Differences Between Steel Finishes

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Wheel grinding steel making sparks

Finishes are performed by steel & metal engineers, and it consists of treating the outer layers of steel & metal to improve its durability and sustainability. Metal finishes also make the end-product look more visually appealing. Finishes have also been known to reduce harmful reactions (i.e. corrosion or rust) from foreign chemicals. Armour Alloys is proud to offer all our customers a detailed and personalized order to meet the needs of their patrons. Not all finishes are created equally, so it’s important to discuss the various kinds of finishes and how they can be used to accentuate your production.

Types of Stainless Finish

There are a number of different stainless finishes for steel and metal including
2B- Steel and metal are finished with a subtly reflective sheen. This finish is traditionally used for baking equipment, plumbing apparatus and industrial machinery.
No. 4- A durable finish, a very low maintenance coat, commonly applied in highly populated areas for metal handrails, kitchen appliances and public sinks.
No. 8 – Incredibly reflective sheen is applied to steel improving its aesthetic and are typically used for mirrors and ornamental trim
BA- This finish is typically used for domestic means due to its corrosion resistance and smooth surfaces. It is commonly used domestically for washing machines and dishwashers.

Mill Finish

Mill finishes are popular as the default finish on a good majority of ordered steels and metals. Aluminum sheets that receive a mill finish boast a partly reflective and a partly dull finish. The top side of the mill finished sheet is coated to guard it against scratches, while the other side is susceptible to light scratches.

Mill finishes on stainless steel sheets typically produce a flat grey tone, and even though it’s not that visually pleasing, the front of the sheet is produced with minimal scratches and blemishes. The reverse side of a mill finished stainless steel sheet may have a few small scratches due to the production process.

Polished Finish

As the name of this process implicates, stainless steel and aluminum will be processed to the point that there is a noticeable reflective sheen, albeit not as reflective as a mirror. To achieve this look, steel and aluminum are run through a machine that works vigorously to remove all blemishes through a sequence of purification treatments. Following this, treated metal and aluminum will receive a buffing procedure to ensure that the sheen is highly reflective. Polished steel is commonly used to create silverware utensils like spoons, forks and knives.

Pattern Finish

Much like the name implicates, this metallic treatment imprints a design onto steel and aluminum. For example, some of the designs that are highly sought after by steel and aluminum consumers include circles, diamonds, rectangles, brick and customized company logos!

If you’re looking for steel & aluminum services but are unsure of how to go about it, feel free to contact Armour Alloys today!

Posted By:

at 2:36 PM

Share and Subscribe: