wootz Steel, and Modern Damascus Steel is more accurately called pattern welded steel. Although contemporary metallurgy produces alloys that exceed the strength of historical Damascus Steel, nothing matches it in terms of beauty.
Tharwa Valley Forge offers you the opportunity to learn how to create your own pattern welded Damascus Steel in our fully equipped workshop with the assistance of our expert instructors.
Damascus Foundations
All the knowledge and skills you need to make a variety of Damascus pattern welded steel, as well as confidence and competence with heavy machinery like power hammers and hydraulic presses. You’ll develop more ability in one week than you would in a year or two on your own.
There are two types of people who take this course:
- The first group are those who have bought or are thinking of buying a power hammer and / or press.
- The second group are smart knifemakers who pay to make four billets of Damascus which they turn into knives worth at least twice that much.
Damascus Knifemaking
This intensive three day weekend course immerses you in the world of Pattern Welded or Damascus steel and kitchen knives. You will learn techniques in welding, folding and patterning beautiful and unique steel. We'll be using a hydraulic power press, power hammer and rolling mill to make the welds and draw down the billets. You will then make two kitchen knives with the steel.
The course goes for a very full three days 8am until 5pm. It is a combination of the Introduction to Damascus and the Japanese Kitchen Knifemaking courses into one packed long weekend.
Damascus Steel Introduction
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 100 layered billet that you keep for use in future projects.
This course goes great with our other knifemaking courses. Make a billet of Damascus steel and bring it along to one of our Japanese Knifemaking, Kamisori - Japanese razors, or Knifemaking courses.