chimmike Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 So I have a bunch of sheet steel laying around, 14ga, 16ga, stuff like that, in both mild and stainless. What can I do with this stuff other than cut it up cutely and weld into boxes or some mess? Totally out of ideas, and I think it's certainly too thin to properly 'smith'. Also have a 1" round bar length of 303 stainless, probably 12-14" of it. Wonder if I can cut it into a smaller piece, if it's possible to forge it out at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackdawg Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 frying pans, decorative dishes, body armour, bookends, scroll rings, goblets, coats of arms, jelly role damascus, (damascus isn't just for knife makers!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Stainless steel roses - with heat colours?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimmike Posted March 26, 2017 Author Share Posted March 26, 2017 OK Maybe I need to qualify. I'm a newbie. haha. My skill level (and tool collection) is limited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Poet Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 4 hours ago, chimmike said: OK Maybe I need to qualify. I'm a newbie. haha. My skill level (and tool collection) is limited. Practice forge welding sheet. It's a useful decorative skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlasterJoe Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 That 303 stainless can be forged but it takes some doing. I can across a 1" round bar last year. Get it very hot and it will let you know when it's too cool. Also from what I've read it's a air hardening steel so don't bother heat treatment. I made small very rough looking Hardie cutoff out of it and it held up quite well. Just don't miss or you will ding up your hammer. Might be good for eating utensils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 There is more to this craft than aheatin' and abeatin', although you can get a whole slew of effects with texturing hammers. Decorative punch and chisel work is a good counterpoint to hammer textures. SS sheet would also make nice: holiday ornaments, necklace pendants, bracelets, wind chimes, garden art pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimmike Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 Thank you. I'll have to get it cut (somehow) and heat it up and form up some tools to bend/create some effects on it. I see what you mean! I'm not an artist, so perhaps that's part of my problem :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Talk with a local SCA group; if they have folks making armour then they can use a source of sheet in less than 4'x8' sheets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeaverNZ Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Hi I just had a look in my stainless book to make sure I had it correct but the 300 series of stainless steel wont harden by heat treatment though can be hardened by cold working Austenitic Stainless is non magnetic Cheers Beaver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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