Thank you Frank,
I figured that might be one way to do it, as I've heat-colored copper bolsters before, and thought the same thing might work with damascus...
(but,it turns out, like the copper,the colour isn't durable at all!)
I saw what Ed Caffrey had to say on it, and would really like to learn how to do a relatively easy and more durable colouring...
(RE:
"Heat coloring is the most fragile of the coloring methods. It will not stand up to ANY abuse or rough handling. Heat coloring is nothing more than a super thin oxide layer, similar to that you would see when you temper a blade. In many cases it can be removed by repeated handling.
The most durable coloring method I have found, that is readily available is baking lacquers.
In certain situations Nitre Blue can be very durable, especially if the surface is bead/sand blasted prior, but the surface condition will also have a profound impact on the colors and hues in the finished product."...