Stainless Steel 201 Sheet Prices

About 201|A budget austenitic stainless that substitutes manganese and nitrogen for nickel to cut costs. Work hardens faster than 304, so you need rigid setups, sharp tools, and consistent chipload. Don't let the tool rub or you'll glaze the surface and kill your insert. Corrosion resistance is noticeably worse than 304, especially in chloride environments, so it's limited to mild indoor applications. Mostly shows up in food service equipment, decorative trim, and automotive interior parts where the end use doesn't demand serious corrosion performance. Compare to 304 (better corrosion resistance, slightly easier to machine, but more expensive due to higher nickel content). If the part needs to hold up in any kind of harsh environment, step up to 304.

About Sheet|Thin flat stock, generally under 3/16", used for stamping, bending, shearing, and laser/plasma cutting. It's the starting material for enclosures, panels, brackets, and formed sheet metal parts.