Stainless Steel Refinishing Services for Commercial and Industrial Projects
A GUIDE TO COMMON STAINLESS STEEL FINISHES UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY
Stainless steel provides a number of material benefits to commercial and industrial manufacturing projects. Like many other quality steel alloys, stainless steel offers high strength combined with outstanding resistance to rust, chemicals, and corrosion.
However, one of the properties that really sets stainless steel apart from other alloys is the material’s premium aesthetic finish options. From dull and durable to fully polished mirror finishes, stainless steel can provide your products with enhanced aesthetics and performance.
AN OVERVIEW OF COMMONLY USED INDUSTRIAL STAINLESS STEEL FINISHES
No. 1 Stainless Steel Finishes
For No. 1 steel finishes, stainless steel is heated before the rolling process – referred to as hot rolling. Hot rolled stainless steel is a relatively rough yet durable annealing solution that requires very little refinishing. Some common industrial product applications for No. 1 stainless steel finishes include HVAC system components, various machinery parts, annealing boxes, production line equipment, and more.
No. 2B Stainless Steel Finishes
No. 2B steel finishes are a uniform silver color that is achieved through cold rolling the material before heat treatment. The final rolling pass uses polished rollers to achieve a somewhat polished finish on the material – resembling a cloudy mirror. Common product applications include equipment for both chemical processing and food processing plants, as well as flatware, plumbing fixtures, and some architectural projects.
No. 2D Finish
No. 2D steel finishes are very similar to No. 2B except they forego the use of polished rollers. The result is a duller silver-gray finish that does not require additional refinishing steps. While not as aesthetically pleasing, the slightly rougher surface finish allows the material to better retain lubricants. It also improves paint adherence properties, making No. 2D a preferred finish for painted and powder coated industrial products.
No. 3 Stainless Steel Finishes
No. 3 steel finishes are linearly textured by using special rollers which impress a pattern upon the material as it is processed. The crisscross pattern resembles mechanical abrasion, often preferred for products that will undergo further forming and fabrication processes. No. 3 steel finishes are commonly used in food processing equipment as well as scientific equipment and lab apparatuses.
No. 4 Stainless Steel Finishes
Used in a wide range of light fabrication projects, No.4 steel finishes are more commonly referred to as brushed or satin. The directional polishing is achieved by starting with a No. 3 material and polishing it with finer and finer abrasives. No. 4 steel finishes are generally used on products for the food industry, retail sector, as well as in both consumer and commercial appliances.
No. 6 Stainless Steel Finishes
No. 6 steel finishes offer a dull satin-like appearance. It begins as a No. 4 finish and is then buffed using abrasive oil-coated mops, making it duller and less reflective. No. 6 finished products are commonly used in unique architectural and decorative products applications that require a premium appearance without a high degree of luster.
No. 7 Stainless Steel Finishes
No. 7 stainless steel finishes are extremely polished and mirror-like. Achieving such a high degree of reflectivity requires carefully polishing the material to 320 grit or finer before buffing. The mirror-like appearance of No. 7 stainless steel makes it suitable for premium architectural projects, ornamental trim, and decorative products in a wide range of applications.
QUALITY AMERICAN METALWORKING SERVICES – FROM FABRICATION TO FINISHED PRODUCT
J&E Companies operates numerous production facilities throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin to provide your project with a complete range of quality manufacturing solutions. From fabrication and CNC machining to metal refinishing, we can tackle your production in-house from start to finish. J&E is an ISO 9001:2015 certified domestic manufacturer following Six Sigma business practices and committed to the sustainability of your project.
Get in touch to discuss the details of your custom CNC machining project and discover how J&E’s state-of-the-art machine shop can exceed your production expectations.
