Forge Ready Billets (Square, Round and Rough)
DSC® Carbon & Stainless Damascus Steel – Forge-Ready Billets:
Step into the world of forge-ready Damascus steel with our DSC® Carbon and Stainless billets — raw, scaled stock designed for knife and jewelry artisans who prefer to do the finishing work themselves. Our forge-ready billets are deliberately thicker and higher in volume than our cut-to-size stock, offering exceptional value for bladesmiths who prefer to do their own grinding and shaping.
Key Features:
• Forge-Ready Finish: Delivered un-etched, raw, and with a scaled surface — ideal for smiths who want to grind, clean, and shape the billet to their own specifications.
• Patterns: Twist (Torsion) or Random (Wild).
• Layer Count: Carbon billets feature 160 layers; Stainless billets feature 140 layers.
• Performance: Heat treat to achieve up to 62 HRC, with outstanding toughness and resistance to heat-induced warping.
Material Composition:
• Carbon Damascus: Forged from 1.2842 / 1.2767 steels by BALBACHDAMAST® in Germany.
• Stainless Damascus: Forged from 1.4034 / 19C27 steels by BALBACHDAMAST® in Germany.
Forge-Ready vs. Polished Billets:
• Forge-Ready (this product): Raw and scaled billets for bladesmiths and artisans who want full control of the surface prep, grinding, and finishing.
• Polished Billets (sold separately): Precision flat-ground, annealed, and ready to machine or etch immediately, with no heavy cleanup required.
How to Order:
Select your billet type, dimension, and pattern from the drop-down menus.
Enter your custom billet length (in inches) in the quantity field.
• Example: If you need a 12-inch billet, enter “12.”Add to Cart or choose Buy Now.
To view all available options again, simply refresh the page.
Shipping / Returns
- Free Shipping over $50
- 30-Day Worry-Free Returns
Conversion Note (mm → inches)
Flat Stock (Width × Thickness):
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30 × 10 mm ≈ 1.18 × 0.39 in (precise: 1.1811 × 0.3937)
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30 × 15 mm ≈ 1.18 × 0.59 in (1.1811 × 0.5906)
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30 × 20 mm ≈ 1.18 × 0.79 in (1.1811 × 0.7874)
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50 × 10 mm ≈ 1.97 × 0.39 in (1.9685 × 0.3937)
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50 × 15 mm ≈ 1.97 × 0.59 in (1.9685 × 0.5906)
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50 × 20 mm ≈ 1.97 × 0.79 in (1.9685 × 0.7874)
Round Stock (Diameter):
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20 mm Ø ≈ 0.79 in (0.7874)
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25 mm Ø ≈ 0.98 in (0.9843)
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30 mm Ø ≈ 1.18 in (1.1811)
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35 mm Ø ≈ 1.38 in (1.3780)
Square Stock:
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25 × 25 mm ≈ 0.98 × 0.98 in (0.9843 × 0.9843)
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30 × 30 mm ≈ 1.18 × 1.18 in (1.1811 × 1.1811)
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Hardening / Tempering / Annealing
DSC® Carbon Damascus (Forge-Ready):
Hardening:
• Heat to 1544°F (840°C), hold for 4 minutes.
• Rapidly quench in oil.
• Deep freezing after hardening is optional but recommended.Tempering:
• Temper for at least 2 hours after hardening to adjust hardness.
• Example: 2 hours at 356°F (180°C) → hardness of ~62 HRC.Annealing: (after hot working, to prevent cracks/breaks)
• Heat to 1328°F (720°C), hold 2 hours.
• Then hold an additional 2 hours at 1202°F (650°C).
• Slowly cool in the furnace.
• Remove once temperature is below 570°F (300°C).DSC® Stainless Damascus (Forge-Ready):
Hot Working:
• Forge at 1742–1922°F (950–1050°C).Cold Working:
• Not recommended for Damascus stainless.Machining:
• Delivered in soft annealed state (22–27 HRC).Soft Annealing: (after hot working)
• Heat to 1526°F (830°C).
• Hold at 1526°F for a minimum of 4 hours.
• Slowly cool in the furnace.
• Remove once temperature is below 752°F (400°C).Hardening:
• Heat to 1922–1976°F (1050–1080°C).
• Hold for 15–20 minutes.
• Rapidly quench in air, then immediately deep freeze.
• Note: Maximum corrosion resistance is achieved only after hardening.Tempering:
• Required after hardening to form tempered martensite.
• Minimum of 2 × 1 hour temper cycles (deep freeze may be repeated between cycles).-
Knife blades: 2 × 0.75 hrs at 356–374°F (180–190°C) → ~60–61 HRC.
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Decorative items: 2 hrs at 572°F (300°C) → ~56–57 HRC.
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Etching
Bringing Damascus Steel to a Finish:
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Sand the hardened Damascus steel to a 400-grit finish, or up to 1200-grit depending on preference, and give it a hand satin finish. Do not buff the steel after sanding.
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Wash the steel and dry it with a clean cloth. Clean the steel of any residue using denatured alcohol. Avoid using acetone.
Etching:
- Observe safety precautions and warnings for handling acid and wear protective gear.
- For carbon steels, dilute ferric acid with distilled water at a 50/50 ratio and heat the solution to 122°F (50°C) in a water bath.
- Five or more, shorter etches are recommended. Brushing the steel with an old toothbrush during each etch will produce an even result.
Final Steps:
- After etching, neutralize the steel thoroughly with bicarbonate soda to prevent further corrosion.
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NEW STEEL