Your kitchen stainless steel should be easy to sanitize and corrosion-resistant; ultimately, selecting the correct grade depends on what its primary use will be.
Gauge size standards measure sheet thicknesses in inches or millimeters for various materials, where higher numbers represent thinner sheets.
Cost
Stainless steel is one of the purest metals mined from Earth, making it an economical and durable material suitable for manufacturing a wide variety of industrial products. Additionally, it’s used extensively for food and beverage processing as well as dairy appliances in kitchens, marine hardware applications and even household use.
Selecting the correct stainless steel grade depends on each application’s individual needs. Most often, 304 and 316 grades are utilized. Both contain nickel in equal proportion, yet 316 has more thanks to its increased nickel content; as a result it offers increased resistance against chlorides corrosion.
Consider what purpose it will serve and its frequency when selecting a stainless steel grade. If it will be exposed to harsh chemical environments such as those found in oil field applications or marine applications, type 316 stainless is better suited.
Consideration should also be given when selecting stainless steel’s thickness, measured by gauges. A higher gauge number represents thinner sheets. Depending on your application needs, thicker or thinner sheets may be appropriate; to determine this please refer to our SS Plate Gauge Chart.
Not only must one consider the thickness and finish of stainless steel sheeting, but it is equally as essential to consider its finish. There are multiple choices of finish for stainless steel sheets; Brushed stainless steel provides a distinctive appearance with subdued shine that is more visually appealing than highly reflective polished finishes. Brushed finishes have become increasingly popular for use in commercial and residential projects including kitchen appliances, sink splashbacks and household sockets.
Final consideration should include an analysis of the total costs involved with your project. Transportation expenses, for instance, should be factored into this price estimate. To save money and increase speed and economy of delivery services, try finding suppliers with multiple distribution centers in North America that offer faster shipping of materials faster and at reduced costs; some providers even provide discounted non-standard sizes and grades to help move inventory out faster to make room in warehouses for more popular items.
Durability & Strength
Stainless steel is an extremely strong and resilient material that resists corrosion, being suitable for rolling into sheets, bars, rods, wires, tubing and other forms. Typical uses for stainless steel include cookware, cutlery, surgical instruments, major appliances vehicles construction materials in large buildings industrial equipment as tanks/storage containers used to store chemicals/food products in marine environments or water treatment applications.
304 stainless steel is an ideal material for kitchen applications as it stands up well under any pressure, being easily sanitized and resistant to acids found in meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, unlike copper or aluminum metals which leach into food sources over time.
An 18″ x 26″ stainless steel sheet pan is an excellent way to cook large portions and bake treats, as its ability to adapt to sudden heat changes prevents warping from cold water submersion, or sudden heating and cooling, helping the pan keep its original shape during heavy use.
Durability in stainless steel pans depends on their composition and care, with 18/8 and 18/10 grades being the most frequently encountered. They contain at least 18% chromium and 10% nickel for optimal corrosion protection; however, these types may still rust when exposed to saltwater or acidic solutions.
316 stainless steel provides higher resistance to pitting-type corrosion than its peers and is frequently utilized in harsh marine environments, such as those near the ocean. Although more costly than its peers, 316 stands up well against harsh conditions while remaining beautiful in appearance.
When selecting 16 or 18 gauge stainless steel for use in applications, it is crucial to carefully consider costs, durability and strength requirements and availability at any given time. Selecting the appropriate gauge will ensure you receive a product suitable for your application within budget – never compromise quality or safety standards in order to save money!
Availability
Stainless steel is an increasingly popular material choice in kitchens because of its durability, aesthetic appeal and versatility. You can purchase items made of this material such as pots and pans, sinks, refrigerators and kids’ utensils from this material. Selecting the appropriate grade is key for long-term usage – among the various grades available Type 304 offers good corrosion resistance at an economical cost while type 316 grade stainless steel may offer additional strength against harsh environments.
Food equipment and cooking appliances made with stainless steel typically feature grades 304 and 316 as their most frequently utilized grades. Type 304 can be easily roll-formed, weldable and affordably priced; making it suitable for non-corrosive environments like food processing, dairy production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and marine usage. While type 316 costs more, its increased resistance to pitting corrosion makes it better suited to marine use than its less costly counterpart.
Both types of stainless steel are food safe; however, their costs and durability vary based on the alloys used. For instance, 18/10 flatware boasts higher nickel content which makes it stronger and shinier than 16/9 flatware with lower nickel levels.
When purchasing stainless steel sheets, ensure you check their gauge (which defines thickness). An online ss plate gauge chart can help you quickly determine an ideal thickness for your application. Furthermore, take a moment to explore all available fabrication options; such as selecting which direction the grain of a brushed finish should run; simply enter its dimension into the length box accordingly.
Applications
Stainless steel is one of the most flexible metals on earth and has found use in an astounding variety of industrial applications. Highly resistant to cuts, dents, corrosion and easily cleaned by means of high water jet pressure cleaning systems; stainless steel makes a fantastic material choice for food processing environments.
Dependent upon the intended application, different grades of stainless steel may be best suited. Type 304 stainless steel is known for its resistance to corrosion and can be found across various industries including dairy processing plants, beverage factories and food service establishments. Furthermore, its high concentration of chromium provides excellent welding and machining properties.
Type 316 stainless steel is another suitable choice, particularly in environments exposed to harsh chemicals. Due to its higher nickel content and improved corrosion resistance, it offers increased chemical protection as well as reduced acid attacks and pitting attacks from chloride solutions.
At Competitive Metals in Kelowna and surrounding areas, we stock several varieties of stainless steel sheet in Kelowna. These include type 304, type 316 and type 430 stainless steel – with type 304 being our most commonly used grade and featuring an austenitic alloy with 18% chromium and 8% nickel content that makes this steel strong, durable, and capable of withstanding moderate temperatures.
Type 316 stainless steel is an excellent choice for marine environments or any situation in which acidic or chloride-based chemicals will come into contact with it, due to its higher molybdenum content than type 304 which gives it superior corrosion resistance. Furthermore, its non-magnetic annealed state does not make it susceptible to hardening processes like heat treatment.
Expanded metal is available for both types 304 and type 316 stainless steel materials, but only type 316 comes with no-hole wire mesh compared to its uses such as building facades, concrete reinforcement, architectural applications or facade reinforcement. When choosing an expanded metal product it is essential that gauge size is taken into consideration; this indicates how thick its thickness is.
