Stainless steel pins

[Cliff Fendley]

Let me get this straight ...

A 300 type of steel can be magnetic and still be called Stainless?  I assume that because it has less chromium in it?  And/or perhaps nickle?

So a 400 series would simply have more chromium and no longer be magnetic?  I do know (before this VERY interesting topic that SOME SS products are magnetic, but most of the kitchen-grade isn't magnetic.  They (the less magnetic types of SS) are also more brittle and unsuitable for gun production and maybe even blades production, right?

Like Dick Dastardly used to say, "There's learnin' goin' on here!"

Thanks, Cliff ... Fairshake ... Robert ... and all y'all others who care to add their knowledge.

I was taught by my mentor knifemaker that as a rule of thumb when dealing with an unknown stainless steel check it with a magnet. A magnet will stick to 400 series but not 300 series. We never make a blade out of anything that is unknown but if using the material as a guard or other parts you want to match it to the pin material so you don't see the pins when your finished.

We can surface grind our 440C and other high carbon knife blades on a magnetic chuck but you have to come up with a clamping method or use a vice in a milling machine to finish 300 series parts that we many times us on guards and other parts of knives.

[fourfingersofdeath]

Can you post a link, when I google pellets inc I don't come up with a media company. I did find pellets llc, who had some but not sure what size I should get.

Stainless Tumbling Media is the firm:

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=stainless+tumbling+media&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&redir_esc=&ei=RCx6T5qjAeWciAfZ7pD-BA

Here is their video:

[Judge Lead]

Four Fingers, you can get s/s media from House of Jewellery in York St, Sydney. You don't need to order large quantities, but make sure the cleaner can handle the weight of the media. They also sell the tumbler/vibratory cleaner as well.

Try here www.hoj.com.au to have a look.

There is another jewellery supply in York St if I remember correctly, but don't remember the name. Sorry.

See how you go.

Regards

[fourfingersofdeath]

Thanks Judge! Say hello to Molly for me.