Thread: Tough bolster!
View Single Post
  #8  
Old 01-30-2003, 12:33 PM
Tim P. Watson Tim P. Watson is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Olive Branch Mississippi
Posts: 24
Send a message via ICQ to Tim P. Watson Send a message via Yahoo to Tim P. Watson
Yeah 304 is about as bad as it comes even when machining. The sintering doesn't help either. You might want to try a different cutting fluid. One thing about this stuff it will not cut worth a flip dry. It is not hard but rather stringy and tough. Try and find some TapMattic or Tap Magic, both are clear and do a pretty good job. If you can find an old can of either before they quit using 111-triclorethelene you will be even better off. I work in the medical industry and 304 has a first cousin called 316. Both machine about the same but the 316 is an implant grade. There is nothing good about this steel except it resistance to rust and it takes a good shine . It does not thread, turn, mill, drill, file or engrave well at all. You might try a carbide graver it you have one. If you don't it might be worth a try but the cutting fluid is very important with these alloys. There are some specialty industrial fluids but they are hard to come by unless you know someone in a machine shop or manafacturing faclity. Hangsterfers Hard cut works the best for these alloys so if you have a buddy that works some place like that see if they have some.


__________________
Good enough never is
Reply With Quote