Does 416 stainless need to be hardened for acceptable stain resistance? Passivated?

B

BFrancios

Joined
Jul 9, 2012
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I think I may have over researched/analyzed this issue.... HELP!

Getting ready to attach some 416 bolsters tomorrow and then ran across a posting tonight that stated SS should be hardened to promote stain resistance. The posting was discussing blade steals but this got me thinking about the SS hardware I am getting ready to mount.

My research turned up hardening 416 to promote stain resistance AND passivating the steal to ensure a clean oxide layer. Could not find anything here but the machinist and metalworking sites seemed to recomend them.
Are either of these neccesary on SS used for knife hardware?

Barry
 
Others will disagree, but I don't think it's necessary. I have used both and have noticed little if any difference. I have had customers return knives with unhardened 416 SS guards for re-sharpening years after the knife was made and the guards have held up just fine.
 
My thoughts are that for knives, it doesn't need to be done. It will improve the corrosion resistance, but the current level of corrosion resistance may be adequate. As with most steels used in knife making, 416 was formulated for worse environments than pockets and kitchens. Run a piece through the dishwasher a few times and see what it looks like. Thats the harshest environment common for knives. If it comes out bad, consider heat treating it and possibly passivating it.
 
It may help, but I shape my bolsters pinned on the knife so heat treating them for better or not is not an option I have never had an issue.
Anthony
 
Somewhere I saw a comment that 416 machines better if hardened.Seems reasonable. The corrosion question -416 has low carbon so that problem shouldn't come up.
 
Thank you gentleman for the confirmation. I too mostly shape bolsters after they are attached and was worried about machining the hardened pieces.

I figured hardening and/or passitivation were not necessary or it would be more widely discussed here. Sounds like it can be done to enhance stain resistance but is not standard practice. Just wanted to check.

Thanks again!

Barry
 
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