It is believed that Damascus craftsmen started by a batch of low-carbon wrought iron into thin sheets. These were then very tightly into bundles. Next, high-carbon cast iron was until it was molten, and the bundles of wrought iron were thrown in. The air spaces between the sheets were with the molten metal, which had the effect of welding the bundles into a solid lump of metal. This was then into the rough shape of a sword while it was still hot. Finally, after , the blade was filed, ground and polished,