Stainless steel inner cables

[taximan]

I have just received some Inner cables from an e=bay site. these were advertised as stainless steel. when I examined them I noticed that they are attracted to a magnet, whereas other stainless steel items I have are not. Have I been duped? I would like to be sure of my facts before I take it up with with the dealer.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I have just received some Inner cables from an e=bay site. these were advertised as stainless steel. when I examined them I noticed that they are attracted to a magnet, whereas other stainless steel items I have are not. Have I been duped? I would like to be sure of my facts before I take it up with with the dealer.

Some stainless steels are magnetic and some are not.

https://www.microgroup.com/understand-magnetic-properties-304-316-stainless-steel/

 

[T4tomo]

Some stainless steels are magnetic, and others are not. The defining factor of magnetism comes down to the the steel’s microstructure. Martensitic stainless steels (which have a ferritic microstructure) are magnetic. Austenitic stainless steels contain nickel and are non-magnetic.

 

[weareHKR]

Depends on what grade of stainless they are made from:
Ferritic SS is generally magnetic & Austenitic SS are not.

 

[Ajax Bay]

other stainless steel items I have are not

Name names. What are these "other items"? OP implies not cables.

 

[T4tomo]

Name names. What are these "other items"? OP implies not cables.

I was going to suggest cutlery, if taximan uses best Sheffield Stainless, although most current / former residents of Whitby are so posh we use Sterling Silver

 

[DCLane]

I did the same - whilst they appeared to be stainless most broke at the cable head end very quickly. Since then I've had to get better quality cables.

 

[T4tomo]

I've found the Clarks ones both cheap and reliable / long lasting. wiggle and others sell them. always a good item to top up to "free postage" value with.

 

[battered]

As others have said, some grades of SS are magnetic. 304 is very common, it's used for fasteners, and it's magnetic. 316 isn't, but that's used in chemical and food process kit where it is immersed in fluid. 316 is brighter and more corrosion resistant, but a bi t OTT for a cable, and maybe it has other properties that make it less suitable.

 

[FrankCrank]

As others have said, some grades of SS are magnetic. 304 is very common, it's used for fasteners, and it's magnetic. 316 isn't, but that's used in chemical and food process kit where it is immersed in fluid. 316 is brighter and more corrosion resistant, but a bi t OTT for a cable, and maybe it has other properties that make it less suitable.

Have used 304 stainless for many of my projects here, and can confirm that it is not magnetic.

As for bike cables - have always bought cheap ones for my clunkers, and no issues

 

[fossyant]

Pah, 30 year old Dura Ace gear cables on my best bike, take your cheap rubbish away

 

[battered]

Have used 304 stainless for many of my projects here, and can confirm that it is not magnetic.

I've found 304 to be weakly magnetic.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

When I last bought stainless steel gear cable in 2019 it was £1.99 from Decathlon. Has it gone up in price so much that eBay is worth it?

 

[taximan]

Thanks for your input folks. I am glad I did not start to complain and make a fool of myself. I can usually do that without too much trouble anyway.

 

[taximan]

I was going to suggest cutlery, if taximan uses best Sheffield Stainless, although most current / former residents of Whitby are so posh we use Sterling Silver

Winkles just do not taste the same unless you use silver pickers