Stainless Steel 20mm Conduit

[WaterSparky]

Hello,

Got some stainless conduit to do in the next few weeks,

I was wondering anyone with experience with this...

I mean have you used your normal stock and die for threading? Maybe a fresh die if its getting a bit old in the tooth? Plenty of cutting compound of course, was just wondering as I imagined it being a bit of a pig. Any other help would be great.

Cheers
WS

 

[The Ghost]

I beleive you have to use SS dies and SS cutting compound. From what I understand it is really hard to get a straight cut by hand. I think you should hire a portable electric die cutter or you are going to be struggling. Again it depends on the hardness and how annealed it is as well. I might be tempted to get it cut and threaded in an engineering workshop if you know what sizes you want.
If you work on it too hard you get galling where the die sticks to the steel.
Is this for food or hospital things? Would be interested to hear how you get on with it though. Galv is bad enough!

 

[westward10]

Definitely SS dies and then never use them on non stainless tube if you intend to use them for their purpose again.

 

[The Ghost]

In fact they contaminate if you mix metals and corrosion can occur.

 

[Marvo]

We install quite a bit of s/steel conduit and TBH we generally use the normal steel dies for hand made threads unless we're doing big installations where we set up a motorised thread cutter. As you mentioned lots of cutting fluid and be careful of the swarf, it's sharp as ----!!.

 

[LeeH]

I always order a couple of lengths of galv to practice on before hand, 20mm electrix isn't cheap.

I've always used normal dies too but as mentioned, it you get carbon steel on the stainless you'll end up with rust stains developing.

Lube is key...as ever.

 

[Sooby2]

be careful of the swarf, it's sharp as ****!!.

Take note of this - I don't do conduit but did cut a thread onto some stainless rod. The swarf easily cut my finger when I went to remove some. Razor sharp!

 

[KennyKen]

SS Dies and Rubber Clamp set for the Hilmore especially if bending is involved otherwise you peel the stainless coating off. Bending is a lot harder. Hope you got an able bodied apprentice with you.

 

[Marvo]

....otherwise you peel the stainless coating off. .....

Do they make stainless coated conduit? All the s/steel conduit we get is either 316 or 304 and it's always solid stainless.

 

[KennyKen]

I've used stainless that discolour scratches or peels a nice shiny layer off if bent incorrectly. Like black enamel used too.

 

[freddo]

I've used stainless that discolour scratches or peels a nice shiny layer off if bent incorrectly. Like black enamel used too.

That sort of defeats the purpose of using stainless! Not something I've experienced. For the small bits we do, a standard quality die seems to work fine, certainly didn't notice any problems.

 

[LeeH]

What happened to black enamel, not touched it since my AM2..

 

[westward10]

What happened to black enamel, not touched it since my AM2..

Special order now if you want some.

 

[freddo]

Probably sat in a store room somewhere, rusting away...

 

[KennyKen]

That sort of defeats the purpose of using stainless! Not something I've experienced. For the small bits we do, a standard quality die seems to work fine, certainly didn't notice any problems.

Ok so I'm guessing your implying that I've not used it before "As this defeats the purpose" I'm only stating the issues we had when using it. That was British Rail project numerous years ago.

 

[7029 dave]

What happened to black enamel, not touched it since my AM2..

I have done more black enamel than galvo in my time. Is it not used much anymore.?

 

[Dave OCD]

I haven't seen any black enamelled for years Dave, I think most use plastic where they can get away with it now.

 

[7029 dave]

I haven't seen any black enamelled for years Dave, I think most use plastic where they can get away with it now.

Cheap I suppose Dave and quicker to install .

 

[Dave OCD]

Yes a lot quicker Dave, not quite the same though.

 

[freddo]

Ok so I'm guessing your implying that I've not used it before "As this defeats the purpose" I'm only stating the issues we had when using it. That was British Rail project numerous years ago.

I mean stainless is often used in food etc. production areas as it's easy to clean and flaky bits don't come off it unlike galv or b/e.