How to tell if it's stainless

rocketmann

rocketmann

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
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I'm a little stumped on this one.. A friend gave me 18' of octagon barrel steel that he ordered to make black powder rifles out of. He told me that he ordered 4140 but the package has 416SS written on it. The steel is magnetic and has a tiny bit of surface rust in a few places. The problem is 416 SS is magnetic and not super corrosion resistant. I think that his order was messed up because he was going to make .50 cal rifles and the hole in the barrel measures .75. I had planned to use this stock to make pipe hawks by inserting a .75 drill rod in the blade end and forging it flat. Now I'm not sure what to do... BTW he also gave me 3 bronze bars 5/8" x 4" x 48" , 3' of 7/8" brass rod, 6' of 1/4" x 1" brass and other assorted goodies. The bronze is strange in that you can see what I assume are the layers from when it was poured, the lines go all the way around the bars and differ in shape from bar to bar.. Funny thing is that it goes away when you grind it...
 
A quick dip in FC should tell you.Dip a piece of known carbon steel and then the suspect piece.The 416 should resist etching compared to the carbon steel.
 
Man I must be brain dead today !!!!! Cold blue would work as well.... stupid stupid stupid......
 
That's what bronze is like, I think it is continuous cast, and certain types are always like that. 660? Your friend did you a favor, that is some high dollar stuff, especially right now.
 
The cold blue did the trick...4140... He wants me to help him make a bronze sword with one of the pieces and the rest I will use for guards unless there is a better use for it.
 
The bronze piece on the left looks like aluminum bronze. Gorgeous stuff, but hard to drill and file. Use sharp tools!
 
slightly touch unknown piece to the rotating grinder, and the spark will tell.
compare it to the spark of known substance.
generally stainless has little spark compared to steel.
 
Beware the aluminum bronze! Not only is it harder then all get out, but it work hardens VERY easily. Drilling, etc will work harden it if not done at the right speeds/feeds.

You're one lucky SOB though Louis! :)

-d
 
I wish I had friends like that! Those machined barrels look expensive, an old school Gatling gun that fired .75 rounds would be kick-ass :D
 
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