Stainless steel

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

Ok it probably has been discussed on here just don't know where.
when I was in Phx this past week I was hitting my Bro up for making some equip. for me. He told me he can't use his stainless just need to find some food grade stainless and he would make what ever I need. I think I saw a post with 309 stainless? Is that the type for food?

[maplekid]

maple equipment is usually made of 304 bright annealed stainless.

[CBOYER]

stainless steel 302 or 303 your sink in home is made whit this, more malleable
304 most of equipment is made whit it, easily avalaible. 309, high temps, flue pipes, exhaust.
316, 316L, 317, 317L better corrosion resistance, higher cost,used in chemicals industries. Series 400 410, 430 etc, harder ss, magnetic, more carbon, used for tools.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

My brother uses T304 in the exhaust systems he prototypes
http://www.bbexhaust.com/

[CBOYER]

"T" means " type ", so he used standard 304 wich is cr 18-20 ni 8-10
type 309 is a lot better for exhaust system and could resist up to 2000F
and it is cr22-24 ni 12-15. Best for exhaust is Inconel wich is use in F1, or Avesta 254SMO that i was using on Hydrogen fueled boiler in a chemical plant. However , its nice art work they makes!

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

ok, talked to bro again asked him about the stainless they use he said it is 304 aircraft quality if I understood him correctly, so this type would be acceptable for maple equipment?
he didn't know what I meant by "bright annealed" and what does that actually mean? its shiny?

[hotfire]

You you don't need food grade for maple syrup.. Type 304 is fine , it might not be as shinny , but is a lot cheaper , you boil @ 218 or more , nothing lives in that

[PapaSmiff]

Today, I checked a source for Stainless Steel Sheets (Yarde Metals in Southington, CT). They don't carry Bright Annealed - but said the BA steel goes through a process to make it shiny. They do carry 2B (?) which has a satin finish at $150 per 4 x 8 sheet for 20 gauge, which is what I'll be using for my pan(s) - I think/hope.

[jimbo752]

We buy our stainless through Yard, and they do offer a #8 mirror finish which is similar to bright annealed, its around 25% more costwise.

If im not mistaken one of the reasons that 304 is used so much in the maple industry is its the right combination of corrosion resistant and thermally conductive. I think as the number goes higher the chrome and nickel content increases and it doesnt conduct heat as well. Also it tends to be less expensive, bends and welds good.