All Stainless Damascus Materials Used AEB - L and 304 Patterns Available Ladder, Raindrop, and Twist in smaller sizes Heat Treating Preheat furnace to 1925 f Place blade in furnace Allow furnace to cycle back to 1925 f Soak for10 minutes Quench in oil Temper at 350 f 2 times for 1 hour each time Quench in liquid nitrogen for 4 hours and re-temper 1 time Finishing Take blade to 400 grit finish (must be a sharp belt) Do not buff before etching Hand rubbed finish is also good Etch in a 50/50 diluted solution of ferric chloride (available at Radio Shack) and distilled water Submerse blade in solution for 10 minutes Remove blade and rinse under running water Repeat every 5 minutes until desired results are obtained For a brighter blade, buff and re-etch 1 time Neutralize with tri sodium phosphate Comments This steel cuts very well. There are makers in Alaska that prefer this steel over all others! Properly heat treated this is a very good steel. This steel has a fairly good contrast between materials. It is easy to etch. High Contrast Damascus Materials Used 1095 and Nickel Patterns Available Serpentine Ladder, Rain drop, & Twist Heat Treating Preheat furnace to 1500 f Place blade in furnace Allow furnace to cycle back to 1500 f Soak for no more than 5 minutes Quench in oil Temper at 400 f 2 times for 1 hour each time Finishing Same as stainless but take to 600 grit This material can be hot blued Comments This steel has stunning contrast when etched or blued Cost is less than stainless Available in larger sizes in twist pattern over stainless Double High Carbon Damascus Materials Used 1084 & 15 - N - 20 (2% Nickel high carbon steel) Patterns Available Fire Storm, Sharks Tooth, Multi Bar Turkish Twist, Spiro Graph, Vines & Roses, Composite Bar, Ladder, Rain Drop, Twist Heat Treating Preheat furnace to 1500 f Place blade in furnace Allow furnace to cycle back to 1500 f Soak for no more than 5 minutes Quench in oil Temper at 400 f 2 times for 1 hour each time Finishing Same as stainless except acid bath should be 5 parts water and 1 part ferric chloride. Comments This steel is made from high carbon steels This steel has excellent edge holding properties This steel has very good contrast between materials This is our most expensive and collectible steel