Stainless steel

johne

Silver
Jun 28, 2003
7,626
3,344
113
I have stainless in both my bathroom sinks. Also with my outdoor sink. I ordered yesterday a dual hose faucet in SS. It was the only one I saw on Amazon and I hope it performs better than the brass that leaks like a sieve.
Is stainless that much better? If so why is it not used more?
 

NALs

Economist by Profession
Jan 20, 2003
14,664
3,762
113
You live close to the sea. That’s something to take into account.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CristoRey

Fulano2

Bronze
Jun 5, 2011
3,662
895
113
Europe
Close
You live close to the sea. That’s something to take into account.
Living close to the sea is bad for many things, your car, your bars, your leather goods.
We live, I think half a mile from the sea.. and have to maintain our leather chairs and sofas every two months.
You have to do it, my SIL with her Spanish husband live on the George Washington. New Italian leather sofa started to crack and drie out in two years.
“I told you”.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Manuel01

Big

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2019
5,973
5,175
113
I have stainless in both my bathroom sinks. Also with my outdoor sink. I ordered yesterday a dual hose faucet in SS. It was the only one I saw on Amazon and I hope it performs better than the brass that leaks like a sieve.
Is stainless that much better? If so why is it not used more?
Stainless steel is an awesome product. From firearms to sinks.
 

johne

Silver
Jun 28, 2003
7,626
3,344
113
There are different grades of stainless steel. The cheaper versions that they put in fridges, stoves, sinks and faucets all rust eventually
That's interesting. Now how can we know what grade to buy? Are all grades for fridges stoves etc the same BUT SS used on boats different and are sold by grades and a standards set mfg?
 
Nov 9, 2023
673
621
93
SC
There are several grades of SS, 304 and 316 are the most common. 316 has more resistance to salts and acids and is mostly used in the food industry and yachts. Its the amount of different ‘precious’ metals in the mix that determine the properties and price.
 
  • Like
Reactions: johne

jd426

Gold
Dec 12, 2009
10,083
3,420
113
Blue Collar Town in New Jersey
Generally speaking 400 series SS is junk if Rust is a Concern at all
All 300 Series have more Nickel and are not magnetic , so you are good to go
304 is the best . especially for Sinks etc . ( I buy 304 stainless Coils and sheets by the Ton for my business) .
.. Put a magnet to it .. if it sticks , it has ferrous Metal Or Martensitic Crystal structure and it will rust ..
Its advantages are it can be Heat Treated and hardened , but it will rust
easy as that .
 

johne

Silver
Jun 28, 2003
7,626
3,344
113
Generally speaking 400 series SS is junk if Rust is a Concern at all
All 300 Series have more Nickel and are not magnetic , so you are good to go
304 is the best . especially for Sinks etc . ( I buy 304 stainless Coils and sheets by the Ton for my business) .
.. Put a magnet to it .. if it sticks , it has ferrous Metal Or Martensitic Crystal structure and it will rust ..
Its advantages are it can be Heat Treated and hardened , but it will rust
easy as that .
Does china sell this metal and is it on Trump tarriffs lift? Maybe this is the reason there were so few SS faucets on Amazon. Like BOB said $$
 

drisforme

Active member
May 28, 2016
274
126
43
Generally speaking 400 series SS is junk if Rust is a Concern at all
All 300 Series have more Nickel and are not magnetic , so you are good to go
304 is the best . especially for Sinks etc . ( I buy 304 stainless Coils and sheets by the Ton for my business) .
.. Put a magnet to it .. if it sticks , it has ferrous Metal Or Martensitic Crystal structure and it will rust ..
Its advantages are it can be Heat Treated and hardened , but it will rust
easy as that .
316 is the best: marine grade stainless. You can find an outdoor sink with this grade, but they are expensive.

I live in front of the beach .
My first rule is to avoid as much as possible any stainless steel except 316. Otherwise, you would have to be sure that it's clean regularly, even if not used, because you will get salt on it.
Possible option for a sink is also granite...

Peace
 
  • Like
Reactions: jd426

keepcoming

Moderator - Living & General Stuff
May 25, 2011
6,452
4,318
113
Maybe it is just me, but I am not a big stainless-steel lover. I know it is the "thing" to have as far as appliances, sinks, etc, and yes, we have stainless-steel, but I just do not care for it that much.
 

jd426

Gold
Dec 12, 2009
10,083
3,420
113
Blue Collar Town in New Jersey
316 is the best: marine grade stainless. You can find an outdoor sink with this grade, but they are expensive.

I live in front of the beach .
My first rule is to avoid as much as possible any stainless steel except 316. Otherwise, you would have to be sure that it's clean regularly, even if not used, because you will get salt on it.
Possible option for a sink is also granite...

Peace
For my applications 304 is softer, easier to work with generally, and almost as rust resistant as 316..
but I guess the additional cost may be worth it for like Marine applications and if you have the $ to invest.
Apparently Its the "molybdenum" which drives up the price on the 316 ( I had to look that up, cuz i was not sure.. as I dont use 316)