Burt Foster gave the demonstration on making damascus.  Unfortunately I missed the first session as Joe Keeslar took me to one of the coal forges to show how he built the Brute de Forge blade...more later  

I did sit in on Burt's second session the follow day as he ground and etched his blade.  He was presented to us by Jim Babson as a young Bill Moran.  Gotta tell ya that there makes you sit up and pay attention!  

Sorry to miss the damascus build...Oh well I don't have a power hammer yet to make my own damascus anyway...sure did like those tire hammers though.  My son-in-law & I just might make one up.

OK I had a real good excuse not to see the damascus being made but I sure wanted to see Burt's etching process.  What I didn't count on was talking to Burt after the class was over.  During his quick grind of the the blade he was apologising about getting a 2 inch mark from the the belt grinder     Did I hear that right...shoot I know how to get a 2 inch mark        Well he said he went from a 36 grit on the belt grinder to his KMG disc grinder.  

Now things were getting real interesting for me as I had recently purchased the same disc grinder that Burt used.  But I was screwing up my blades on the disc grinder.  So after the session I had to ask how he did it.  He spent so much time with me, they had to kick us both out of the next session.  That's the kind of instructors present at GSMBS    Doc

Burt's unfinished damascus blade that he made in class and profusely apologised for!

 

Interesting, I'd like to see how he did that pattern...  Know what he called it Doc?

Looks like a two twisted bar composite. Burt is a great teacher. Superb craftsman. Lin

That is an incredible pattern!!!!! Sounds like you're having a blast!

wow BEAUTIFUL work..bowdoc