Working with Niobium

[SVanderkolff]

Just got finished making some bolsters for a little gentlemans fixed blade. Tried Niobium/copper plate for the first time, picked it up at the Blade show. This stuff is completely non magnetic but yet throws some amazing sparks when ground. Seems to stay cool for a long time and then suddenly get ridicullessly hot. Grinds real soft then doesn't when it hit a certain temp. Anybody else have any experience with it?
Steve

[AUBE]

I used to use it quite a bit for making jewelry a few years back. My experiences were the same as yours. I used to burn the heck out of my fingertips when grinding earrings.

One neat thing about Nb. is you can heat it up with a torch and it will get a very beautiful deep black color that looks like gun bluing, but seems to wear even better. It can be electrochemically anodized using the same process as Ti. and will get more vibrant colors than 6AlV (about the same as CP Ti, maybe slightly better)

It is also hypoallergenic so it won't bother most people with metal allergies....which isn't much of an issue with knives unless worn right against the skin.