Making a 18" OAL chain san mai machete - WIP - Lots of pics

**Ariel Salaverria** · 04-05-2008, 04:45 PM

I've had this on file for some time now, and since it's the bigger one I've made to date, I've decided to take some pics of the preocess.
Because of the big size, I had to do the chains separatedly from the inner steel core and then unite them in a second step.

12 pieces of motorcycle chain cut to measure 9" each.

Soldiered in groups of 3 chains each.

Soldiered the previous groups, one on top of the other. Now I have 2 groups of 6 pieces of chain each.

In the oven at 850 C

I press the group between flat dies to compress the intersticial space between links.

Each group, already pressed.

Now I place those chain groups on the sides of a 1/4" 5160 flatsheet and soldier on the ends to fix them in place.

Then I make a square section cannister.

And then I place the package of steel inside it and then close it.

In the oven at 1300 C

Press welding the package.

I then get rid of the cannister easily (thanks to a sheet of 0.5mm thickness in 304 stainless I've placed against each side.

Package out of its container

Flattening to the desired thickness.

Customer supplied drawing placed in top of the damascus bar. For this type of damascus, forging to shape might be detrimental to the knife, so I just cut it to shape.

Ground, drilled and tempered blade before getting into the ferric perclorure.
In the background, you can also see a chain san mai tanto I've made from an earlier forging, where I didn't get the desired size of the original damascus sheet.

Blade out of the acid bath, with no extra polishing, just washed in water with amonnia to kill the acid effects.

In hand for an idea of size (this thing is huge!)

That's it for now, I'll get more pics of the handle making process and of the finished piece later too.

More Tutorials on my website:
http://www.aescustomknives.com/

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Thanks for looking!

Ariel

**Clydetz** · 04-05-2008, 06:36 PM

Thanks Ariel for taking the time to take photos of your work!

Looking forward to seeing the next step. One question comes to mind... what happens to all the motorcycles in Argentina that you use the chains from?

**johlvlvy** · 04-05-2008, 06:55 PM

I love seeing your tutorials as well.
Thank you.

**mrbieler** · 04-05-2008, 08:28 PM

Ariel, I love the materials you work with.

My wife wears the pendent you made all the time. Thanks again.

**bhamster06** · 04-05-2008, 09:18 PM

That was very interesting.

**2fulhundin** · 04-05-2008, 09:26 PM

very interesting, step by step is nice thanks for your time

***THE PUNISHER*** · 04-05-2008, 11:16 PM

Smoking pics,a master knife maker at work thanx............

**motoon** · 04-06-2008, 01:11 AM

Great thread, Ariel. Very interesting to see how you proceed in creating your excellent work.

**RoadFish** · 04-06-2008, 01:36 AM

Very interesting. How big is that press?

**RoyalM** · 04-06-2008, 06:45 AM

Really nice work.

That looks a hefty piece of steel indeed. Interesting design to, looks like it will be tip heavy and have a good chopping action/pivot point.

Can anyone explain how long chains have been getting used like this and why use a bike chain? I can understand a chainsaw chain as it's used as a moving blade sort of so the steel would be right.

I hope to get along to a shop one day so I can make a blade this way. Some sort of 2 or 3 day course I think would be required.

**Ariel Salaverria** · 04-20-2008, 03:24 PM

Thanks for all the kind comments. I've finished it this past week. I promise I'll get better pictures soon!

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Thanks for looking!

Ariel

**RoyalM** · 04-20-2008, 03:36 PM

Looks like she turned out real well and a nice sheath to boot. Your customer must be very happy with it.

As a fan of bigger knives it gets a 2 thumbs up from me.