Types of Stainless Steel Finishes

Whatever may be your product formation out of stainless steel a finish to it is always recommended. An attractive and perfect finish will always enhance the appearance of the metal. Also, different finishes can give you different visual effects thus choosing the right choice of finish should always be clear based on the standard industry designations.

Here in this blog, I have listed three top finishes that are commonly used in the industries which could help you demand when you plan to make any product like name plates, tags, signs from the Anita Steel & Metals

No. 2B – Matte Finish

This finish are dull and not for atheistic uses but they are a good choice where appearance is not considered or when further finishing is planned. They are cheap compared to other finishing options. This type of finishing is done through special rolls where it will have a smoother, less pitted surface. Once the metal is de-scaled and smoothened in the acid solution it is passed through the polished rolls for further enhancing its smoothness.

Applications

Chemical Plant Equipment

Pharmaceutical Equipment

Paper Mill Equipment

Laundry and Dry Cleaning

No.4 Brushed Finish

This brushed finish gives the steel a distinct look with a pattern of parallel lines that have strong decorative appearance without being more reflective. However, this finish causes the steel to rust due to the grooves of the finish.

Applications

Jewelry and Watches

Home Appliances

Air Conditioners

Water Heaters

Architecture

Automotive Design

No.8 Mirror Finish

Polishing the surface of the metal to enhance the appearance and consistency through high-reflective is the process of mirror finishing. This finish hides the surface damage and welding marks.

This mechanical process treats the surface with a series of progressively finer abrasives. It involves in the process of removing deep scratches through special rollers for the effective result and is buffed at the end of few minutes to create a reflective finish. The advantage of the finish is it eradicates the crevices where corrosion forms.

Applications

Mirrors

Clean Rooms

Column Covers

Wall Panels

Reflectors

Buildings

Stainless Steel Finishes

A wide range of finishes can be applied to stainless steel (ss). Anita Steel & Metals stocks material with many different mill finishes.

Our stainless steel finish types include:

• No. 1 Finish/HRAP

  (Hot Rolled Annealed & Pickled, also called a No. 1 Finish) – This dull finish is common for heavy gauge material. In general, stainless steel over .1875” thick will be delivered as HRAP. It is also possible to have HR (Hot Rolled) or HRA (Hot Rolled Annealed) stainless steel; however, Stainless Sales Corporation typically carries HRAP from .1875” to .250” thick.

• No. 2 Finish

   There are two variations of the No. 2 finish. Unless specified, either a 2D or a 2B will be delivered when a No. 2 finish is requested.

  • 2D

    This dull finish is achieved by cold-rolling, heat-treating & pickling. It is the standard finish for 439, 409, 436 and 441.

  • 2B Mill Finish

    This mill finish is produced the same way as 2D, but a final light rolling pass gives the surface a smooth, reflective gray sheen. It is the standard finish for 201, 301, 304, 304L and 316L. 2B stainless steel finishes are most commonly used in the petrochemical, industrial and food processing industries.

• BA (Bright Annealed)

  This bright, shiny finish is produced by annealing in an oxygen-free atmospheric condition following cold-rolling with highly polished rolls. The degree of brightness can vary depending on the grade, gauge and annealing conditions. Common grades of BA material are 304 and 430. When buying a BA, be sure to specify its end-use. This information is critical to ensuring that you receive the best bright surface for your application. BA material is available only up to about .075” thick. Due to the process, a light gauge BA material may be brighter than 16 gauge BA.

If you are unsure of what finish is best for your application, we highly recommend that you contact us. As specialists, we will ensure that your finish is the correct one.

With the use of abrasives, the additional finishes below can also be attained. The higher the number of the finish, the greater the grit number and the finer the polish will be on the steel.

Anita Steel & Metals carries limited stock in the following:

• No. 3 Finish – This finish is obtained with a ground unidirectional 80 to 100–grit abrasive. It is sometimes an intermediate step for finer finishes.
• No. 4 Finish – This finish is obtained with a ground 150-grit abrasive.
• No. 43 Finish – Appliance finish

Many other finishes can be applied to stainless steel as well. Contact us for technical expertise in selecting the right one for you. Choosing the right finish can be critical for many applications.