I am going to do some experiments using stainless as the outer cores on a san mai with a HC edge...I will be trying to weld in a controlled atmosphere.

I am looking for the softest stainless steel I can buy......I do not want it to air harden...the softer the better.

Admiral offer
303
304
410
416
420 steels.

which would be the best choice?

Am I correct in thinking that the %carbon is the factor with regards hardening..so I should aim for as low a carbon as possible (.8 is offered).

Are there other alloys in the stainless that I need to consider?

any other recommendations?

thanks.

I am going to do some experiments using stainless as the outer cores on a san mai with a HC edge...I will be trying to weld in a controlled atmosphere.

I am looking for the softest stainless steel I can buy......I do not want it to air harden...the softer the better.

Admiral offer
303
304
410
416
420 steels.

which would be the best choice?

Am I correct in thinking that the %carbon is the factor with regards hardening..so I should aim for as low a carbon as possible (.8 is offered).

Are there other alloys in the stainless that I need to consider?

any other recommendations?

thanks.

Of those I'm only personally familier with 304, which isn't hardenable, so it should work for your purpose. 420 is a blade steel though a low quality one, for your purpose avoid it, actually I'd say avoid it for any purpose unless it's 420HC which is a better version. You're correct that %carbon is the biggest factor of how hard it gets, but .8% is well within blade steel range, they probably just don't bother mentioning the % on the steels without enough to harden.