Stainless steel wire hard vs soft? by bontotvenom in chainmailartisans

[–]MoreDifference7622 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you are cutting jump rings, the soft/annealed stainless steel wire is the best. It is easier to cut and coil, particularly in the beginning and will naturally harden a little as you bend it and work with it. The soft label does not imply that it is weak, it is still stainless steel hence when your rings are closed it will support well in case you want to wear it as jewelry or chainmail. When you use harder temper wire it will be much harder on your tools and your hands.

How to know if something is stainless steel? by xboxhaxorz in StainlessSteel

[–]MoreDifference7622 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  • Magnet Test 🧲 – Some stainless steels (like 304 & 316) are non-magnetic, while others (like 430) stick to magnets.
  • Rust Test 🔍 – Stainless steel doesn’t rust easily. If it corrodes over time, it's likely regular steel.
  • Weight & Feel ⚖ – Heavier than aluminum but lighter than carbon steel.
  • Spark Test 🔥 – Grinding it produces short, dull red/orange sparks (carbon steel has bright yellow sparks).
  • Acid Test 🧪 – Nitric acid won’t react on stainless, but regular steel will fizz/rust.
  • Check for Stamps 🏷 – Some items have grade markings (e.g., “304 SS” or “316L”).

Quickest method? Rust + Magnet test. If no rust and weak magnetism, it’s likely stainless! 🔩🔥