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Re-surfacing Stainless Steel abused from manufacturing

2003

Hello,

I am looking for ideas to cure my manufacturing headaches. We design, manufacture, market, sell, service our own products. Currently we use a common Cold Rolled Steel which we later paint. However - we are now trying to use Stainless Steel - 304 flavor. We shear/turret/form/weld our own parts. When we do this to our CRS - the surface is of no matter due to the fact we then paint it. With our mfg process, the turret & forming process scratch the SS. The welding discolor it to some degree as well.

We can lightly sand blast to remove blemishes- however we are then left with a dull grey finish which is okay, but not great.

Does anyone have a simple solution? Re-graining is an idea - but - I hear is expensive. We can paint like other metals.. but it's SS ! why paint SS? We are new to SS - so thank you for any input

John Winegard
cash managment - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

About the only option that you did not mention was glass bead blast. If you can find the right size glass bead and the right pressure, you can arrive at an acceptable part. You also gave us zero information about the size and shape of the part. Regraining, as you called it, is not easy and is labor intensive, but not terrible difficult to do-once you have found the right process for your particular parts. Slow speed and rough abrasive is the key.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

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As James said, we really need to know more about the size and shapes of the finished parts or products. Solution maybe be as simple as using contact paper; however, that doesn't sound like it if you weld it.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
2003

The size varies as to the parts. Some parts are 30" x 28" some are smaller. all parts are formed that make a box about the size of a computer case, to the size of a small fridge.

I am also using VHB tape to hold my "boxes" together VHB tape is almost as good as a weld with stainless steel but - you need surface area & time for curing but - that's a whole different matter.

As to the glass bead - I will try some different bead sizes thank you for the input.

John Winegard
- Indianapolis, Indiana
2004