[snickerbocker]

I am curious if anyone knows if they use nickel in tool steel. I am having a horrible bout with dermatitis on my thumb and index finger on my carving hand, so bad I can't carve right now. I am allergic to nickel and am trying to find out what is causing the dermatitis. Thanks everyone.

[mark yundt]

Yes...the best tool steels are A2 and L6 . L6 is the preferred for chisels which has a high nickel content. The addition increases it's abrasion resistance,,holds temper well and fine edges.

[Anthony Filetti]

...more tool steel info...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_steel

[snickerbocker]

Great I am going to have to protect my carving hand from now on or quit carving and that ain't gonna happen. Thanks Tony.

[mdallensr]

L6 has 1.25-2.00% nickel, but I'm surprised you would have an allergic reaction to metallic nickel. It's pretty much inert, it's dissolved in the steel, and its resistance to breakdown by corrosion is what makes stainless steel "stainless". But, if you're allergic, you're allergic. I'll look for an MSDS sheet on it to see if there is a warning. The other common tool steels, such as A2, D2, O1 and the water-hardening series all have .30% max. nickel, which means they probably have nil. The 400 series stainless steels used for cutlery have a lot of chrome, but no nickel, so they shouldn't be a problem for you either. Mike

[snickerbocker]

Thanks Mark and Mike,
I am allergic to my watch, earrings, whatever isn't gold or silver, maybe I could get some gold or silver tools,Ha. It is severe I have no skin left on my thumb or index finger. I am having to lay off for sometime to give it a chance to heal and that is the only thing we can figure that is causing it.

[mdallensr]

You learn something everyday!:
Nickel Toxicity in Humans

About 10% of women and 2% of men in the population are highly sensitive to nickel. A portion of these sensitive people can develop a skin rash called nickel dermatitis if they are exposed to nickel through direct contact. This is the most common type of reaction to nickel exposure.
With nickel toxicity the type of nickel (speciation) is very important. Its form (metallic, oxide, ect) and the ease with which it dissolves in water affects the toxicity and the consequences for human health. The most serious health effects occur when nickel is inhaled:

• Increased risk of respiratory cancer due to chronic inhalation of fumes or fine particles when exposure is to known carcinogenic forms like nickel oxide.
• Asthma, nasal and sinus problems.

[Ashbys]

Be careful of german silver , todays german silver is nickel not silver. But most metals have traces of nickel. Also any chrome plated die castings , are loaded with nickel.

It is a necessary process , to get chrome on a zinc casting , the chrome will not attach to zinc. So , the plate with copper that bonds with zinc, nickel which bonds with the copper and then chrome that bonds to the nickel . Also I suggest caution when handeling pennies as they are plated zinc and not copper.

opps off track , any way , a cheap way to protect your self from the tool steel, - plastic dip. this will coat your tool in plastic and you can peal it back from the cutting edge , and leave the shaft covered.

The second way , have them chromed.

Also becareful of pewter and pewter products. When most metal products we came in contact with were made in the states , the standards were different. Today they may come from anywhere and may or may not be what you purchased.

I always loved the double standard put on American business, one of the best , a simple brass horse, same style , By an American mfg it stated soild brass, cut it in have and yep solid brass. One made in India , marked solid brass, cut it in half , a hollow casting and sand added to get the weight.
Just beacuse it looks like the same thing doesn't mean it is.

Ash

[snickerbocker]

Well there you have it, now I have to find something that will be a barrier between my skin and the tools. We were thinking maybe a golf glove, the trouble is grip, you don't want the tools sliding around in your hand.

[snickerbocker]

Thanks Ash.