Hi Bill,
I recently bought some nickel silver, from TKS, and though it is considerably more silvery-looking than brass, there's still a yellowish tint to the color. I used it anyway, as seen in my latest submission. OK, I know what goes into the recipe, and the copper would have to influence the color, but the appearance of the nickel silver on the Leverletto is what got me off on this tangent in the first place, and I'm looking for something that looks, well, silver, not like a light brass. The more copper in the alloy, the more it seems to tarnish too. I once hammered a Canadian nickel down and used it in a rifle inlay about 20+ years ago, and it's still bright; that's the kind of material I'm looking for. Can you recommend an alloy type to look for, and possibly some sources, maybe in .187" thickness?
TomR
Nickel silver
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Nickel silver
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- Bill DeShivs
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- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
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I have a few knives with nickel silver bolsters that have been sitting around for a year or so and have noticed that it does yellow a bit with time. A few of my more recent knives have 416 SS bolsters. It's not as soft as Nickel and alot less gummy. Takes a mirror finish real nice. Most of the knife supply houses sell it. I am surprised that more people don't use it on their custom switches.
Bill
Bill
Thanks, to you both.
I considered stainless for the next project, but know that it will prove more difficult to machine; the brass and nickel silver that I've been using is pretty easy going stuff. I'm also considering aluminum, a 6000 or 7000 series. Stainless would have the look I'm after though.
Appreciate your advice.
TomR
I considered stainless for the next project, but know that it will prove more difficult to machine; the brass and nickel silver that I've been using is pretty easy going stuff. I'm also considering aluminum, a 6000 or 7000 series. Stainless would have the look I'm after though.
Appreciate your advice.
TomR
Is it...Tomorrow....Or just the end of time?
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Thank you all for the comments. Today I ordered some 303 stainless and some 7075 aluminum, enough for 2 knives each, if I don't screw anything up.
Looking at the nickel silver and brass knives side by side, I can see quite a difference, but had been hoping for a purely silver-looking material, so now the s.s. and/or aluminum will be used for the next knife(s).
I know Nifmakr uses 7075 sometimes, he gets a really nice looking finish, so I guess an aluminum stiletto won't look completely stupid if I get it right. The stainless seems like it'll look best, at this point.
thanks again,
TomR
Looking at the nickel silver and brass knives side by side, I can see quite a difference, but had been hoping for a purely silver-looking material, so now the s.s. and/or aluminum will be used for the next knife(s).
I know Nifmakr uses 7075 sometimes, he gets a really nice looking finish, so I guess an aluminum stiletto won't look completely stupid if I get it right. The stainless seems like it'll look best, at this point.
thanks again,
TomR
Is it...Tomorrow....Or just the end of time?