Hardness of 904L steel?

[BBQ BOY]

This is my second SubC in 6 months and one thing I noticed is how easily I manage to get dings on the two Subs Iv'e had. I have never managed to get dings this easily on other watches that I have owned, which leads me to the question of, is Rolex's 904L steel soft? Do they not heat treat is to a hardest potential? What's the rockwell count of their steel?

[nauticajoe]

Wow, sorry to hear.

[dysondiver]

thats a fair old ding ,, must have hit it a fair clout ,,, stainless is pretty tough stuff

[BBQ BOY]

the only time I remember anything coming in contact with the watch is when my 3 year old hit my watch with his spoon.

[dysondiver]

i guess the edge of a spoon might do it ,,,

[ElDirector]

I've nicked mine a couple of times and couldn't figure how...until yesterday. It's the metal part of the seat belt that hit my watch as it swung over to "release" me. I heard the "clink", looked at my watch and could only sigh.

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by ElDirector

I've nicked mine a couple of times and couldn't figure how...until yesterday. It's the metal part of the seat belt that hit my watch as it swung over to "release" me. I heard the "clink", looked at my watch and could only sigh.

i scratched a bezel doing the exact same thing ,, glad to say it was alloy not ceramic

[BBQ BOY]

So is their steel soft? Why would Rolex not heat treat it to be harder?

[dysondiver]

ive never noticed it to be soft , but if you bash sharp things against flat surfaces ,, i guess they could change the alloy and harden it , but its another step to the manufacturing and most folk dont turn up big dings ,,, theres always a polish at service , or a laser weld repair , or just remeber the day it got beaten with a spoon , in twenty years time you will look at it and laugh about the day ,,,

[kyledrum2002]

That would kill me. Sorry about that happening. BTW, the seatbelt is my biggest fear of a scratch or ding.

[versatile1]

Originally Posted by BBQ BOY

the only time I remember anything coming in contact with the watch is when my 3 year old hit my watch with his spoon.

Well that will do it.
Hit stainless with anything equal or greater hardness and it will mark it

[second time]

I had my Damasko DA36 and GMTIIc sitting on a piece of cloth. Stupidly I picked up the cloth with the watches, and the watches moved into the middle and touched together.

Result;

..one scratched GMT

..Damasko not a scratch

That was a fair indication of the difference in hardness between the two types of steel.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

thats a fair old ding ,, must have hit it a fair clout ,,, stainless is pretty tough stuff

Actually as far as steel goes, stainless is very soft.

[bayerische]

A "soft" steel on a watch makes sense though.

There's steel drill-bits for example that are super hard, you can drill stainless and other metals forever with them but they aren't getting much worn.

However, if you accidentally drop one of these drill-bits on the floor, they shatter!

[JohnBoy]

Originally Posted by BBQ BOY

So is their steel soft? Why would Rolex not heat treat it to be harder?

The 904L has been selected specifically by Rolex for its corrosion-resistance and its relative ease in machining, without excessive work hardening, during fabrication. Sure, there are some specific treatments that can be done to increase hardness and strength, but unfortunately, these change its basic grain structure - and effectively cancel the two important properties noted. There is no free lunch...

[brandog]

Steel is a very tricky subject. If you want the steel to be harder you have to change the chemistry around, and in doing so you alter its other properties. For instance, making the steel harder is a benefit however in doing so the steel now has less luster and polish-ability, a negative. It may also change its corrosive properties. Ultimately there is a sweet spot which Rolex has tried to hone in on.

[eeh100773]

I don't fret seat belts - I'm left handed!

I think the SS Rolexes have great build and material quality. If you wear or use an item everyday, that item will become worn. And no item is immune to that.


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[Duey]

For the Engineer in all of us - Metal specs
http://www.finetubes.co.uk/products/...ff-nr.-1.4539/

http://www.aerospacemetals.com/stain...stributor.html

[MortgageGuy]

Sorry to hear of the issues you have had. I for one have been wearing Rolex for almost 2 decades; steel, two tone and solid gold and have never had any issues whatsoever.

[Nidal]

It's extremely resistant to corrosion and rust, it's hardness is a different matter. To make you happy, gold and worse plat are softer metals and ding worse.
One of the many reasons the YM wasn't popular is the extreme ease the bezel was injured. I've seen versions where the numbers were GONE on the bezel.


Nidal

[Shem]

Originally Posted by versatile1

Well that will do it.
Hit stainless with anything equal or greater hardness and it will mark it

Or anything with less hardness and a bit of pressure applied, otherwise wooden desks wouldn't be ruining our bracelets. :P

[andyu22]

904L Stainless steel isn't any harder it's just more resistant to corrosion.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by kyledrum2002

That would kill me. Sorry about that happening. BTW, the seatbelt is my biggest fear of a scratch or ding.

My jean zipper is my number one invader.

[HRV]

904L is 70-90 Rockwell B


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[HRV]

316 is 90-95 Rockwell B


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[HRV]

A wee bit softer but a lot more corrosion resistance


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[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

The 904L has been selected specifically by Rolex for its corrosion-resistance....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UuDJl93Z1g

[jamesbondOO7]

I agree, it is very soft steel. It makes a nice sound when you bang it though.

[kilyung]

See?!? Just get gold if it's going to get dinged anyways.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UuDJl93Z1g

Nice video.

However, kinda shoots down the "one full year to make a Rolex".