Materials we use
Steel
Steel has a number of finishes, raw black, painted or galvanized. It can be powdercoated or painted once fabricated – this prevents it rusting and prolongs the lifespan of the product. Steel is a sturdy material and if your fabrication requires strength – steel provides. It is available in many profiles, extrusions and sheet form.
Aluminium
Aluminium is one of the easiest materials to keep in good order. It has a high natural resistance to corrosive conditions.
Aluminium alloys require little or no maintenance to retain their original mechanical properties.
Rubbing down with fine wire wool and methylated spirits may clean mill-finished aluminium.
(Information from the Australian Aluminium Council)
Aluminium can be left in its raw state or powdercoated from a huge range of various colours. Powdercoating is a very popular finish for aluminium fabrications as it enhances not only the look of the product but also the lifetime.
Stainless Steel
Most stainless steel products are available in both 304 and 316 Grades.
Austentic stainless steels are the most common and account for more than 70% of stainless steel applications. The most common grade is 304, which contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Another popular grade is 316 which is suitable for the majority of marine applications. (Or applications in close proximity to the ocean).
Finishes:
Mill Finish: Hot or cold rolled, annealed. Scale not removed, use of this condition generally confined to heat resisting applications: scale impairs corrosion resistance.
No 1 Finish: Hot rolled, annealed and pickled (descaled). A condition and finish commonly preferred for corrosion resisting and most heat applications.
2B Finish: The most commonly used surface finish. A bright, moderately reflective cold rolled finish with the annealed and pickled coil receiving a final light roll pass through polished rolls. Used as is, or as a preliminary step to polishing.
No 4 Finish: A general purpose polished finish. Following initial grinding with coarser abrasives, final finishing is generally performed with abrasives of a particle size of approximately 120 to 150 grit or finer. However, it frequently has added specifications of maximum surface roughness (Ra) when supplied for architectural applications.
(Information from Onesteel – stainless)
Stainless steel is a very popular material in the coastal regions as it does not rust.
The No 4 finish is the most popular for bench work and shelves as it has a brush (grain) finish – very aesthetically pleasing.
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