Welding for the Retiree

Stainless steel is ideal for many purposes, but if your stainless steel has gone rusty or corroded, then there may have been some issues you didn't consider. Here are tips and tricks for stainless steel that lasts. 

Finishes 

You may not have considered this, but stainless steel comes in many different finishes. It's important to consider the finish when you're trying to decide how long your stainless steel machinery will last. 

Remember:

• A high-polish finish is the best for resisting corrosion.
• Bumpy or dull finishes may have inadequate corrosion resistance, and that means that environments like those at the coast or in the rainy parts of the tropics can damage the stainless steel quickly, corroding it. 
• Always find out what finish will be used on your machinery and request the smoothest one you can buy. 

Maintenance and Treatments

Like wood and other kinds of metals, stainless steel also needs to be treated occasionally for maintenance. 

Anywhere your stainless steel has been welded together should be treated with a post-weld treatment, a specialized process that reduces the risk of corrosion and discoloration. 

To clean stainless steel:

1. Use a specific stainless steel spray or cleaner. This will not leave streaks or cause damage to the surface. 
2. Use a smooth, soft cloth to prevent scratches. Any scratch in the surface material may let the steel under the treatment rust or corrode. 
3. You can use water, soap, detergent, or ammonia solutions to clean your stainless steel; make sure you dry it with a soft rag after cleaning to prevent rusting. 

Staining and Rusting Repairs

If your stainless steel has rusted, then you may think it's been damaged or can't be used. In some cases, that could be true, but in many others, what has happened is actually contamination from a carbon item that touched the finish. 

How could that have happened? Consider this: Many tools you use, like wire brushes, hammers, or screw drivers, your ropes, chains, or other lifting gear, and even sparks from cutting can cause carbon to touch your nearby stainless steel machinery. 

If it's possible to keep your carbon steel items separated from your stainless steel machinery, then you'll notice less of this discoloration. If they need to be used together, then use a plastic surface or protestant to prevent damage from the carbon. 

These are just a few tips that can keep your stainless steel in top-top shape and to help you choose the right stainless steel to start with. Try these methods, and you'll get what you need to get the job done. Talk to a company like Simko Industrial Fabricators to learn about other maintenance tasks you need to do to take care of your stainless steel.