Mad folding skills

footfootfoot · 12-14-2006, 06:08 PM

not exactly origami
I recall that the metal used to make a samurai sword is folded 17 times. That's 2 to the power of 17. that's a whole lotta folds.

busterb · 12-14-2006, 06:45 PM

Yeah. And no one knows how. Or to make Damascus steel.

monster · 12-14-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

not exactly origami
I recall that the metal used to make a samurai sword is folded 17 times. That's 2 to the power of 17. that's a whole lotta folds.

Isn't the metal flattened between folds, though?

JayMcGee · 12-14-2006, 08:42 PM

jeez, I must get to spec-savers......

I could have sworn this said 'man folding skills'......

dar512 · 12-14-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busterb

Yeah. And no one knows how. Or to make Damascus steel.

The process for Damascus steel has been reproduced. There was an article in the Smithsonian a couple of years ago.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-14-2006, 11:19 PM

Yes, I have some Damascus blades I posted in DoDads.

footfootfoot · 12-15-2006, 06:13 AM

I wikied "katana" and there is a lengthy, although disouted article on blade making and they set the limit at folds between 8 and 12, never more than 20.
the reason for folding has more to do with creating a homogenous mix of steel and carbon and burning out impuritites from the poor steel.

but then it is wikipedia

xoxoxoBruce · 12-16-2006, 12:30 AM

I thought Damascus had 144 layers?

Hmm...8 folds = 256 layers, 12 folds = 4096 layers and 20 folds = 1,048,576 layers.
Guess I was mistaken.....oh, wait....Katana....nevermind.

12-14-2006, 06:08 PM	#1
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Mad folding skills not exactly origami I recall that the metal used to make a samurai sword is folded 17 times. That's 2 to the power of 17. that's a whole lotta folds. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-14-2006, 06:45 PM	#2
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Yeah. And no one knows how. Or to make Damascus steel. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

12-14-2006, 08:42 PM	#4
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	jeez, I must get to spec-savers...... I could have sworn this said 'man folding skills'...... __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

12-14-2006, 11:19 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yes, I have some Damascus blades I posted in DoDads. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-15-2006, 06:13 AM	#7
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I wikied "katana" and there is a lengthy, although disouted article on blade making and they set the limit at folds between 8 and 12, never more than 20. the reason for folding has more to do with creating a homogenous mix of steel and carbon and burning out impuritites from the poor steel. but then it is wikipedia __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-16-2006, 12:30 AM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I thought Damascus had 144 layers? Hmm...8 folds = 256 layers, 12 folds = 4096 layers and 20 folds = 1,048,576 layers. Guess I was mistaken.....oh, wait....Katana....nevermind. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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