What series Stainless to use...304?

[Bigdogbro1]

Hi All,

We are cutting stainless steel sheet 16ga occasionally and I just recently used some series 304 for a job that didn't cut as well as some earlier unknown series stainless we purchased as a drop. That unknown stainless cut was almost perfect and plan to do some test with that old file setup using this new 304 to see if we get better results. I should check my setup and torch height again (DTHC).

What SERIES stainless 16ga sheet or other do you guys find that cuts best?

[Mtw fdu]

There is another grade of stainless which might be 316. Seems to be a better quality than 304.

Mtw fdu.

[_Ogre]

cutting ss is nothing like cutting mild steel
cutting mild steel is an exothermic reaction where the plasma stream burns the steel like a oxy/ac torch
stainless steel is more thermal where your melting the ss with the plasma stream

the more nickle the harder ss is to cut
we cut a lot of 304 with minimal dross, but it is tenacious and has to be ground off
316 has more nickle and will have more dross
409 has less and cuts better, but it also gets surface rust outside

3/8'' ss




16 ga ss

[Gamelord]

Ive done mostly 304. Cuts pretty good but your settings need to be spot on or you will have issues. Also make sure your tips are in excellent shape or you will get severe bevel and/or blowback etc... Stainless is the hardest thing I cut and I always get a little concerned when a job comes up with thick stainless. Thin stuff is no problem but anything over 1/4 starts to get tricky. Once the torch is dialed in it goes good but I always have to do a few test cuts to get it right.