No cost, no registration, no passwords -- just aloha, fun & authoritative answers
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989

-----

SS304 or SS316 for a Still

December 16, 2014

Q. Hello finishing forum

I want to make a still for my personal use.
I am thinking what to choose, SS304 or SS316 as the boiler.
I have a question about the chlorides (300 mg/l) in my water which are considered high because we have hard water in our area.
Will the hard water present a problem to a pot made from SS304?
Will cleaning and drying the pot properly will be enough?

Thank you
Oz

OZ MELAMED
hobbyist - HOLON ISRAEL

January 6, 2015

A. Oz,
That's probably not enough chloride to worry about, it's certainly nothing compared to pool water or ocean water. For your purposes, my guess is the 304 would be sufficient. Of course it's always the same trade off, 316 is more expensive but more corrosion resistant than 304.

Ray Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

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: