304 stainless steel off-cuts

If a drawing just says "stainless", it usually means 304. The grade forms well, welds well and polishes well, which is why it covers everything from commercial kitchens and shop fronts to water tanks and pharmaceutical benches. Off-cuts make particular sense here: a repair plate, a bracket or a short pipe spool rarely justifies a full sheet or a six-metre length at mill minimums.

Two cautions from the workshop floor. First, 304 pits in chloride exposure — poolside, coastal or chemical work belongs on 316L or a duplex grade. Second, heavy welding on standard 304 can sensitise the heat-affected zone; if the part sees corrosion service after welding, the low-carbon 304L variant is the safer buy.