How To Increasing contrast in Damascus steel? Pure Nickel Helps??

[Recessiveriver]

I have seen various post that saying adding pure nickel while forging the steel can increase the contrast of it?
But how?
How would it looks like when etching/heating it?

Thanks

 

[JTknives]

I have seen various post that saying adding pure nickel while forging the steel can increase the contrast of it?
But how?
How would it looks like when etching/heating it?

Thanks

Adding nickle while you forge it?
You can add nickle layers to the Damascus billet befor welding. The nickle will stay bright and shiny. But nickle does not get hard or hold an edge. Just use 15n20 and parkerize it.

 

[kuraki]

This is 15n20 and CruForge V with .030" thick 201 nickel between each steel layer.

Here it is after tempering, I kinda dig the temper colors. The CFV stayed black but the 15n20 browned.

Like JT said nickle doesn't get hard, and in the second picture you can see I need to grind that bevel back a bit more to expose the steel center. I wouldn't do this in damascus, unless you're going to clad a steel core with it, or do low layer like this and attempt to keep a steel core centered.

 

[Salem Straub]

You can get great contrast just using 15n20 and 10 series or CruForgeV, then parkerizing, as JT said.

 

[Recessiveriver]

You can get great contrast just using 15n20 and 10 series or CruForgeV, then parkerizing, as JT said.

So if I forge it with 15n20, 1085, and pure nickel, would it works? by etching/heating it, would it show 3 tones?

 

[Recessiveriver]

what do you think?