Is 303 Stainless steel good for rear axles?

[Rapidrob]

I have to replace the carbon steel axle on my Hawk-Ty mini. I'm unable to find a 15 x 400 mm round bar stock in carbon steel anywhere.
However, I did find a bar stock of 303 Stainless Steel which can be hand threaded easier than 304 SS.
But can the material take the stretching strain of the axle lock nuts clamping the axle to the mini's frame?

 

[JHM]

Just my humble opinion....don't think they'll last. Too soft

 

[Rapidrob]

I ended up, four years ago, using an aftermarket carbon steel axle that was too long and turned it down to the correct length.

 

[JimN]

I may be off base here but I think you could change over to a 5/8 axle relatively easy. Change the wheel bearings, if using 6202 change to 6202-5/8. Might give you more options.

 

[Oldsalt]

I have to replace the carbon steel axle on my Hawk-Ty mini. I'm unable to find a 15 x 400 mm round bar stock in carbon steel anywhere.
However, I did find a bar stock of 303 Stainless Steel which can be hand threaded easier than 304 SS.
But can the material take the stretching strain of the axle lock nuts clamping the axle to the mini's frame?

I have to replace the carbon steel axle on my Hawk-Ty mini. I'm unable to find a 15 x 400 mm round bar stock in carbon steel anywhere.
However, I did find a bar stock of 303 Stainless Steel which can be hand threaded easier than 304 SS.
But can the material take the stretching strain of the axle lock nuts clamping the axle to the mini's frame?

I have to replace the carbon steel axle on my Hawk-Ty mini. I'm unable to find a 15 x 400 mm round bar stock in carbon steel anywhere.
However, I did find a bar stock of 303 Stainless Steel which can be hand threaded easier than 304 SS.
But can the material take the stretching strain of the axle lock nuts clamping the axle to the mini's frame?

Commonly there are two grades of SS that you will run into. The first is "304". Round and bar stock is almost ALWAYS in T304 because it is weldable [the T303 is a problem in that regard] and it if less likely to be seriously weakened when being 'formed' [such as a bar being bent 90 degrees in a press]. The T303 is a "machinable" type. It is easier to machine because it is not a 'gummy' and 'takes a chip' a LOT better than 304..... You found that out when you threaded some! But, as noted above it is not as "weldable'. Don't get me wrong, almost all metals are, one way or another, weldable, but don't choose 303 if the machined part is to be welded to something else. Mild steel [like the original axle material] has LESS strength than an axle made from 303 SS.

 

[grumpyed]

I have to replace the carbon steel axle on my Hawk-Ty mini. I'm unable to find a 15 x 400 mm round bar stock in carbon steel anywhere.
However, I did find a bar stock of 303 Stainless Steel which can be hand threaded easier than 304 SS.
But can the material take the stretching strain of the axle lock nuts clamping the axle to the mini's frame?

McMaster-Carr should have anything you want