The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Looking for low cost food safe coatings for 1018 CRS

I need to know what type of food safe plating is suitable for 1018 and 1008 CRS, as in skewers for meat products. I am looking for the most cost effective coatings.

Joe Goerges
Job shop - Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, USA
January 11, 2011

---

1018 and steels like it are commonly only used in high pressure hand railing, racing hubcaps and precision pig fences and it generally does not work all that well for those applications either because it sinks in pig dung and it rusts but its cheep so you can make a new one every year. As far as food stuffs its only used in grills and such as an expensive replacement for cast iron. As far as skewers its going to rust at the drop of a hat and it will bend like wet spaghetti. You would be far better off to go to a cheap grade of stainless like 304. The cost of not having to finish it plus the longevity will probably make it cost effective in the long haul. Any coating you put on 1018 will be short lived after you add heat and abrasion.

Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
January 12, 2011