What's in 'white metal'?

[M. Taylor]

Happy New Year, all! Sorry to waste your time, but I'm having no luck with the search engine. What's in the white metal that is used in HI's products? Thanks.

 

[Aardvark]

Mr. Taylor, the prevalent opinion is that it's nickel-silver.

Happy new year to you.

 

[Berkley]

Happy New Year! Here is some interesting info on nickel silver.

 

[M. Taylor]

Happy New Year! Here is some interesting info on nickel silver.

Very educational. Thanks.

 

[Daniel Koster]

I think there was some testing I did a while back (comparing to our NS in the states) that led me to believe the white metal was more like the German Silver. Whiter and brighter.

 

[Fiddleback]

That's cool. I'd always thought the white metal was just tinned (with solder) brass. Thanks for the link.

 

[ddean]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=292191

older thread; summary of some Google research




...

 

[Andrew Taylor]

That's cool. I'd always thought the white metal was just tinned (with solder) brass. Thanks for the link.

Brass is nearly impossible to tin with solder as it is very 'oily'.

 

[ALBPM]

I saw this thread and checked all my Villager models and my other various Khuks with "White Metal trim".

The bolsters on all mine will attract a magnet so are steel. The Butt caps are a mixture of (Steel - magnetic) and (non-ferrous - non magnetic) white metal.

 

[Bri in Chi]

I disassembled a "white metal" villager once, and the inside of the pommel was primed and painted. Probably a car door panel in a former life. Given the close proximity of Nepal to India, and its long standing relationship with Great Britain, I would expect it to be Britannia Metal.

 

[Fiddleback]

Brass is nearly impossible to tin with solder as it is very 'oily'.

I work as an engineer and very frequently tin brass with solder.