Ok I have a customer that is wanting two daggers. One with an engraved guard and pomel with a burl handle and the other with an engraved guard and pomel and then a metal handle that is engraved as well. I am looking at different materials and trying to figure out weight as well. Ok so I m looking at 1018 steel and 6061 aluminum. What are the positives and negatives of each. I am afraid that the 1018 will be heavy and rust since it is not stainless but I am not sure how the aluminum will engrave and if it will be to soft. Please give me some feedback.
Kyle
Do not use aluminum -- just don't.
If your intetion is to do precious metal inlay and hot blue, use the mild steel, otherwise I would recommend 416 stainless steel.
Regardless of mild or stainless, anneal the metal before fitting so it will be soft for engraving.
Brian
Brian is correct in suggesting not to use aluminum. There is an oxidation process between steel and aluminum, galvanic corrosion, where the aluminum corrodes and the steel does not. This is basically caused by an electron flow from one metal to the other. It is not fast but it will happen if the blade is used or kept in any sort of moist environment no matter what the surface protection. Here is a case where soldering does not help but use of JB weld may provide some protection as a barrier between the two metals.
Having said all that, there are knives with aluminum guards that were made 30 years ago or longer by makers that still seem sound. My biggest concern is that it looks cheap to most collectors and most smiths. Whether it should or not be perceived that way is a question of perception and debate. That aluminum is perceived that way, is pretty much a common fact.
Dan
