Stainless steel: what grade for molds?

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lohman
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Stainless steel: what grade for molds?

Post by lohman »

:?: There was a discussion recently about recommended grades of stainless steel for molds. Tried searching archives and the tutorial but couldn't find info. I want to have some molds made and want to tell fabricator what type of steel to use and what thickness to use for some drop-ring molds. Since cost might be a factor, (largest ring will be 28 " in diameter) what other kinds of steel can I use? I don't mind the scaling which will occur. I can deal with that. Thanks
Bert Weiss
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Re: Stainless steel: what grade for molds?

Post by Bert Weiss »

lohman wrote::?: There was a discussion recently about recommended grades of stainless steel for molds. Tried searching archives and the tutorial but couldn't find info. I want to have some molds made and want to tell fabricator what type of steel to use and what thickness to use for some drop-ring molds. Since cost might be a factor, (largest ring will be 28 " in diameter) what other kinds of steel can I use? I don't mind the scaling which will occur. I can deal with that. Thanks
I use whatever standard stainless steel the fabricator has. My molds don't scale.
Bert

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Tony Smith
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Post by Tony Smith »

request 316 Stainless Steel. It has higher temperature resistance than other grades of stainless steel and the high levels of nickel and molybdenum make it less prone to pitting.

Tony
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Gil Reynolds
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Post by Gil Reynolds »

I agree with Tony. We have all of our hand spun molds make out of 300 series - 18 gauge stainless.

Gil
Lia Howe
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Post by Lia Howe »

I get some of my moulds from the dollar store. They rust up but I have never noticed any pitting. A light sanding and everything is clean again. Someone said that the rust can end up on my glass but it hasn't yet.Lia
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