303 Stainless Questions

[PittsDriver]

I have a bar of 3/8" 303 Stainless steel that I originally bought for guardstock. I now have another use for it that requires me to reduce it in size to 3/16".

Surface grinding it would waste about half the material and I was hoping that someone would have a better idea that would be less wasteful. For instance, can I forge it down successfully? Can it be cold rolled?

Also, does 303SS need to be heat treated to achieve its full stain resistance?

Thanks for any ideas you might have.

Chad

 

[mete]

The 300 series stainless steel is austenitic therefore cannot be heat treated. 303 is a free machining grade [ high sulphur and phosphorous] and it will be a problem to forge or cold work because of this.You might try cold working a bit then annealing and repeat till it's to size....Anneal -1900-2050F and water quench...Forge - heat slowly to 2000-2150F then raise to 2200-2250. DO NOT forge below 1700.