Forging a stainless guard...Possible???

happycat

happycat

Joined
Jun 21, 1999
Messages
752
I have used nickle silver up till now for guards and just got a bar of stainless to try. I am planning on forging it into an "S" guard. Any thoughts on this operation. Does stainless forge well? Will it still be "stainless" after being forged? Am I nuts for even considering this? I have no idea.....
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ed
 
Ed and all,
I've forged some 316C stainless. It doesn't move bad but it will rust if you don't do a lot of post forgeing cleaning.
I've heard of 'pasivation' which seems to be just reversing the leads on the rust removal using a battery charger but I haven't tried it yet.
Lynn
 
You haven't said what type of stainless it is.Stainless will forge OK,but some is a bit hot-hard.You might even cold forge an S guard.It will be the same after forging as before.
 
Passivation is the treatment of stainless steel to remove contaminants from the surface and build up a thicker protective oxide coating. It is done with nitric or citric acid.I've never tried it on a small scale.
 
Just curious...but doesnt stainless need to be hardened to achieve the greatest 'stainless' properties? It seems like if its been forged and rusts more that it just needs to be hardened...but I really dont know, just speculation, from things I have read...:foot::D

Ryan
 
The 300 series is austenitic and can't be hardened but is the most corrosion resistant. But the heat treatable types can vary depending on the heat treat.
 
I just checked my reciept its 416 stainless. I don't know if that makes any difference. Never thought of cold forging. I was just assuming that it would crack if I did that. May have to give it a try.
Thanks,
Ed
 
416 is a heat treatable , free machining grade. Because it is free machining there will be limits to how much yoiu can cold work or forge it. Initial forging temprature is 2100-2200F. Do not forge under 1600F.
 
Thanks Mete. Glad I checked this. I just marked it to start on the slot tomorrow. I have no way of checking temp on my forge. Maybe I'd better just stick to mild steel or nickle sliver. I'll use this stuff for other type guards.
Thanks,
Ed
 
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