- Joined
- Sep 4, 2013
- Messages
- 6
I have a Grizzly G0769 (3/4 hp combo mill/lathe) and I'm creating some K baffles out of 1.5" 304 (it's just what I have). Yes, all legal hoops have been followed, Form 1 in hand. I use carbide inserts and can machine the outside and inside cones without too much difficulty, minus the long stringy spaghetti chips that are created. I've slowed down the speeds from what I've used on 12L14 and it's working okay. When I attempt to take too big of a cut, often the metal will fold over and just get pushed along as the cutting is taking place. Easy enough to see this and back off a bit. Cutoff and grooving in 304 (at least for me) is a nightmare and I often hangup my spindle where it stops and I have to quickly back off the cross slide or I'll blow a fuse. I've found that using a live center pushed into the cone offsets the lateral force of the cut off. Still it's a nasty business and I break quite a few of my inserts just pushing through one piece of stock.
Okay, so enough back story. I'm very new at all this, so I don't really know what I don't know. I am wondering if I'm wasting my time with 304 and could be better served with 303 or 416? I don't see myself getting anything heat treated, nor will I do any welding to any of the parts. My 12L14 R&D samples (without a through hole) began to rust pretty quickly after cleaning so I know that material is not reasonable for a (more-or-less) maintenance free baffle. Aluminum could be an option but, for this specific project, I'm sticking with steel.
I chopped my 1.5" 304 round stock into manageable pieces using an inexpensive Harbor Freight 14" abrasive wheel saw. Unfortunately, I do not have access to a metal bandsaw.
Couple Questions:
Okay, so enough back story. I'm very new at all this, so I don't really know what I don't know. I am wondering if I'm wasting my time with 304 and could be better served with 303 or 416? I don't see myself getting anything heat treated, nor will I do any welding to any of the parts. My 12L14 R&D samples (without a through hole) began to rust pretty quickly after cleaning so I know that material is not reasonable for a (more-or-less) maintenance free baffle. Aluminum could be an option but, for this specific project, I'm sticking with steel.
I chopped my 1.5" 304 round stock into manageable pieces using an inexpensive Harbor Freight 14" abrasive wheel saw. Unfortunately, I do not have access to a metal bandsaw.
Couple Questions:
- Can I chop 416 stock into smaller pieces using my 14" abrasive saw, as I have done with 304?
- Would 303 be sufficient for my needs (machinability and corrosion resistance)? Another alloy?