How to identify nickel silver

legato1

legato1

Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
1,188
i asked a question about casting about a week ago and was told to practise with nickel silver, im sure its readily available in the garage sale market, but i dont know how to identify it? i carry a magnet around to make sure its not steel, but how do i make sure its nickle sivler? or is it just a skill gained over time?
 
I don't know what you would find at garage sales that would be nickel silver. I can't think of much it is used for, except in knives and some muzzle loader hardware. When it tarnishes you can often see a yellowish color on it. It is about the weight of brass, but just a tad harder. The higher the nickel content, the less yellow you will see, if any. I would suggest brass instead. That's easy to find.
 
I was wondering the same thing. I often see stuff like cowboy belt buckles and the like. I think it used to be used in a lot of older costume jewelry too.
 
Nickel silver is the stuff that tarnishes in a few days, scratches easily and sticks to your drill bits when you drill a hole in it...:D

I don't think you'll be finding it in garage sales though.

seriously though, it has it's own kind of luster that is different than 416. it looks more yellow where 300 or 400 series stainless takes on a cold blue color.
 
Polish it in a small spot and see if it shines out like silver or not. You can also on some things use the edge of a good sharp folder to see if a very slight sliver can be shaved off in some spot you can't see but its not something I do. I've read that it has been done though.

STR
 
Bladsmth Stacy suggested that i use old nickel silver flat wear from garage sales. thats what i was looking for, but i wasent really sure how to identify it, thanks ima see what i can find this weekend
 
Like the others said, it's a white metal that looks a little yellow when it tarnishes. It will take on a greenish patina like brass or copper though, depending on the exact composition, and if it's been a long time since a polish or if it's been exposed to certain chemicals.

Jason
 
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touch it and if it tarnishes in about 3 seconds its nickel silver :p

im not really sure how to tell you to identify it, i got use to how it looks from having some pieces for my native American dance regalia made form NS.

when polished it will look very silvery (not as white as silver though) but in a humid environment or if it has any finger prints on it the tarnish comes flying in

-matt
 
The N/S I've had has tarnished green because of the copper as the knife in front of me has ! It was used before SS for things like surgical tools .I have an old scalpel that has a N/S handle .Of course some tableware has it for the same reason.
 
The N/S I've had has tarnished green because of the copper as the knife in front of me has !
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Yeah, it will. I've found that some oils in some leather sheaths accelerate the process.

Jason
 
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Nickel silver is usually marked, just like sterling silver is. The marks will be NS, Nickel Silver, German Silver, Irish Silver, etc. If it isn't marked, it most likely isn't what you want. You don't want silver plate, or nickel plate.
Stacy
 
If you are just perfecting the castings, you can use almost any metal. Lower temp would be easier. Aluminum can be used and easy to find, lower melting temp.
 
Be careful of what fumes might come of the molten metal, some things can be lethal if inhaled.

greg
 
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