As a Mech Engr I thought adding Vanadium did only good things to
steel.
I don't see how they could save any machining costs by adding
vanadium. Surely they didn't add vanadium just so they could skip
nitriding?

As a mechanical engineer, what the hell do you know? I f you want to
know
how much Vanadium to add, ask a jury.

Bill Hale