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Shop Talk - Stainless steel, finishing with finesse.
September 30, 2020
Stainless steel, finishing with finesse.
Stainless steel is a popular finish where both appearance and longevity are of critical importance. Due to the many benefits it provides, the material is put to use in a multitude of items. Products constructed from stainless steel are employed in a variety of industrial, commercial and residential applications. Apart from aesthetics, the metals advantageous qualities include strength, durability and hygiene, and most importantly, corrosion resistance.
Stainless steel wares are available in several surface finishes and can provide challenges for the fabricator to achieve the desired outcome. Highly skilled and proficient operators, along with the correct choice of power tools and abrasives allows them to produce the intended effect that makes this finish so highly sought after.
Let’s talk shop: Finishing stainless steel.
Stainless steel weld removal and finishing can be a difficult task. Traditional processes that involve making set up wheels and cleaning up after buffing compounds can take up to five to six steps. However, in just three easy steps you can grind and blend welds to match #3 and #4 pre-finished mill stock to produce exceptional finishes efficiently and economically.
Tech tips, Nathan says:
Step 1 - Levelling the weld
Level the weld with 3M™ Cubitron™ II Fibre Disc 987C (120 grit preferable). It incorporates a grinding aid for cooler running temperatures.Pro tip: Use the finest grade of abrasive that gets the job done; finer grind lines are easier to remove. Use a black ribbed faceplate to level the weld quickly and leave fine grind lines.
Step 2 - Setting the grain
Set the grain with 3M™ Cubitron™ II Belt 947A (120 grit preferable).Pro tip: Attempt to stay as close as possible to the weld area to minimise final blending.
Step 3 - Final finishing
Finish with a Scotch-Brite™ Surface Conditioning Belt. Use grade A course for a #3 final finish or grade A medium for a #4 finish. To remove any lines or tracks blend in the final finish with a Scotch-Brite™ 7447 hand pad.Pro tip: Start with a small corner of your workpiece and check the finish from several angles. The match won’t be exact, but it’ll be close. With a little practice, you can feather in and out of the repair area. Work with the grain using the longest stroke that is comfortable, and ease off pressure on both ends of the strokes. A few slow passes should do the trick!
3M Stainless steel finishing system.
Discover how fast and effective 3M abrasives can be for the often demanding work involved in stainless steel fabrication and finishing. In three easy steps, using the 3M Finishing System, you can grind and blend welds to match your finish. This 3-step system features our Scotch-Brite™ and Cubitron™ abrasives outlined below.
- Powered by 3M Precision-Shaped Grain for ultra-fast cut and exceptional life
- Includes a grinding aid for cooler running temperatures
- Best in class for weld prep and removal on heat sensitive alloys such as stainless steel
- 3M Precision-Shaped Grain slices through metals like a knife rather than gouging or ploughing
- Removes material faster, with less pressure
- Grinding aid for less grinding friction and cooler cutting
- Optimised for low-medium pressure applications on stainless, mild steel and aluminium
Scotch-Brite™ Surface Conditioning Belt
- Premium Scotch-Brite surface conditioning non-woven web
- Designed for cleaning, finishing and light deburring
- Run at low speeds to generate uniform, well-blended satin finishes
- Scotch-Brite Hand Pads are ideal for cleaning parts, deburring, hand blending and scuffing prior to painting.
- Hand pads have a durable web construction that gives you a fast, consistent scuff for everyday surface preparation.
- Ideal for tough cleaning jobs or to produce fine finishing results.
If you have any questions or for more information about Cubitron™ II and Scotch-Brite™ stainless steel finishing products to meet the needs of your specific application contact your 3M Abrasive System Specialist or explore our Industrial Abrasives & Finishing products.
About Nathan Bamford.
Nathan Bamford is 3M’s Application Engineer for the Abrasive Systems Division, Australia and New Zealand. He provides technical end user guidance and advice around the selection, use and maintenance of abrasive products and systems.
Nathan has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and has been with 3M for ten years across a variety of businesses, from Automotive OEM, Industrial Adhesives and Tapes, Aerospace, and Abrasive Systems.
Nathan has a fascination with how things work and possesses extensive experience, knowledge and skills in optimising processes. He is passionate about how using quality abrasive products can improve both efficiencies and safety.
