300 series stainless

T

Tuck

Joined
Jun 29, 2003
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I have some 300 series SS (303 I think) flat stock that I intended on using for bolsters. Hard to work with! Any way to soften this stuff? I've read that 300 SS is not hardenable by heat treatment, Does this mean it can't be softened either? Is there a SS that's easier to work? - Tuck
 
G'day Tuck, can't believe no one has posted. 300 series stainless has very little or no carbon. Thats why its not magnetic. Its hard to work straight off the bat and work hardens as well. Contact any of the suppliers over there and buy 416 stainless (don't forget pin stock) and you will never look back. 416 is superb to work, super stain free and can be hardened if you wish.

If you want very thin spacer material, get some off-cuts from a mob that makes refrigeration units for pubs and resturants. They use 400 series stainless to build the fridge carcasses. You will know its 400 as it will be magnetic. :)
 
The 300 series "austenitic SS" can't be hardened by heat treatment. It will work harden and can be annealed but even in the annealed condition it's pretty tough. 416 or nickel silver might be a substitute.
 
Thanks guys, I'll keep an eye out for some 416 ss, any experience with 410 ss? I see quite a bit of that at work but lathe turning is a lot different than hacksawing and grinding. - Tuck
 
Originally posted by Tuck
Thanks guys, I'll keep an eye out for some 416 ss, any experience with 410 ss? I see quite a bit of that at work but lathe turning is a lot different than hacksawing and grinding. - Tuck
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Yes 410 will work fine also. You don't often find it in anything but sheets. If you can find it in thicker stock, go for it.

Edited to add: One bad side to this is, getting the pins to match, color wise.
It's always a good idea to get the same kind of pinstock as the bolster/guard material. I doubt if you will find 410 pins.
This is why most makers use 416. :eek:
 
My understanding from another thread was that 410 and 416 were same thing, composition wise, jsut that one was barstock and one pinstock. or one barstock and one sheet(ie for liners). Or something like that. :) On way to bank now, so can't look up alloy charts, but anyone can freel free to agree with that or point out my mistake.
 
Originally posted by etp777
My understanding from another thread was that 410 and 416 were same thing, composition wise, jsut that one was barstock and one pinstock. or one barstock and one sheet(ie for liners). Or something like that. :) On way to bank now, so can't look up alloy charts, but anyone can freel free to agree with that or point out my mistake.
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This was posted by mete two months ago, on the same subject.
But, I still worry that the pins will not match well.

Quote"416 is the free machining grade of 410. Since sheet is not normally machined it's not available in sheet form. Both can be heat treated. The 300 series is soft in the annealed condition and can only be cold worked.It might be ok for your use if you get it in cold worked condition."
 
Thanks again, I'll give the 410ss a try. I work for an open die forge co. so I see quite a bit of it - 40,000-80,000 lbs. a month, usally. I'm sure I can salvage a few cutoffs, finding something small enough to carry is probably my bigest problem. - Tuck
 
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