304 and 303 stainless

W

wordsmith

Joined
Apr 17, 2009
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I'm considering a trade for some 304 stainless bar for bolsters and whatnot, and am having trouble finding 304 pin stock for attaching them. 303 is easy to find, but of slightly different composition. If I use it anyway will it be visible? HAs anyone done this before? Better yet, does anyone know where to get 304 pins?
 
Have you looked for 304 stainless rod? You can usually get it down to wire sizes.

Mcmaster Carr has 1/8" diameter (along with many other sizes) 6' lengths of 304 rod for $7 and change without certification and $17 with.
 
I'd say go with 304 it is a very formable SS so the pins should be easily hammered to fit.
 
300 series is non magnetic while the 400 series is magnetic. good to know if you get them mixed up.
You cant solder a 300 series stainless steel or it is much much more difficult.
 
I solder 304 bolsters to 304 liners all the time! It must be flat, clean, and use stay bright flux and solder from Pops. I use 316L welding rod for pin material and the pins are all but invisible to the eye.
 
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blades&grace said:
I solder 304 bolsters to 304 liners all the time! It must be flat, clean, and use stay bright flux and solder from Pops. I use 316L welding rod for pin material and the pins are all but invisible to the eye.
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I've tried all that and with the 300 it's always hit or miss for me. I can do it with Hi temp stuff but not the low temp solders.
 
blades&grace said:
I solder 304 bolsters to 304 liners all the time! It must be flat, clean, and use stay bright flux and solder from Pops. I use 316L welding rod for pin material and the pins are all but invisible to the eye.
Click to expand...

Reese Bose told me about 316L its some good stuff . I also have had no problems soldering 304 to 304 .
 
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Rusty McDonald said:
300 series is non magnetic while the 400 series is magnetic. good to know if you get them mixed up.
You cant solder a 300 series stainless steel or it is much much more difficult.
Click to expand...

Well, that explains a thing or two!

The 304 ss barstock and pins I have are well matched and do not show.
 
Although this thread is clearly a long time dead, if anyone searching was curious; the main difference twixt 303 and 304 as it pertains here is that 303 has about .12% more sulphur making it somewhat more machinable than 304 ( both actually machine pretty well ) but notoriously more difficult to weld. Obviously soldering and welding aren't the same, however; my own experience is that 303 always soldered poorly ( long since abandoned trying in favor of pins) while 304 was no problem.
 
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