Which stainless ?

[theoldwizard1]

I am working on a small project and will need to thread a piece of 1/4" round bar (the center has to be unthreaded as it is a pivot). Which of the dozen or so stainless alloys are easiest to hand thread with a HSS 1/4" die ? (Yes, I know the diameter should be smaller than the thread size. I might just "touch" it with a grinder. I only need about 1/4-1/2" of threads.)

 

[freudianfloyd]

I am working on a small project and will need to thread a piece of 1/4" round bar (the center has to be unthreaded as it is a pivot). Which of the dozen or so stainless alloys are easiest to hand thread with a HSS 1/4" die ? (Yes, I know the diameter should be smaller than the thread size. I might just "touch" it with a grinder. I only need about 1/4-1/2" of threads.)

I have good luck with 304 and 316.

 

[will gilmore]

303 or 416 are "easy to machine" but you should have no problem with whatever you can get your hands on.

 

[kkroger]

304 work hardens so you have to be a bit aggressive when machining it. but using a die on it should work, similarly 400 Series or even 17-4 Pre hard will be easy to thread by hand.

 

[waynem]

303 Is the easiest to work with but you may have trouble finding a small piece of it. If you can thread with fine threads, it will be a lot easier than coarse threads. I have done 304 fine with a die nut no problems, just get it started straight.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I added about an inch of thread to a 3/8 ss bolt which I believe was 316 using a cheap Chinese die and it seemed to work just fine. Slow, oil, lots of back and forth.

 

[mike13u]

Type 303

 

[APEowner]

The operating environment should drive the alloy selection first followed by the machinability. What will this be exposed to that's driving you to stainless?