Ok so I twisted the metal tighter and drew the billet out

Now time to grind down and see what pattern we get.

and heres the test etch.

Test Etch

looks like i need to grind more to get the W pattern to show.

Ok so after some more grinding i got this pattern. not a Turkish Twist but a W twist.

I think the Turkish Twist is made by placing multiple twisted bars alongside each other, alternating direction of twist.

So in other words, you have let's say five twisted bars, three RH twists and two LH twists laid side by side RLRLR. Weld those together and forge the knife from the resulting bar. Have you watched Jerry Fisk's Youtube videos of this technique?

Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sMFcQF4dQY

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpR2QbC3OaE

|quoted:

I think the Turkish Twist is made by placing multiple twisted bars alongside each other, alternating direction of twist.

So in other words, you have let's say five twisted bars, three RH twists and two LH twists laid side by side RLRLR. Weld those together and forge the knife from the resulting bar. Have you watched Jerry Fisk's Youtube videos of this technique?

I watched those awesome videos after i made this post... sorry for my ignorance. just a W twist here!?! i think

No apology needed and don't feel bad about what you have accomplished. It still looks good Tucker. Keep on going!

Thanks Joshua, i tried my first San Mai with this metal here is the result. Maybe a little too much grinding tho

HMMM.....Maybe you should have wrapped the other steel around the Damascus?

|quoted:

HMMM.....Maybe you should have wrapped the other steel around the Damascus?

Duh i didnt even think of that... next time!

If you will allow it here in this conversation, here is a quick example of Turkish Twist like Joshua mentions:

Well done Karl!

Karl thanks for posting this... i have a lot to learn... your blade is absolutely stunning

Karl, that is really quite beautiful. I do have to ask a clarifying question (or three) though.

Is "Turkish Twist" a generic name given to any Pattern welded material made by laying opposing twisted bars alongside each other? What's the difference between Turk Twist and Herringbone?

I only ask because I'm used to thinking that Turkish Twist shows more of the twisted development and the "stars" come out. Something more like this Bill Burke piece: http://bladegallery.com/shopexd.asp?id=92269&photo=2&size=n

I do realize that the star development is only a matter of the depth of grind, but isn't the grind part of what makes one pattern different from another?

Looks rather like Bill's pattern is the same basic pattern only with more bars across the same width and stretched out more than mine. Otherwise basically the same. My individual bars were twisted tighter.

I can let the King of all Turkish speak - Jerry Rados. When I introduced Kyle Royer to Jerry, Kyle called Jerry, "The guy who makes the Turkish Twist all the rest of us wish we could."

I worked a lot in Jerry's shop.

Another reference on Turkish is to look at old Turkish shotgun barrels.

Rows of single twist pattern weld.

Thanks for those photos and the explanation Karl. It always is a good idea to check out the work of those who came before you when attempting a new process or technique. It makes the learning curve so much easier!

For those of you who haven't figured this out, clicking the photos Karl provided will take you to his photobucket site where he has posted a lot of photos of the Turkish twist process (and other stuff). Great pictures Karl and the drawings of the TT process are good info.