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Our Stainless Steel Process, step-by-step

The Stainless Steel finish is one of the most enduring and elegant surfaces for your site. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as mild steel due to the levels of chromium and nickel that it contains. Unprotected mild steel rusts quickly when exposed to air and moisture, stainless steel contains sufficient chromium and nickel to form its own film of oxides, both preventing surface corrosion and keeping corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure. We use a #4 hand-sanded Satin Finish for a striking smooth shine.

While stainless steel can still corrode and discolor in some conditions (salt air, salt from roads, nearby mild steel cutting or grinding and nearby caustic or acidic cleaning operations–cleaning brickwork for instance.) it will generally retain its strength and appearance when exposed to most outdoor environments.

– Discoloration can can be easily remedied on-site with a spray cleaner such as Citrisurf 77 plus and a Scotch-Brite pad. (Never use steel wool! It scratches the surface and makes it more susceptible to rusting and staining.)

6. Perfect shine!

After the 180 grit finish, all racks are cleaned for final inspection using a special stainless steel cleaner to remove all foreign materials.

These Sol racks are ready to to have surface mounts attached. All of our stainless steel works are Tig welded with stainless steel wire for maximum penetration and weld quality.

7. Final inspection–

After welding, the seams are sealed with a Surfox machine, which chemically cleans and allows the stainless steel to re-form its oxide protective layer (a chemical reaction process called "Passivation") on the new welds to keep them from corrosion.
Watch a Surfox machine cleaning welds here.