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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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Recommended bronze and black finish for stainless steel household product
Q. Hello,
Can someone provide their expert opinion on which methods should be used on a stainless steel kitchen/household product to achieve a black finish as well as a bronze finish? It must be food safe and durable. To be more specific, the item is a fruit bowl with spokes/rods attached to a base that expands/rotates open as a bowl when placed on a flat surface. The parts will likely rub against each other at the base when opening so the finish must be resistant to scratches and wear, in addition to being FDA-compliant.
Is 201 SS acceptable in this application or would you recommend something higher quality? A different metal entirely? Looking for a low-cost option balanced with good quality.
Thanks in advance for any responses. I'm new to the industry so specifics are most welcome and appreciated.
Product designer - Dallas, Texas, USA
November 23, 2017
A. Angela,
We recommend ss anodizing in black, see attached image. Black anodizing is scratch resistant and bio-acceptable. SS anodizing is used for color coding of surgical instrument. Bronze color can also be achieved, however it will not be as durable as black.
Only certain Stainless alloy types can be anodized. We recommend 420 stainless steel.
Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
November 28, 2017
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