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18/8 vs 304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: Key Differences and How to Choose
Table of Contents
The Big Problem with Picking the Wrong Stainless Steel
Do you know what happens when you pick the wrong type of steel? Money goes down the drain! Parts fail. Customers get mad. Your products rust and break.
At Istar Machining, we see this problem every day. People use 18/8 steel where they need 316. They waste money on 316 when 304 would work just fine.
This is bad for your business!
Why This Hurts Your Business
When you choose the wrong steel:
- Parts fail early
- Machines break down
- You waste thousands of dollars
- Your good name gets hurt
One customer told us: “We used the wrong steel in our food tanks. It cost us $50,000 to fix!”
Does this sound like you?
How We Can Fix This Together
As a top cnc machining service company, Istar Machining will help you pick the right steel every time. We can make your parts with any steel you need.
Our help means:
- Parts that last longer
- No more rust problems
- Save money on the right steel
- Happy customers who trust you
Let’s look at what makes each steel type special.
What is 18/8 Stainless Steel?
18/8 steel is a simple steel. The name tells you what’s in it:
- 18% chromium
- 8% nickel
This is the same as 304 steel. They are the same thing!
What 18/8 Steel is Good For:
- Kitchen stuff
- Simple machines
- Indoor use
- Food tools
What 18/8 Steel is Bad For:
- Salt water
- Strong chemicals
- Outdoor use near the sea
If you need parts that touch food but won’t see hard chemicals, our cnc milling team can make great 18/8 parts for you.
What is 304 Stainless Steel?
304 steel is the most used steel in the world. It’s the same as 18/8, but with a fancy name.
What’s in 304 Steel:
- 18-20% chromium
- 8-10.5% nickel
- Less than 0.08% carbon
What 304 Steel is Good For:
- Food machines
- Kitchen sinks
- Car parts
- Indoor pipes
What 304 Steel is Bad For:
- Ocean use
- Swimming pools
- Strong acid tanks
Our steel cnc machining team can make perfect 304 steel parts that will last for years in most normal uses.
What is 316 Stainless Steel?
316 steel is the tough one. It costs more but works in hard places.
What’s in 316 Steel:
- 16-18% chromium
- 10-14% nickel
- 2-3% molybdenum (this is the magic part!)
What 316 Steel is Good For:
- Boats and ships
- Pool parts
- Medical tools
- Chemical tanks
- Coastal buildings
What 316 Steel is Bad For:
- Budget projects
- Places where 304 would work fine
If you need parts that can face salt water or strong chemicals, our cnc stainless steel experts can make them from 316.
See How They Stack Up
| Property | 18/8 (304) | 304 | 316 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 18% | 18-20% | 16-18% |
| Nickel | 8% | 8-10.5% | 10-14% |
| Molybdenum | 0% | 0% | 2-3% |
| Strength | 515 MPa | 505 MPa | 515-620 MPa |
| Rust Fighting | OK | Good | Best |
| Cost | $2.50/lb | $3.00/lb | $4.50/lb |
Real Tests Show Big Differences
When put to the test, these steels act very different:
Salt Water Test
- 18/8: Rusts in 1-2 years
- 304: Shows rust spots in 5 years
- 316: Still good after 10+ years
Acid Test
- 18/8: Rusts fast
- 304: Rusts slow
- 316: Stays good up to hot temps
One company put 304 steel on their beach house. In just 3 years, it had rust all over. When they used 316, it stayed clean and bright for 10 years and counting!
Which Steel Should You Pick?
Pick 18/8 or 304 When:
- You need parts for food use
- You’re working inside
- You need to save money
- No salt or strong chemicals will touch it
Pick 316 When:
- You need parts for boats
- You’re near the sea
- You work with chemicals
- You need medical parts
- You can’t risk rust
How Istar Machining Makes Your Perfect Steel Parts
At Istar Machining, we make all three types of steel parts with our top cnc parts machining systems.
We can help you:
- Pick the right steel for your job
- Make parts that fit just right
- Cut costs where it’s safe
- Add strength where you need it
We use 5 axis machining to make even the most hard parts from any steel type.
Real Success Story
A food company came to us after their tank parts kept rusting. They had used 18/8 steel in a place with cleaning chemicals.
We made new parts from 316 steel. Now they’ve gone 5 years with no rust problems. They saved over $100,000 in fixing costs!
Questions We Hear All The Time
Is 18/8 the same as 304?
Yes! They are the same steel. 18/8 is just a simple name that tells you what’s in it.
Can I use 316 everywhere to be safe?
You can, but you’ll waste money. We help you pick the right steel for each job.
Does 316 ever rust?
Yes, in very bad conditions with lots of salt or chemicals. But it lasts much longer than 304 or 18/8.
How much more does 316 cost?
316 costs about 40-50% more than 304. But if it lasts 5 times longer, you save money!
Why Pick Istar Machining For Your Steel Parts
When you work with us, you get:
- Expert help picking the right steel
- Perfect parts cut just right
- Fast work when you need it
- Fair prices that save you money
We can make any part from any steel with our precision cnc machining tools.
Take the Next Step
Don’t risk using the wrong steel! Let’s talk about your project and pick the right steel together.
- Tell us what you need
- We help pick the right steel
- We make perfect parts
- Your products work better and last longer
Call us today to talk about your steel part needs!
