As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases
Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"
"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, and more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
-----
Identifying 303 stainless vs 304
I do contract machine work. No matter how many times I tell my people to positively identify materials before restocking them, sometimes there is a problem. We use both 303 and 304 round bar. Our suppliers do not have a standardized color code. Sometimes a customer will require 304. I have some stock that is mixed up. Is there an inexpensive test I can do to tell the difference between the two and get back on the right track?
Steve Kendrick
machine shop - Mableton, Georgia, USA
April 14, 2009
Inexpensive is relative, but for my pocketbook, the answer is NO.
A suggestion: Buy two different colors of paint stick (it is like a color crayon and in several colors) and color both ends of the rod in your color scheme for each type. Mandate that the machinist color the cut end of the rod before returning it to stock. It is cheap and fast and as foolproof as your machinists are.
James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
April 15, 2009
Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.
If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:
Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software
About/Contact - Privacy Policy - ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA - about "affil links"