[warrenb]

Your rpm is way too high, I work with 316 SS everyday of the week making hydraulic fittings and for HSS we stick to cutting speed of 12-15m/min which works out at 954-1192 revs and a feed of 0.004 to 0.006 thousand per rev. Also we peck hss about every 120 thousand.

Ditto. In my experience (and seems counter intuitive with stainless) slow the RPMs and increase the feed. You need to get through the material before it work hardens.