SS Sheets
What's the Finishing Difference?
316 2B Finish
Better corrosion resistance as well as higher strength at elevated temperatures than 304. Used for pumps, valves, textile and chemical equipment, pulp & paper and marine applications. The 2B finish is a bright, cold rolled industrial finish with no grain pattern.
309 2D Finish
Provides excellent corrosion resistance and heat resistance plus good strength at room and elevated temperatures. Typical uses include furnace parts, heating elements, aircraft and jet engine parts, heat exchangers, kiln liners, boiler baffles, refinery and chemical processing equipment, and auto exhaust parts. The 2D finish is a dull, cold rolled industrial finish with no grain pattern.
430 2B Finish
Combines good corrosion resistance and heat and oxidation resistance up to 1500°F with good mechanical properties. Applications oil refinery equipment, roofing and siding, and restaurant equipment. The 2B finish is a bright, cold rolled industrial finish with no grain pattern.
304 2B Finish
This is the most common alloy used for sheet metal fabrication. It has good formability and weldability, and offers good corrosion resistance to both chemical and atmospheric conditions. The 2B finish is a bright, cold rolled industrial finish with no grain pattern.
304 #8 Mirror Finish
This is the most common alloy used for sheet metal fabrication. It has good formability and weldability, and offers good corrosion resistance to both chemical and atmospheric conditions. The #8 Mirror finish is a polished, highly reflective finish with the grain marks polished out.
304 #4 Polish
This is the most common alloy used for sheet metal fabrication. It has good formability and weldability, and offers good corrosion resistance to both chemical and atmospheric conditions. The #4 Polish finish has a 150-180 grit grain in one direction.
How to Measure
Using a measuring tape
Here’s a little refresher on how to use a measuring tape.
First, let’s talk about the increments. We’ll assume that you’re using the English or Imperial system of feet and inches. Extend your tape measure several inches and find the large 1 and 2. On most English measuring tapes, the smallest increment is 1/16 of an inch. This means that there are 16 equally spaced marks between 1 and 2 inches on the tape. When measuring, count how many of these marks you are beyond the nearest inch. If your piece measures 7 inches and another 8 marks, that is 8/16 (1/2) for a total of 7-1/2″. Let’s say you were taking your second measurement (see below) and this time you counted 9 marks past the 7-inch mark. That means your piece is actually 7-9/16″ long.
The clip on the end of my measuring tape slides back and forth. Is it broken?
No! The sliding clip on the end of the tape is designed for two different types of measurements. When you take an outside measurement (where you hang the clip of the tape over an edge), the clip slides out a little to account for the thickness. When you take an inside measurement (push the clip up against a surface), the clip slides in, again accounting for its thickness. The measuring tape self-adjusts so, either way, you get an accurate measurement.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Once we cut a stock-size piece, we can’t ever sell it as a full-size piece again. So, PLEASE MEASURE CAREFULLY, and DOUBLE CHECK YOUR MEASUREMENTS BEFORE YOU ORDER. The old adage is especially true here: measure twice, cut once. WE do it before we cut your piece, and YOU should do it before you order.
