Nickel powder + 1095 powder vs 4600/4800kc?

[Leon Husock]

Could I just buy nickel powder and mix it (very, very thoroughly) with some powdered 1095 to get something that will etch roughly as bright in my canisters as 4600 or 4800kc? Obviously I'd mix precisely by weight to get the right proportions, but I wasn't sure if the kc steels are nickel-containing alloys that are then ground, and if so if that would work differently from powdered steel with powdered nickel mixed in.

 

[coldsteelburns]

This is what the description says at USA Knifemaker:

"4600kc Powdered metal fine mesh 5lbs with 2% nickel For volume reference, the cans pictured are 1 quart and they are 7/8's full. Powdered metal is used in making canister and canoe damascus. Heat treat as you would any typical 1084 type steel. The 4600kc and 4800kc powder metal is used for the higher contrast part of your damascus as the nickel content will resist your etch process. Note that nickel isn't a great edge holding material. The 4600kc and 4800kc metals are used often in mosaic tile fabrication or used sparingly in "regular" damascus so the nickel content does not harm the edge holding of your steel."


I've never personally used it, but going from that description it sounds like it's simply 1075-1084 power mixed with nickel powder. Since 15n20 has about 2% nickel and it hardens & takes an edge just fine, I'm pretty sure it just the two powders mixed together rather than its own alloy.


~Paul
My Youtube Channel
... (Some older vids of some of the older knives I made)

 

[Larrin]

Nickel diffuses too slowly. There wouldn’t be nickel distributed evenly through.

 

[Taqtaq]

I’d recommend you use a core of 1095 inside of your can first.

 

[Leon Husock]

I’d recommend you use a core of 1095 inside of your can first.

yeah I would either do that or make the can, forge the billet flat, and make a San mai with it.