PROGRESO
Stainless Steel Finishes Explained: 2B, No.1, licenciado en Letras, No.4 and 8K
Stainless Steel Finishes Explained: 2B, No.1, licenciado en Letras, No.4 and 8K
Asking for “stainless sheet” is not enough. The finish — the surface texture — determines how the part looks, how easy it is to clean, and how much it costs. Stainless sheet is supplied in half a dozen common finishes, and mixing them up leads to the classic “this looks nothing like the sample I approved” problem. This guide covers the five finishes you will encounter in 95 % of orders.
No.1 (Hot-Rolled, Pickled)
No.1 is the hot-rolled, annealed and pickled surface. It is rough, matte gray and the cheapest finish. It is used where the surface will be hidden, machined or painted. Thicker plates (above ~ 3 milímetros) are almost always No.1 unless you pay extra for polishing. Nuestro 316L plate y 304 hoja range include No.1 on thicker gauges.
2B (Cold-Rolled, recocido, Pickled)
2B is the workhorse finish. It is cold-rolled to gauge, annealed and pickled, giving a smooth, dull silver surface with no visible grain. It is the default for kitchen equipment, tanques, architectural trim and fabricated parts that will be brushed or polished later. 2B is the most economical bright finish and is what most buyers mean when they say “regular stainless sheet”.
licenciado en Letras (Bright Annealed)
BA is bright-annealed in a protective atmosphere. It is shinier than 2B and closer to a mirror, but without mechanical polishing. BA is used for appliance panels, lamp reflectors, decorative trim and any part that needs a bright surface without the cost of 8K.
No.4 (Brushed / Satin)
No.4 is a straight-line brushed finish produced with abrasive belts. It hides fingerprints and scratches better than mirror and is the finish of choice for kitchen appliances, elevator interiors, handrails and architectural cladding. Grit number (180, 240, 320) changes how fine the grain looks — ask for a sample before ordering large quantities.
8K (Mirror Polish)
8K is a mirror finish produced by multiple polishing steps. It is the most expensive finish and is used for decorative panels, elevator doors, signage and food-grade surfaces where hygiene demands a smooth, non-porous surface. PVD-coated decorative panels start from an 8K base — see our PVD color sheet.
| Finish | Look | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|
| No.1 | Matte, rough | Lowest |
| 2B | Smooth silver, dull | Low |
| licenciado en Letras | Brillante, reflective | Medium |
| No.4 | Brushed straight grain | Medium |
| 8K | Mirror | Highest |
Specifying the Finish
When you send an RFQ, name both the alloy (304 / 316l) and the finish (2B / No.4 / 8K). If appearance matters, ask for a 100 × 100 mm sample before committing to bulk. For architectural projects, remember that brushed direction matters — grain running horizontally on a wall reads differently than vertical.
