Stainless Steel - Material & Finish Options


For Stainless Steel Material Selection, See Stainless Steel Alloys

Abraded Finish Options:
(Available on all alloys)

#44 Finish
#4 Finish
Non-Directional Finish
Non-Directional
#8 Mirror Polished Finish
#8 Mirror Polished
Random Swirl Finish
Random Swirl
Angel Hair Finish
Angel Hair
Bead Blasted Finish
Bead Blasted


Finish Performance Comparisons
Type of Damage: Visible Scratches Visible Marring Visible Fingerprints Visible Dust & Dirt Difficulty to Repair Finish General Maintenance
Damage Potential: L M H L M H L M H L M H L M H L M H
#4 Grained   bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet  
Non-Directional bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet    
#8 Mirror Polished     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet
Random Swirl bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet    
Angel Hair bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet     bullet    
Bead Blasted     bullet     bullet   bullet   bullet         bullet   bullet  

L - Least damage potential; Least difficult to repair, requires little maintenance
M - Moderate damage potential; Moderately difficult to repair, requires moderate maintenance
H - High damage potential; Difficult to repair, requires high maintenance
bulletBest choice in terms of performance

NOTES:
1. Uniformly abraded and polished finishes are more prone to showing scratches, especially when perpendicular to the grain. Complete re-graining of the entire surface may be necessary in extreme situations.
2. For care and maintenance of stainless surfaces, see:


The Self-Repair Mechanism of Stainless Steel


Repair Mechanism of Stainless Steel

The chromium in stainless steel alloys forms a thin, transparent "passive layer" on the surface of the metal. Although this protective layer is only a few atoms thick, it seals the stainless steel below from the environment. In the presence of oxygen from air or water, it instantaneously reforms if it is damaged. The passive layer is the reason why stainless steel does not require any coating or other form of external corrosion protection.