03-06-2015, 08:28 PM
It can be "work hardened", but I've only done quite by accident while trying to trash cutting tools. 
I've never tried to deliberately harden it, but one clue about whether or not it's done in any way is....knives.
You rarely if ever see 316SS used as knife blades because it's either too expensive to harden it or just not doable. If there's a material out there that can be hardened, look pretty (316 shines up nice) and resist corrosion, the knifemakers are all over it.
As for brazing, I defer to others. I imagine it will braze fine though I know TIG welding 316 comes out AWESOME if done right.
I've never tried to deliberately harden it, but one clue about whether or not it's done in any way is....knives.
You rarely if ever see 316SS used as knife blades because it's either too expensive to harden it or just not doable. If there's a material out there that can be hardened, look pretty (316 shines up nice) and resist corrosion, the knifemakers are all over it.
As for brazing, I defer to others. I imagine it will braze fine though I know TIG welding 316 comes out AWESOME if done right.