Stainless Steel for Sheet Metal Fabrication

Stainless steel is a versatile material that offers heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and durability. 

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Product Description

Stainless steel provides a wide variety of excellent qualities that are perfect for all sorts of applications. It resists rust and corrosion, it’s durable and formable, cleans readily, and it looks great. Oh, and if you’ve ever wondered why you can’t stick your kids’ artworks on your shiny stainless steel refrigerator with a magnet, it’s because stainless steel is typically non-magnetic.

We offer two types of stainless steel via our sheet metal fabrication service, 304 and 316. Note that the “L” designation in each of these materials means that it has lower carbon content, which makes 304L and 316L somewhat more weldable. Both 304 and 316 are highly formable, weldable, strong, and durable. Plus, they offer good corrosion resistance. 

Sample of Sheet Metal material

Stainless Steel 304/304L

This comes in two varieties, 2B and #4. These identifiers refer to the surface finish applied at the mill, but the underlying material is the same. 2B has a low shine appearance and costs less than #4, whereas #4 has a brushed aesthetic from a mechanical polishing process. Two warnings: 

  • If you are planning on welding 304-4, be aware that doing so will remove its brushed finish.
  • Stainless steel 304 will corrode more quickly in high-chloride marine or high-heat environments, so it's best used for indoor applications. 

Stainless Steel 316/316L

Unlike 304, 316 uses molybdenum in its alloy mix, making it a better choice for use in marine environments, and around chemicals and high temperatures. On the downside, it is more expensive. 

 

Key Benefits of Stainless Steel for Sheet Metal Fabrication

  • Corrosion resistance
  • Durability 
  • Formability
  • Strength
  • Weldability

Applications of Stainless Steel

  • Architectural moldings and trim
  • Kitchen equipment
  • Processing equipment for the chemical, textile, paper, and pharmaceutical industry

Our stainless steel sheets come in a variety of thicknesses

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304-2B 304-4 316-2B
0.024 0.024 0.024
0.029 0.029 0.029
0.036 0.036 0.036
0.048 0.048 0.048
0.06 0.06 0.06
0.075 0.075 0.075
0.09 0.09 0.09
0.105 0.105 0.105
0.12 0.12 0.12
0.135 0.134 0.135
0.165    
0.187    
0.25    
304-2B 304-4 316-2B
0.610 0.610 0.610
0.737 0.737 0.737
0.914 0.914 0.914
1.219 1.219 1.219
1.524 1.524 1.524
1.905 1.905 1.905
2.286 2.286 2.286
2.667 2.667 2.667
3.048 3.048 3.048
3.429 3.404 3.429
4.191    
4.750    
6.350    

Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Properties

  Ultimate Tensile Strength Elongation (%) Hardness (Rockwell-B)
304/304L

85/80 KSI

(586/552 MPa)

 55/55 70
316/316L

84/78 KSI

(579/538 MPa)

 60/55 79
the powder coating process

Finishing Options