Need an online source for Stainless??

[CGCINC]

I've tried locally and the price is sky high..
I've checked Metalsdepot.com and the price is better but expensive still.

I'm needing 4' of 1.5" Stainless round bar.

I priced Steel at $33, then I priced the Stainless and it was $135!!
Why is so much more expensive?

[DaveO]

Here's a site: looks like you can get a 10" - 12" drop in 316 stainless for $38
http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant...id=7&top_cat=1

Other choices available at that site, too, if you need something other than 316.

What are you working on?

[CGCINC]

Thanks for the link!

What is the difference in these? I've never worked with Stainless
Round bar t-303
round bar t-304l
round bar t-316l
round bar t-321
round bar t-347
round bar t-410
round bar t-416

The 303 and 304 is around $80 for three feet which is all I reall need.

I will be running this bar through some brass bushings so it doesn't need to be anything great, just stainless.

[CGCINC]

I am buying all the materials I need to build the link below...

http://simage1.sportsmansguide.com/a.../134916_ts.jpg

[brianscott]

You want 304 SS.
410 and 416 are heat treatable.
303 is easer to machine,

[DaveO]

The numbers there identify the specific alloy of stainless. Onlinemetals.com has an outline of different types of stainless, lots of good info here. As Brian's note says, 304 is most common.
http://www.onlinemetals.com/stainlessguide.cfm

[CGCINC]

Appreciate all the help!
I just read the difference between them all and I ordered the 304.

Again, Thanks for the link to Onlinemetals.com, I saved some money on there!!

[jerky]

and the L just means low carbon

[CGCINC]

and the L just means low carbon

Does Carbon make the Stainless harder?
Why would you want low carbon over normal Stainless? Just curious

[brianscott]

Not sure about harder, but 316 is slightly stronger than 316L.

The "L" or low carbon helps to lessen cracking when welding.
347, 321, 316L are common in the aerospace world along with Inconel and Hastelloy.
Unless your building a space shuttle or a submarine stick with 304.

[jerky]

Because it has less carbon, it will help preventing carbide precipitation.

[CGCINC]

Because it has less carbon, it will help preventing carbide precipitation.

is that rust?

[CGCINC]

So when I weld the 304 Stainless Bar to a piece of 3/16" mild Steel plate with a 309L filler rod.... What's the best way to do it?

I have welded Stainless in night class but only for 30 mins. or so

Do I weld a little and stop to let it cool or weld fast and get it all done quickly!?!?

[DaveO]

is that rust?

Here's a quick write-up on carbide precipitation from the ESAB site:
http://www.esabna.com/EUWeb/AWTC/Lesson5_10.htm
Note: "austenitic" refers to the 300 series of stainless steels.

5.4.1 Carbide Precipitation - Many of the austenitic stainless steels are subject to the phenomenon of carbide precipitation. At elevated temperatures in the range of 800-1600°F, the carbon content in excess of 0.02% migrates to the grain boundaries of the austenitic structure where it reacts with chromium to form chromium carbide. If the chromium is tied up with the carbon, it is not available for corrosion resistance. Thus, when the steel with carbide precipitation is exposed to a corrosive environment, intergranular corrosion results, allowing the grain boundaries to be eaten away. Figure 8 shows how intergranular corrosion may take place in a tank holding a corrosive liquid. Notice that the corrosion takes place only in the heat affected zone on the inside where the corrosive media is located, and there is no evidence of failure on the outside.

5.4.1.1 Carbide precipitation has no other effect on the steel, however, other than loss of corrosion resistance in the heat affected zone. During welding, the heat-affected zones along the sides of the weld in austenitic stainless steel are exposed to the temperatures that cause carbide precipitation.

[DaveO]

So when I weld the 304 Stainless Bar to a piece of 3/16" mild Steel plate with a 309L filler rod.... What's the best way to do it?

There's a section here also about welding stainless to carbon steel, in section 5.2:
http://www.esabna.com/EUWeb/AWTC/Lesson5_7.htm

...but I'm officially out of my depth now, so I will watch and learn as the experts respond.

[jerky]

Thanks dave, thats what i was gonna say when i got home, ill see if my books say anything else on the matter

[CGCINC]

There's a section here also about welding stainless to carbon steel, in section 5.2:
http://www.esabna.com/EUWeb/AWTC/Lesson5_7.htm

...but I'm officially out of my depth now, so I will watch and learn as the experts respond.

Wow, who knew there was so much to welding a few pieces of metal together.. lol

Thanks for all the info guys... Time to read and learn before I screw this up!

[CGCINC]

This is off of one of the links above...
Carbide precipitation has no other effect on the steel, however, other than loss of corrosion resistance in the heat affected zone.

So I'm taking that as it's ok to weld it like I would normally, But it could rust at the heat affected zone. This equipment will be in my basement and also I can paint up a half inch onto the Stainless to protect it.
As long as Carbide precipitation will not effect the strength of the weld, I'm ok ?

[brianscott]

Are you welding stainless to non-stainless

[CGCINC]

Are you welding stainless to non-stainless

Yes, Stainless to some 1/4" plate I have lying around