Stupid Question from Newbie

I believe so. And if you keep it on there long enough, it will magnetize the blade.

edit: Welcome to the forums!
 
The reason why I ask is because I have some cheap knife and is imprinted "Stainless Steel Blade". Some guy put a magnet to it and said it was not really stainless steel since the magnet stuck to the blade. I did not know what to think or say.
 
I don't think he knew what he was talking about. I just tried it on the blade of my Leatherman S2 and it bonded. I also tried it with my Delica, same reaction. There is no steel that won't attract a magnet, am I right?
 
The answer is yes and no.

Austenitic stainless steels (such as the 300 series) are basically non-magnetic, but they are also basically unhardenable by heat treatment and thus unsuitable for knives expected to hold an edge.

The hardenable Martensitic stainless steels used for knife blades are magnetic as are the Ferric stainless steels (another type of essentially unhardenable stainless).



- Frank
 
Usually when steel is being heat treated, people talk about it being so hot that a magnet will no longer stick to it, some people after hearing this could think that the knife will permanently not stick to a magnet, however this is not true, after the heat treating, the atractiveness :confused: of the magnet to blade will come back.

Ive got a knife of 440c, and a magnet sticks to that.
 
OK, this is the way I understand it.
Magnets are not attracted to the steel, per se, but to the iron in the steel.
The basic definition of steel is Iron with Carbon added and other elements.
Therefore, magnets are attracted to steel, period.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
Lenny
 
Magnets are not attracted to the steel, per se, but to the iron in the steel. The basic definition of steel is Iron with Carbon added and other elements. Therefore, magnets are attracted to steel, period.
Click to expand...

Just because something contains iron doesn't mean that it will be magnetic.

Stainless steels vary in magnetic attraction depending on alloy. It is not valid to conclude that your blade is not stainless just because a magnet won't stick to it.
 
Originally posted by Lenny
OK, this is the way I understand it.
Magnets are not attracted to the steel, per se, but to the iron in the steel.
The basic definition of steel is Iron with Carbon added and other elements.
Therefore, magnets are attracted to steel, period.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
Lenny
Click to expand...

Test some of the stainless steel pots, spoons and forks from your kitchen with a magnet. Chances are they are 300 series Austenitic stainless and the magnet will not stick to them, like it will to a hardened Martensitic stainless steel knife.




- Frank
 
Zinje, you're friend is mistaken. Frank knows what he's talking about. Stainless steel of the sort used for eating utensils (300 series) is not magnetic. Stainless used for most of your knives and multi-tools (400 series) is magnetic. You wouldn't want a knife made of stainless that a magnet won't stick to, because it wouldn't be hardenable.
 
Originally posted by zinje
Some guy put a magnet to it and said it was not really stainless steel since the magnet stuck to the blade. I did not know what to think or say.
Click to expand...


Does this guy routinely pull these facts out his ass?

Take that magnet out to his "Muscle Car" and point out all the bondo for him. Undoubtedly this chump was trying to look cool, as your attorney i advise you to ignore all further comments from the asshat.
 
hi frank *waves*
mind helping to distinguish the two (austenitic and martensitic)? i've always thought they were simply two different states of the steel, with the carbide content varying
the magnetic properties changing along with the structure is new to me

thanks
 
It is common to identify stainless steel in a metal shop by testing it with a magnet. Most stainless steel used for common fabrication purposes (such as sheet metal) is non-magnetic. I have often heard it stated casually that stainless is non-magnetic. It is simply an over generalization. Knife blade stainless is magnetic.
 
I remember reading some time ago that stainless steel (originally referred to as non-magnetic steel) was originally developed in WWII for ship's hulls to combat the effect of magnetically triggered mines. As far I know, it was never implemented for that use because of cost considerations. I'll have to dig around to see if I can find more info on it.

jmx
 
Well, it was invented in 1913 in England by a Mr H Brearley. It was made by adding chromium and nickel to steel - it is thus called an ALLOY of iron. The added metals produce a surface film of metal oxides which is impervious to water. Thus the alloy does not rust, and is termed 'stainless steel'.

jmx
 
Originally posted by DEA
mind helping to distinguish the two (austenitic and martensitic)? i've always thought they were simply two different states of the steel, with the carbide content varying
the magnetic properties changing along with the structure is new to me
Click to expand...


Iron and steel can have one of three basic atomic arrangements or space lattices; these are 1 - face centered cubic (FCC) or Austentitic

fcc.gif


2 - body centered cubic (BCC) or ferrite

body%20centered%20cubic.gif



3 - body centered tetragonal lattice or Martensitic.

fig2d.jpg



Steel above 1300-1600 deg. F (depending on the alloy and carbon content) is FCC. If cooled naturally it changes to BCC. If it is cooled very rapidly, the FCC starts to change to BCC, but gets “frozen” in a distorted or twisted shape which is Martensite.

If you add enough nickel (8% or more) and chromium, the steel dose not change to BCC as it cools. Instead it cools as FCC – this is called Austenitic stainless steel and includes the AISI 200 and 300 series.








- Frank
 
oh, ok
that explains the differences between the 2
but what about their magnetic properties?
does that have to do with the bonding in the 2 different states/the arrangement of electron pairs?
 
Originally posted by DEA
oh, ok
that explains the differences between the 2
but what about their magnetic properties?
does that have to do with the bonding in the 2 different states/the arrangement of electron pairs?
Click to expand...


Sorry but I'll have to leave the magnetic properties explaination to someone who knows physics!



- Frank
 
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