How hard is stainless steel to work with? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

fade94 · 01-31-2006, 02:09 PM

I have a piece that is about 11" wide and 5-6 feet long, polished. Thinking of using it to cover my inst panel and glove box. Haven't decided yet if I really want anything that flashy inside the cab. Truck is going to be black and silver with black interior with silver or grey door panels, seat and carpet.

67Fleet · 01-31-2006, 02:29 PM

That would look sweet. There's someone on here that just posted pics of his dash done in either stainless or polished aluminum. It's on a dash thread somewhere. Pretty recent.

Bob D · 01-31-2006, 05:04 PM

Stainless can be a pain to cut. If you use a jigsaw, cut slowly and not at the saws fastest speed or you will eat saw blades like crazy. Also, cutting too fast will overheat and discolor the stainless. Clamp it down tight on the end of a table and cut as close as possible to where it overhangs the edge. Blades with different teeth per inch will give you different results, and sometimes I have found that a bi-metal blade with fairly big teeth at a very slow speed will cut as well as a finer blade. It would probably be ideal if you rough cut the shapes with a jig saw and did the finish work with a power band saw.

Bob

mac · 01-31-2006, 10:57 PM

A fast way to cut stainless is a band saw with the blade reversed so the teeth stroke the metal backwards. Sounds stupid, but we teach students how to do it in Aviation School all the time. You won't believe it till ya see it work. Keep the speed fairly low and go. Blades last a lot longer if ya feed the metal slowly and let the saw do the work.

Fred T · 02-01-2006, 04:16 AM

How hard is it to work with? It depends on the alloy and heat treat. Most sheet is hard to cut and drill. To test, try cutting or drilling along one edge. Some can't be drilled with a standard steel bit, all you get is a dull bit. If it's very hard, it also won't hammer out very easily. You end up with hammer marks and cracks, if you can get it to form.

If it were me, I would use aluminum and polish it. But you have the sheet so give it a test to see if it's soft enough to cut.

wibilly · 02-01-2006, 04:51 AM

i may be wrong but i thought it had to be cut using toungston carbide bits and blades for best results

Bowtiefreak · 02-01-2006, 07:57 AM

Take it to someone with a plasma cutter. I have a plasma cutter and I am spoiled as hell now.

fade94 · 02-01-2006, 08:58 AM

Thanks for all the info guys. Based on what I have learned, I will be NOT be using it. I want the inside of the truck pretty dark anyway.

mocwon · 02-01-2006, 11:46 AM

I buy polished stainless where I work and have it cut, welded, fabricated, etc. It may be a little pricey but the two best ways to cut polished stainless by far are water jet and laser.

Bowtiefreak · 02-01-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mocwon

I buy polished stainless where I work and have it cut, welded, fabricated, etc. It may be a little pricey but the two best ways to cut polished stainless by far are water jet and laser.

I agree. Water jets are just plain awesome!

01-31-2006, 02:09 PM	#1
fade94 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Melissa, TX Posts: 799	How hard is stainless steel to work with? I have a piece that is about 11" wide and 5-6 feet long, polished. Thinking of using it to cover my inst panel and glove box. Haven't decided yet if I really want anything that flashy inside the cab. Truck is going to be black and silver with black interior with silver or grey door panels, seat and carpet. __________________ 68 short bed driver (71 clip on it now, swapping to 68 when weather cooperates) 67 short step project (will get SWB from the 68) 67 Camaro, #'s matching (my wife's) 03 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 diesel 5 speed 4.10 rear

01-31-2006, 02:29 PM	#2
67Fleet Outlandish Trends - FL Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,396	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? That would look sweet. There's someone on here that just posted pics of his dash done in either stainless or polished aluminum. It's on a dash thread somewhere. Pretty recent. __________________ -Bret 67 short-fleet sold!

01-31-2006, 05:04 PM	#3
Bob D Rolled on Paint Club Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Windham, CT. Posts: 232	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? Stainless can be a pain to cut. If you use a jigsaw, cut slowly and not at the saws fastest speed or you will eat saw blades like crazy. Also, cutting too fast will overheat and discolor the stainless. Clamp it down tight on the end of a table and cut as close as possible to where it overhangs the edge. Blades with different teeth per inch will give you different results, and sometimes I have found that a bi-metal blade with fairly big teeth at a very slow speed will cut as well as a finer blade. It would probably be ideal if you rough cut the shapes with a jig saw and did the finish work with a power band saw. Bob

01-31-2006, 10:57 PM	#4
mac Active Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 166	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? A fast way to cut stainless is a band saw with the blade reversed so the teeth stroke the metal backwards. Sounds stupid, but we teach students how to do it in Aviation School all the time. You won't believe it till ya see it work. Keep the speed fairly low and go. Blades last a lot longer if ya feed the metal slowly and let the saw do the work.

02-01-2006, 04:16 AM	#5
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? How hard is it to work with? It depends on the alloy and heat treat. Most sheet is hard to cut and drill. To test, try cutting or drilling along one edge. Some can't be drilled with a standard steel bit, all you get is a dull bit. If it's very hard, it also won't hammer out very easily. You end up with hammer marks and cracks, if you can get it to form. If it were me, I would use aluminum and polish it. But you have the sheet so give it a test to see if it's soft enough to cut. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

02-01-2006, 04:51 AM	#6
wibilly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: northwestern wi Posts: 2,111	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? i may be wrong but i thought it had to be cut using toungston carbide bits and blades for best results __________________ common sense isn't so common anymore

02-01-2006, 07:57 AM	#7
Bowtiefreak Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: LeRoy, Mich. Posts: 854	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? Take it to someone with a plasma cutter. I have a plasma cutter and I am spoiled as hell now. __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 Short Fleetside/Wood floor ECE 4-6 Drop / 406 Small Block 1971 Chevelle 427 Big Block

02-01-2006, 08:58 AM	#8
fade94 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Melissa, TX Posts: 799	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? Thanks for all the info guys. Based on what I have learned, I will be NOT be using it. I want the inside of the truck pretty dark anyway. __________________ 68 short bed driver (71 clip on it now, swapping to 68 when weather cooperates) 67 short step project (will get SWB from the 68) 67 Camaro, #'s matching (my wife's) 03 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 diesel 5 speed 4.10 rear

02-01-2006, 11:46 AM	#9
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	Re: How hard is stainless steel to work with? I buy polished stainless where I work and have it cut, welded, fabricated, etc. It may be a little pricey but the two best ways to cut polished stainless by far are water jet and laser. __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.