Has anyone tried to make San-Mai with 316 stainless?

[Chris Railey]

I have some 316 stainless a friend gave me from a job. I looked it up and it has a low carbon content something like .06. I have been wanting to try some stainless San-Mai with a HC core. Any reason to think 316 would not work?

 

[EdCaffreyMS]

I've done it. It works, but has more quirks to making it work then 410 or 416. By "quirks", I mean it has a much more narrow forging range, and for me it has/had ZERO tolerance for trying to draw it out after getting it welded.

Frankly, I have a bunch of it around too....and rather then put up with the hassles and a much larger failure rate then usual..... I just purchase 410 or 416.

 

[Chris Railey]

Dang, I always have the stuff that is difficult or impossible to work with. Thanks again Ed.