88 cent Mokume Gane

[stoneman]

I was inspired by Tai's Bottle Cap Damascus, and thought I would try making Mokume in my Goddard one brick forge. I was planning on using Canadian Pennys 1 cent piece (copper) and Nickels 5 cent piece(nickel), but it turned out our nickels aren't nickel. Five minutes of Google and I found out Canadian Dimes (10 cent piece) are pure nickel.

So I hand drilled a hole in the approximate center of each, and I soaked the pennys over night in white vinegar. Cleaned and dried in paper towel and then I alternately stacked them on some copper house wire. 8 dimes and 8 pennies. After tying the copper wire tightly to hold the money together I put them in my one brick forge using mapp gas for heat.

After they appeared to be shimmering, I took the billet out and lightly tapped the top. I then let the piece cool to the touch. It appeared to be solid, so I filed around the edge to see the layering. It looked cool, and it stayed together!

I then put it back in the forge, and heated it till glowing again and forged it into a disk about an inch and a half in diameter and about 3/16 of an inch thick.

I have filed the outside, and hacksawed it in half and it seems to be quite solid. The layers are thin, but they are still visible. I am quite happy with the way it worked out and will be using the mokume for bolsters on my KITH knife.

Unfortunately, I don't have a digital camera for pictures, but i just wanted to let you all know that simple Mokume is easy and within your grasp.

[metalking00]

you know, i really like that idea!

mind if I steal it for some of my own bolsters and guards?

[stoneman]

No you may not!

Just kidding feel free to use it. This place is all about sharing ideas.
Have fun with it, and post pictures.

[AwP]

I tried it with the new U.S. state quarters, and it *almost* worked, but didn't seem to get quite hot enough. I built a new mini propane forge and think it might get hot enough, but my press I made won't fit . I think I might try your trick and see if it works for me.

[stoneman]

Yep, no press just a stack bound through the center with copper wire.
Good luck

[DiamondG Knives]

Ive tried it with older quarters and 1/2 dollars (1965-1970) I think were solver and copper, but the nickle would be cool also!

Thaks for the post.

One word of warning, If you are welding in your forge, be careful of contaminationg your liner with copper or brass, it eill make a mess when yo try to forgeweld again! (Dont ask me how I know!! :evil )

God Bless
Mike

[prizzim]

[metalking00]

patience!

if you start the thread, they will come....

[stoneman]

Chris, I will try to borrow my in-law's camera this weekend. If I can, I will post some pics.

Take care.

[Jeremy Krammes]

This sounds like something I might try. Are you holding the coins with something or are you just setting them on the brick to heat them?

Jeremy

[DiamondG Knives]

I think Dean is binding his with wire, I have had some luck with a pressure plate, just 2 pieces of flat 1/4 5160 with a bolt and nut thru each corner, crank them down as tightly as possible with your material stacked in the middle. when they first appear to "sweat" take them out and give the plate a good rap with the hammer, not to much though or you may have molten silver flying at ya!

Hope it works out for you guys! I too would like to see some pics!!

God Bless
Mike

[jonwelder]

"I got's to know!" Oh excuse me, I'm a movie junkie... Diamond G,, I got's ta know!! What happens when you melt brass in a forge, contamination ect? How does it happen? "An ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of Kaowool" What happens when you try to forge weld after the fact??? This is something I'd like to learn BEFORE!!!---- also,, besides Canada,, where can you get Canada dimes? ----jon

[fitzo]

Don't use newer American pennies, either; they're a thin coat of copper on zinc.

[AwP]

This is from Jeff Mack on primal fires in a similer thread, I though the people here would find this useful too.

I was bored, and did a little looking. Here is some alloys of coins and other stuff:

US nickels are 75% copper and 25% nickel.
US Quarters and dimes are 91.67% Copper the rest nickel
US pennies are copper plated zinc

Some guitar strings are advertized as 100% nickel

Going by this I think I'm going to try it with nickels.

[stoneman]

ARGumshoe on Primal Fires made an important note.
For pure nickel, only use Canadian Dime and Quarters from 1968 - 2000.
The newer ones won't work.