Recommendation? Grinding 304 stainless

Alex T.

Alex T.

Beginner knifemaker
Joined
Mar 10, 2019
Messages
119
Hello all,

Basically the title, I use 304 for my bolsters and I started to dovetail them (so more grinding). I love that 304 is basically a no care steel that will probably never rust, it's tough and I found that its mirror polishe matches the one of the steels I use (440c and cpm154), wich is not the case for steels like 303 or 416 . BUT it just completely destroys my belts and it heats quickly if using high speed and high pressure like for the other steels. I found that using a slower speed on the vfd and a light pressure helped but it is so dam slow (using 50 grit Merit ceramic belts, I will try the 36 grit black belts from Norton). So for those of you working with 304, how do you overcome this? I use 3/8" thick if that can help.
Thank you in advance!
 
If you have the equipment, milling will reduce mst of the excess.

Fresh CZ or ceramic belts are a must.
Use pressure to cut. Light pressure will create more heat and less cutting.

Best tip - set up a Kool-mist system. It will be the best $100-200 you ever spent.
 
304 is miserable to grind and machine. There's really no way around it.
 
Thank you guys, I appreciate you took the time to answer :)

Stacy : that's what I was looking for, I will probably make or buy one because I don't have access to a mill.

Kuraki: that's what I concluded after reading about 304, but the caracteristics of this steel makes it worth it IMO

HSC: I have tried 410 and friends but found it was prone to lightly rust in highly humid environnement, even if heat treated while I just can forget 304 stainless in a water bucket and it won't rust. 410, even heat treated, is less corrosion resistant than 304 trainless. A lot of my customers are guys in the canadian army and lets be honest, in winter while you are dripping wet, cold and tired, you don't have the time to take care of your knife so thats why I need to use the most corrosion resistant stainless. It's sad because 410 is way easier to work with than 304 :(
 
Well , I don t complain about 304 . Slow speed /10ms / old ceramic belt ,push stick , my full weight and bucket of water................when get hot just drop it from work rest right in water .Glasses are must big chips fly fast ..When I get close to finish ,new belt max. speed and I m done ...But I hate it because it is so easy to scratch ....
 
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Thank you Natlek, may I ask why you switch to high speed with a new belt for the finish? Gives a better finish?
 
Looney36 said:
Thank you Natlek, may I ask why you switch to high speed with a new belt for the finish? Gives a better finish?
Click to expand...
At high speed and new belt I don t need to push hard so I have more control and of course leave better finish . I cut pieces for gard or bolster from scrap 304 , so I need to grind lot of material to get what I want ....
This piece with red circle is almost inch thick....
8gldqmO.jpg
 
Looney36 said:
Kuraki: that's what I concluded after reading about 304, but the caracteristics of this steel makes it worth it IMO
Click to expand...

I understand. Just letting you know there's no easy button with it. We process 100 tons a year of it or so.

The yellow cubitron ceramics were the best performing I found. I don't recall the number.
 
Natlek: good to know!

Kuraki: Thanks for your input :) I will look for these belts
 
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