Hello "tungsten carbide or diamond grit coated or carborundum?" I need to cut a couple of circular holes (150mm dia) in some 0.5mm thick "304" grade stainless steel sheet which has been formed into a curved shape and polished (which I think means it has likely been work hardened). I have decided upon a Dremel type of tool, perhaps with some lubricant on the work piece, and adjustable speed. I think a grinding type of bit, e.g. a 3mm cylindrical "burr", will suit. This is the sort of bit shape I hope to try: or I can buy them made from tungsten carbide, or diamond grit coated, or the "carborundum" type of grinding stone. Which is likely to be best? I can see that the cost of any of the types if affordable for me and I don't need to make hundreds of cuts - I want to use which is going to give me the least heating distortion and is likely to be the fastest to cut. Thanks for any advice on which type to choose! DDS

The problem I always have with burrs and grindstones is keeping them on track. All 18-8 stainless steels are buggers for finishing with hand-held tools. The curved shape implies some work hardening, but the original sheet will have already been work hardened by rolling. The benefit from the shaping means that it will be much stiffer than a flat sheet, hence on balance easier to work. If it was thicker, I think I might rough them out with a slitting disk in a 125 mm angle grinder. At 0.5 mm, I'd be inclined to start by using a Dremel with the fibre-reinforced slitting disk, without lubricant. The disks won't last all that long. I say no lubricant because of the difficulty of maintaining supply. You will get the fastest cut using the thin, brittle, non-reinforced disks but they will break if you apply any out-of-plane load. One you have roughed out the cut, I would use a cylindrical abrasive bit. The ones which fit a dremel will be rather small for cleaning up a peripheral...

advice sought - what cutting bit material for cutting thin stainless steel sheet?

Feb 03, 2017 27 Replies

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tony sayer 9 years ago

In article , Tim Lamb scribeth thus

Yes! Had those things since waay back in the 60's or maybe early 70,s

And they still cut fine!

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damduck-egg 9 years ago

If it is a magnetic stainless steel.

G.Harman

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Dave Plowman (News) 9 years ago

Yup. One of the speakers on my old Rover as I discovered after having a new rear wing fitted. The type of car speaker with a concentric tweeter - so no grill over the pole pieces. Which filled up nicely. ;-)

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newshound 9 years ago

But 304 isn't.

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Tim Lamb 9 years ago

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

A discovery from 55 years ago (apprentice tour of duty in the instrument dept.) a sharp steel pointed tool (broken dart ideal) is that you can pick out bits of steel from a circular magnet.

Presumably the magnetic field is stronger at the point.

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Tim Lamb 9 years ago

In message , tony sayer writes

Saw mine today:-) Gathering dust on a workshop shelf. Only one *S* I note. Fine tool if you only wanted to cut in a straight line.

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Peter Parry 9 years ago

Go and chat to your local water jet cutting workshop.

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Fredxxx 9 years ago

Chemical etching comes to mind as well.

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