About 430|A ferritic stainless with 16-18% chromium. Takes a nice shiny finish, which is why it shows up in appliances, kitchen equipment, and decorative trim. Magnetic, unlike
304. Machines better than austenitic grades since it doesn't work harden as aggressively. Think of it as somewhere between carbon steel and 304 in terms of cutting difficulty. Chips are shorter and more manageable than what you get from 304 or
316. Not as corrosion resistant as 304 since there's no nickel, so it's limited to mild environments. Can't handle chlorides or marine exposure. Weldability is fair with proper technique. Compare to 304 (better corrosion resistance but harder to machine and more expensive) and
409 (cheaper, worse corrosion resistance, used mostly for exhaust systems).
