I have just started doing some pattern welding. I like the look of the bright lines in some billets, but am at a loss to find nickel steel.

Is there a common supplier of nickel steels? Or is there a common item that I should be looking for at scrap yards that have a high nickel content?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy & Healthy 2011,

John

15N20 is probably the most popular choice. Some, but only some, bandsaw blades are 15N20.
Various people sell it in thin stock for pattern welders.

L6 is another possibility.

And L6 is another possible alloy for BSB

nickel 200 shim stock is pure nickel and leaves a white line
Also the carbon will not migrate through that layer.
Many use this to lay up the pattern in powder damascus. It seperated the differrent powders to make the design

781 - what is the nickel 200 shim stock used for and where could I expect to find it? I have used metal shims on a car starter and wooden shims on doors and windows...but am unfamilar with the nickel 200 shims.

Thanks for the replys,

JL

781 - what is the nickel 200 shim stock used for and where could I expect to find it? I have used metal shims on a car starter and wooden shims on doors and windows...but am unfamilar with the nickel 200 shims.

Thanks for the replys,

JL

You can order it from places like McMaster-Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com) and Admiral Steel (http://www.admiralsteel.com/shop/). I can't help you with local sources in Montana.

Almost all knife suppliers will have wot you are looking for.

onlinemetals.com

Nickel is reported to be harder to weld than the other steels mentioned and is impossible to harden.

Thanks for the links guys. I was looking for that information, but also looking for what common material would have some nickel in it like the band saw blades.

This is a heck of a group that is willing to share info.

Thanks all,

John

Also I think the bandsaw blade you are looking for are from wood saws but not the style a person would have in a home shop. Most have a blade 1 1/2" wide or wider.
Round saw blades can be L6
Take a small piece of your found material and etch it to see what color you end up with
You can also harden a small sample to see how hard it gets.
As for welding nickel it welds to steel fine but doesnt like to weld to its self so dont have it on the outside and do a fold.
I bought a roll years ago when it was cheap from another knife guy and dont want to share Sorry.
I havent pattern welded for a long time but used to get a good dark light pattern using bearing stock and leaf spring with some band saw blade.

4340 and 86XX have i little nickle too. Or EN30B on the other side of the pond.

L6 as stated above is a high nicle/chrome mix that can be found in most framing hammers , hard as a sucker and rust resistant to boot.but its not very practicle for most work unless you get them for nothing or next to it.