Stainless Steel 430

[Zfkirke0109]

I have some 28 gauge SS 430 from unkamensupplies and it works great for temp control but it's extremely springy. Any suggestions to make it less springy so it's easier to build with?

[dwcraig1]

After reading your post I wound my first ss 430 coil. Tried it the way it was and a bit springy so I torched it and it wound just like Kanthal. I didn't mount it as yet. I'm late to try SS, this arrived from a friend so I'm not sure the vendor. It is 28 gauge also.

[dasfast]

I've had great success twisting 2 strands of SS 430 28 ga with a drill. 

[kentam]

I don't sure if fire it with a jet lighter will do the job,

it will be shape after dry burn, and better have tools to mod the shape during it is super hot after red.

[The DigitalAlchemist]

Something I've started doing with many of my wires, temp control or otherwise is taking 2-3 strands, twisting them together so it's very tight, then start running the pliers down the wire a few times end to end (if it starts feeling like it's catching, take the wire out and flip it around and keep going). This flattens the outside of the wire, but it will also make it much stiffer and easier to work with. Not only that, but juice wicks into the sharp gaps of the wire and the flavor is excellent. Just make sure to clean it afterwards because there will be debris on the coil you cant see. 

[dl12345]

Annealing, that is to say, heating the wire to around 800 celsius, will reduce the spring in the steel. This is why torching it works.

However, with chromium steel at this temperature there is a risk of releasing hexavalent chromium. I would be wary of torching it till it glows red (similarly, I don't dry burn SS coils until they turn red).

Suggest just heating the wire a bit with a butane lighter (as opposed to a torch).

[Jentz9517]

Lightly annealing this wire works ok and another method would be to use a smaller bit so when it springs back its not larger than intended circumference. But Imo SS 430 is not very good unless you are totally intolerant to nickel