On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:43:01 -0800, Ralph E Lindberg
wrote:

Ah... sorry, it's not the carbon that makes (some) 400 series magnetic,
it's the steel. It has more steel then say 302 (which has more nickle).
They will be fine looking, but how they will work is another question,
and I would say not well. But there are commercial 430 series pocket
knives.
Besides turning, I do some metal work (including 300 series stainless).
I have most of the tooling, including a forge. That would be some metal
brake that would bend 11-ga 430. But I would never use any stainless for
make a tool, I would use HSS or HCS.

Yep. I checked on the blacksmithing group as well, and it appears I
made some decorative toys. I'll try them out of course, but best
guess is that they'll just be decoration on the wall of the shop.
They do take a pretty keen edge as is, but it's a good bet that
they'll end up losing it in a matter of seconds in actual use.

It's an odd naming convention in the stainless steels, I guess- 416,
420 and 440 are hardenable, but 430 is not.

Ah well, at least it made the night go faster at work, and now I know
not to use that any more.

And yes, it's a good brake- we've got 100 ton and 50 ton Amadas. The
100 ton broke the 11ga 430 like it was nothing.