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forging stainless steel
- Thread starter wild wolf
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The Amazing Virginian
Gold Member
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can you forge stainless steel?
Well, I can't.
But those with the skillz can. So yes, it can be done.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
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I've got a D-2 integral I forged out but have yet to finish. You can forge it but it's a real booger!
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Gil Hibben used to forge all his 440c. But then it did not come in flat stock way back then. SO the short answer is yes. Now the question is why would you want to? Gil actually did a micrograph comparison and found that it had no effect on the final grain of the knife. So it had no benefit to take the extra time to beat on a piece of SS. Like Mike pointed out, Stainless steel is very red hard. D2 is almost as hard hot as cold rolled its cold. Then your temp control must be spot on too. If you get it too hot it will turn into oatmeal. (don't ask me how I know
) Then when you get to the final grinding you have to remember most all SS is air hardening. You need to anneal it in a ramping temp control kiln to process it properly or you will be fighting it all the way and it could possibly crack if you just set it down after forging. Therefore, I personally will not forge stainless. It is just not worth it to me.
) Then when you get to the final grinding you have to remember most all SS is air hardening. You need to anneal it in a ramping temp control kiln to process it properly or you will be fighting it all the way and it could possibly crack if you just set it down after forging. Therefore, I personally will not forge stainless. It is just not worth it to me.