Anything special I should know about working with Damascus steel before I ruin a ton of endmills making parts? Also, does anyone know of a good site to order large pieces of Damascus?

Never machined it, but due to the nature of the way it is made (heating and forge welding, some carburizing of the layers) I would expect that you would encounter problems with hard & soft spots. All the damascus steel I have seen was manufactured by the blacksmith making the product. Good luck on finding blocks of the stuff...

Stonerarms, I don't know if it's a good site, but you might check out http://www.ancientarms.biz/servlet/StoreFront

Googling damascus billet should find more

Randy

Just to share a little knowledge and opinion. Damascus steel conjures images of Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny ( the exploded gun barrel, Mythbusters never did get it right). By design Damascus is very hard in spots and softish/flexible in others. Originally forged to shape then polished and honed with abrasives. Wet grinding might work better than cutting. If it is not revealing too much what is your goal?
Fred

Just to share a little knowledge and opinion. Damascus steel conjures images of Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny ( the exploded gun barrel, Mythbusters never did get it right). By design Damascus is very hard in spots and softish/flexible in others. Originally forged to shape then polished and honed with abrasives. Wet grinding might work better than cutting. If it is not revealing too much what is your goal?
Fred

Mostly just custom parts, nothing with any pressure exerted upon it.

Damascus steel looks like strands of cable. In a gun barrel it was twisted around a mandrel and blacksmith welded. Is it the Look of it you are after or just the legendary properties?
Fred

Damascus steel looks like strands of cable. In a gun barrel it was twisted around a mandrel and blacksmith welded. Is it the Look of it you are after or just the legendary properties?
Fred

Mostly just the look. I am not trying to make barrels out of it, just small parts.