Nick'l in the mix

[Metalpressr]

Hey Folks & of course you, Ed!
Have a question... I have a customer that wants a 21 stack billet of 1084 & 15n20. He wants to substitute a few of the 15n20 pieces with pure nickel silver sheet. How many pieces could I, should I, or can I substitute and still get a good billet when done. I'll be using my standard 4" by 1" x 21 stack of 1/8" 1084 and whatever the 15n20 is....
The nickel is about the same thickness as the 15n20.
Thanks for any help.
Regards, Charles

[Mike Sader]

Charles, I spent a lot of time learning to forge nickel into a billet,and finally got the info that helped tremendisly,if you put nickel in the billet I would add a carbon piece between each piece of the stack,the reason being that nickel won't weld back to itself very well at all. I would also try to configure it so you don't have any nickel on the cutting edge,it's too soft and won't hold an edge. It looks great but just doesn't perform for cutting.Good Luck, Mike Sader

[Ed Caffrey]

I agree with Mike about not getting the nickel into the edge. As he said it will not harden.
The part here that confuses me is...why would the customer request pure nickel sheet mixed in with 15N20? The constrast with 15n20 may not be as strong as with the nickel, but it is brilliant compared to other alloys you could put in the mix. If it were me, I would try to find out why the customer wants the nickel and then explain the drawbacks nickel entails in a blade, then try to lead them towards the 15n20.
If someone just flat demands nickel, I usually tell them that I cannot recommend it, and I will not warranty the cutting ability as I would my normal damascus.