10/07/2026
Cutting and forming stainless steel with a #4 finish is more technical than it looks — the brushed, directional surface is unforgiving, so every cut, bend, and weld must be controlled to preserve the grain and avoid visible defects.
- Grain & abrasives: #4 is a directional brushed finish (roughly 120–180 grit). All grinding/brushing must follow the same direction and use stainless-specific abrasives to avoid contamination.
- Cutting: laser, waterjet, and CNC shear each affect the surface differently. Watch for heat tint from thermal cutting (needs cleaning/pickling) and burrs from shearing that require careful blending.
- Forming: keep bend radii generous, use properly matched tooling and backing pads, and allow for springback and work hardening. Tight radii or aggressive forming will distort the grain and show stretch lines.
- Welding & blending: welds must be ground and brushed to match the #4 direction. Use fine-step blending and the same abrasive grit to hide transitions.
- Surface protection & QC: keep protective film on during fabrication, clean parts after fabrication, and inspect under directional light for scratches, heat tint, or inconsistent grain.
Small process changes have big visual impact — planning tooling, cutting method, and finishing steps up front saves time and keeps the #4 finish looking factory-quality. Need help adapting this to a specific part or process? Let's Talk!
