Color match for hiding pins in 410 stainless.

javand

javand

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Oct 17, 2010
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What are my options here besides 416? I tried ER 309 TIG rod and while it works *MUCH* better than 416 (doesn't work harden remotely as fast) it's not quite a perfect color match when ground away.


416 has been a seriously mixed bag for me, and I'm reasonably certain the 3/32 "416" I got from Knifekits is not. It etches black and very fast, it also work hardens and splinters very fast, also dirty as hell and I have to spend a lot of time cleaning it up first. I had some from someone else, but nfc who it was, none of my usual sources seem to have any smaller than 1/8" at the moment.


Can't seem to find 410 round in 3/32.


Any pocket knife makers or makers whom use 416/410 bolsters often have another option?


Edit: 410, not 420
 
It's also my curse LOL ;)
I only could get ss bolster stock in 420, 440...you name it.. and aisi 303 pin stock!! Needless to say it shows badly.
Probably digging around i could get a hold on some austenitic 3xx series for bolsters, and that may blend with the 303 pin, but will show against the 4xx liners.
Only thing i know, if i would get matching steels i will get me a lifetime stash!!! :)
 
stezann

416 usually matches, and I called Steve Dunn, and he says he gets hot rolled bolster and pin stock from Admiral.

I've had pretty bad luck with Admiral, as far as them sending me random metal that wasn't what I ordered.

So I ordered the 410 TIG rod, I'll let you know how it matches.

If it matches well, I'll send you some, along with some other pin stock I've found for other purposes.
 
USA knife supply.
Just call them and order bolster material with matching pin stock- I've had no issues with it, totally invisible, peens very well, given good technique.
 
Yeah the stuff I got previously (416 supposedly from knifekits) color matched and hid fine, but I had to clean it free of mill scale, and it etches black in damascus. That's fine for stainless pocket knives if I discount the extra effort of clean up, but sometimes I pin stainless bolsters to a damascus fixed blade and etch the whole thing together, that way I can finish the bolsters before I etch, which gives me some latitude to screw up when grinding the bolsters.

I got some 410 tig rod in today and it peens very well, doesn't seem to work harden, hides. Unfortunately I bought 1/16 instead of 3/32, so I'll be ordering more.


I've got a ton of 410 liner material and precision ground bolster material already, so I wont be ordering new stuff for that anytime soon. I'm sure USA knifemaker has matched materials, but unfortunately it's not economical for me to replace what I'm already working with.
 
Thank You Javan, you are SUPER kind, but i don't want you to bother with sending stuff over ocean to Italy ;)
By the way i'm yet at the level that showing pin it's still a minor issue, eh eh! Nevertheless i'll try to find some matching material, and if in the end i'll be forced to order some from the USA i'll do that.
Next thing i'll try is to see if my 303 pin shows against 304 or 316 bolster stock...i should be able to get some for trying.
The easy way for me would be finding pin stock which blends with 420, that i use for liners and bolster.
 
stezann said:
Thank You Javan, you are SUPER kind, but i don't want you to bother with sending stuff over ocean to Italy ;)
By the way i'm yet at the level that showing pin it's still a minor issue, eh eh! Nevertheless i'll try to find some matching material, and if in the end i'll be forced to order some from the USA i'll do that.
Next thing i'll try is to see if my 303 pin shows against 304 or 316 bolster stock...i should be able to get some for trying.
The easy way for me would be finding pin stock which blends with 420, that i use for liners and bolster.
Click to expand...


I'm pretty sure this 410 will match the 420 easily, although if you can find a good source of 416 it will also.

Most of the 300 series stainless I've used matches together also, problem with that stuff is that most of it work hardens very fast, so not very good for peened or spun spins, and if you use it for liner/bolster material, it's non-magnetic and wont stick to a surface grinder chuck.

That's one reason why I mostly use silver, gold, or titanium for my peened or spun handle pins, because I simply cannot tolerate burned/splintered edges on stainless pins.


I don't mind shipping to Italy if you decide you want some of this pin material.
 
FWIW, Crown Alloys ER 410 tig rod is a perfect color match for the PreMar 410 precision ground flat stock, that I use for bolsters.


It's also exactly 3/32" in diameter, doesn't have stamped ends like many other brands, and has a very clean finish. Cost me about $10 for a lb of it, which equates to 14 pieces, 3' long each. I'd wager that'll last me for quite a long time.


Comes in 1/8 and 1/16 also, FYI.
 
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