stainless steel

When buyers line up 304 vs 430 stainless steel, the first surprise is the magnet. Hold one to 430 and it sticks hard. Hold it to 304 and it barely reacts. That single test points to a deeper split: 304 is an austenitic, nickel bearing grade built for food, weather and welding, while 430 is a ferritic, almost nickel free grade built for indoor trim and low cost. Both resist rust in ordinary air, but they part ways on magnetism, price and how they behave under a welding torch. This guide puts them side by side on chemistry, corrosion, cost, weldability and use, so you can pick the right one

If you are budgeting a job in 2026, the first number you need is the stainless steel price per kg, and the second is the direction it is moving. This guide puts both on the table. In 2026, 304 base product runs about 2.90 to 3.80 USD per kg and 316L runs about 4.00 to 5.00 USD per kg before finish, freight and alloy surcharge. The ss price trend this year has been a slow climb: 304 opened near 2,800 USD per ton and held a 2,800 to 3,200 USD band through the second half, up about 8 percent year over year, while 316 drifted higher on molybdenum cost. Nickel

When buyers line up 316 vs 304 stainless steel, the question is almost always the same: do I really need the pricier 316, or will 304 do the job for less? Both are austenitic 18/8 grades, both look alike on the rack, and both weld and polish well. The one element that separates them is molybdenum. 316 carries 2 to 3 percent of it, 304 does not. That single addition is what lets 316 shrug off chloride and salt while 304 pits and rusts in the same spot. This guide puts the two grades side by side on chemistry, corrosion, cost, weldability and use, so you can specify the right

Pick the wrong surface finish on a stainless steel order and you can end up with a sheet that looks right in the catalogue but fails on the shop floor. The three names buyers ask about most are 2B, No.4 and BA. They sound close, yet they are made differently, look different, and suit different jobs. Wanzhi Group has rolled, finished and exported stainless steel for 15 years across more than 100 countries. This guide explains what each finish is, how it is produced, what it costs, and how to choose between them without guesswork. If you only read one section, read the comparison table near the middle. What a