316 stainless

[Guest Johnnie]

Hi guys,

I am after some advise and where better to get it from? I need to make some punches and hot cut chisels. at my disposal is one meter of 16mm round 316 stainless bar.
Has anyone used this stainless as a tool steel before?? Will it be any good??
Many thanks in advance for any help, John (lost in the world of stainless steel).

[jmccustomknives]

316 is a non hardening Stainless, so for tooling it isn't much good.

[ThomasPowers]

It is a soft steel and NOT a tool steel or a steel to be used for tooling.

If you cannot get a hot work steel like S-7 or H-13; even an automobile spring will make much better tools than 316 stainless

[Guest Johnnie]

Thank you guys, I appreciate your comments.

[tomhw]

Hi guys,

I am after some advise and where better to get it from? I need to make some punches and hot cut chisels. at my disposal is one meter of 16mm round 316 stainless bar.
Has anyone used this stainless as a tool steel before?? Will it be any good??
Many thanks in advance for any help, John (lost in the world of stainless steel).

It is not hardenable but is harder than mild steel and holds it shape at higher temperatures than mild steel. It can work harden. It is a good metal for fire tools (e.g. pokers, shovels, and twisting wrenches), and drifts, tongs, and anything that requires corosion resistance, resilliance, and stability in moderate heat. Keep a a high heat as you forge it and normalize from a full heat.