need some help with nickel silver.

Matt Shade

Matt Shade

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
Messages
4,981
I made a couple of trapper knives a while back that have nickel silver bolsters. I don't have a buffer yet so I sanded them down to a 600 grit finish. They looked pretty good until they got used and then the finish on the bolsters went to hell. Is there anything I can do to increase the wear resistance of the nickel silver? Or should I use 420 stainless next time?

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
Hi Matt....

You might want to try a very hard clear metal finish on them..

I just cleaned one up that is about 20 years old,,and it came out great...

I didn't put anything on it,, I'll just buff it again when it needs it...

You might want to get some fine Scotch Bright and try that...

Good luck,, let us know how it turns out...


Eric - On/Scene

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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel


 
Hey Matt,

Any bolster material will get scratched, even when rubbed on your shirt.

One thing you can try is mounting a steel or brass wire wheel to a bench grinder. I've used this and it puts a very pleasing texture on the nickel silver. This might hold up a little better than a high finish.

You can also get them for the Dremel tool.

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If a man can keep alert and imaginative, an error is a possibility, a chance at something new; to him, wandering and wondering are a part of the same process. He is most mistaken, most in error, whenever he quits exploring.

William Least Heat Moon
 
Nugget then !!!
Use a dremal and a carbide ball (1/8) in or so.. Just go nutz and try it on another scrap of NS until you get the look you like then do your knives.. If the nuget scratches its not as present...

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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
Take a look!!!




 
Nugget then !!!
Use a dremal and a carbide ball (1/8) in or so.. Just go nutz and try it on another scrap of NS until you get the look you like then do your knives.. If the nugget scratches its not as present...

------------------
Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
Take a look!!!




 
Matt,
If a nice polished finish appeals to you, you can easily make a buffer without spending big bucks. Find a bench grinder on sale for $35 (or less at a garage sale), buy a 6" buffing wheel for $7, and some compound for $3. Not as nice as a $300 Baldor, but it works fine.

Carl
 
I've been doing it the way Carl says for about ten years and it works just fine. A real buffer would be better, but this and a 4 inch for your powerdrill will get the job done too.
 
Thanks everybody.
I have a bench grinder and a dremel so I'll probably try all the ideas here sooner or later. If I put a buffing wheel on the grinder do I need to take the gaurd off of it? I also thought about getting a small buffing wheel for my dremel, do these work?
 
I have used the small buffing wheel for the Dremel tools before. They work in very tight areas. You really have to speed them up to keep them from bogging down though.

This will not help you in answering your question concerning nickel silver but here is my two cents worth any way. I stay away from nickel silver and brass for the simple reason that they are both soft and scratch easily and also tarnish. Most of the knives I make are intended for hunting and get some pretty good use. I use nothing but stainless hardware unless the situation specifically warrants something else...

C Wilkins
 
I fought with nickel for years and finally
discovered that 416 will finish as well with
very little more work and will stand up 20 times better.

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http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91

 
Matt,
Yes, take the guards off. They just get in the way. The main thing is to be very careful when using that machine. Catching the tip or edge of a knife in a cloth wheel spinning at 3,450 rpm is a ticket to the local emergency room.

Carl
 
Thanks everybody,
I don't plan on using nickel on anything in the near future. I may try the 416 but I want to do some knives without bolsters right now anyway.I'll have to see about the buffer for a dremel.I could probably use it on the working parts of my knives some to make them a little smoother to work. I don't really care about putting a mirror finish on the blades because I plan on them being used pretty hard and getting scratched.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
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