nickel silver sheet stock?

[nachoman]

Does anyone know of a common source for nickel silver sheet or bar stock? I want to use some on some electronics projects, and was hoping to avoid having to order large quantities of the stuff. I had a similar question on where to get phosphor bronze, and someone on this forum pointed me to common weather stripping- a great suggestion. I was hoping for a similar good idea on what common items are made from nickel silver that I could find at the local hardware store. I was looking for dimensions about 1/4" wide and 1/16" thick. I want to use it for touch switches, and worry that regular brass would oxidize over time and become unreliable.

[Gary S]

Kevin, are you sure you need nickel silver for this? Would stainless steel work instead? it may be easier to find.

You should be able to find stainless steel sheet, maybe even in a craft/hobby store. Another place to look would be in a HD or Lowes in the roofing department. Not sure, but they may have stainless steel flashing.

Online, here is one place for stainless steel sheet. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/k-s-stainless-steel-sheet-stainless-steel-430-p-43770.html">http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/k- ... 43770.html</a><!-- m -->

I didn't research the alloys, but the various grades of stainless are essentially steel with nickel. Now, nickel-silver is copper with nickel and zinc. The nickel silver is probably a bit more conductive, but if you are just using them for touchplates, the small amount of additional resistance of stainless should be negligible.

[nachoman]

Kevin, are you sure you need nickel silver for this? Would stainless steel work instead? it may be easier to find.

You should be able to find stainless steel sheet, maybe even in a craft/hobby store. Another place to look would be in a HD or Lowes in the roofing department. Not sure, but they may have stainless steel flashing.

Online, here is one place for stainless steel sheet. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/k-s-stainless-steel-sheet-stainless-steel-430-p-43770.html">http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/k- ... 43770.html</a><!-- m -->

I didn't research the alloys, but the various grades of stainless are essentially steel with nickel. Now, nickel-silver is copper with nickel and zinc. The nickel silver is probably a bit more conductive, but if you are just using them for touchplates, the small amount of additional resistance of stainless should be negligible.

I thought about stainless, but I would like to be able to solder to it.

[Gary S]

I thought about stainless, but I would like to be able to solder to it.

I didn't think of that. :x

[doctorwayne]

Stainless steel of any appreciable thickness can be difficult to work with, too. It certainly eats Dremel cut-off discs.

Here's a source for nickel silver sheet, and another here, and yet another here.

I googled for nickel-silver sheets, but it's also known as German silver in the jewellry trade.

EDIT: I just noticed that the third link is for fairly large sheets. :oops:

Wayne

[Russ Bellinis]

You can solder to stainless, you just need to use a silver bearing solder rather than a lead based solder. "Stay Brite" brand soft solder will work well with stainless. The nickel-silver may be a better choice, but I thought I'd share about soldering stainless in case anyone needs to do it.

[nachoman]

You can solder to stainless, you just need to use a silver bearing solder rather than a lead based solder. "Stay Brite" brand soft solder will work well with stainless. The nickel-silver may be a better choice, but I thought I'd share about soldering stainless in case anyone needs to do it.

Really? Hmm. that's just what I need, more ideas!

[jim currie]

if you use 305 or a brass that is designed for electrical contacts you should not have corrsion problems unless you are in a high moisture enviroment ( swamp coller) but if you use a different brass that use a product called no ox , will keep contact area free of oxides.
jim

[boppa]

if you check out any good electronics suppliers they have `silver solder'
it can be used quite sucessfully to solder to stainless- IF you have a temp contolled soldering iron and wind it up to about 450-460 degrees © -normal 40/60 is usually used about 320-350 deg © and `leadless' euro grade solder is about 350-380

(these are the temps according to my soldering station btw)

also with stainless it MUST be ABSOLUTELY spotlessly clean- use a brillopad and then electronics grade flux as well before soldering