304 Stainless Steel Round Bar
As a leading supplier of 304 stainless steel bar, Circle H Steel provides a range of products and custom cutting services. Grade 304, also known as "18/8" stainless, is the most versatile and widely used stainless steel available. Its balanced austenitic structure provides excellent forming, welding, and toughness, even at cryogenic temperatures. This has made Grade 304 a top choice for manufactured stainless parts like sinks, saucepans, and hollow-ware, often using special "304DDQ" (Deep Drawing Quality) variants for severe draws without intermediate annealing.
Contact our team today for 304 stainless steel and value-added services for your application.
304 Round Bar Specifications
Diameters
| 1 1/8” | 1 3/16” | 1 1/4” | 1 5/16” | 1 3/8” |
| 1 7/16” | 1 1/2” | 1 9/16” | 1 5/8” | 1 11/16” |
| 1 3/4” | 1 13/16” | 1 7/8” | 1 15/16” |
| 2 1/8” | 2 3/16” | 2 1/4” | 2 5/16” | 2 3/8” |
| 2 7/16” | 2 1/2” | 2 9/16” | 2 5/8” | 2 11/16” |
| 2 3/4” | 2 13/16” | 2 7/8” | 2 15/16” |
Lengths
Circle H Steel provides 304 round bars in a variety of lengths, and provides cut-to-length sawcutting services for custom bar lengths.
Unlike other suppliers, Circle H Steel can provide 20 ft bars, providing additional feet of usable material and more efficient storage.
Properties of 304 Stainless Steel
These properties are specified for flat rolled product (plate, sheet and coil) in ASTM A240/A240M. Similar but not necessarily identical properties are specified for other products such as pipe and bar in their respective specifications.
- Chemistry: 18% Chromium–8% Nickel austenitic stainless steel. Low carbon (304L) and high carbon (304H) variants are better for specific applications like heavy-gauge welding and high-temperature strength.
- Corrosion Resistance: Excellent in a wide range of atmospheric environments and corrosive media. Subject to pitting and crevice corrosion in warm chloride environments, and to stress corrosion cracking above about 60°C. Considered resistant to potable water with up to about 200mg/L chlorides at ambient temperatures, reducing to about 150mg/L at 60°C.
- Heat resistance: Intermittent up to ~870°C, continuous to ~925°C; Continuous use in 425-860°C range not usually recommended if subsequent aqueous corrosion resistance is important.
- 304L: More resistant to carbide precipitation, can be heated to above temperature range
- 304H: Higher strength at elevated temperatures up to ~800°C; will become sensitised in the temperature range of 425-860°C
- Magnetism: Generally non-magnetic; may become slightly magnetic after cold work.
- Machining: More difficult to machine than carbon steel due to its tendency to work harden. Cutting speeds should be lower and feeds higher.; Ugima® improved machinability version of grade 304 is available in round bar products, which machines significantly better than standard 304/304L
- Welding: Excellent weldability by all standard fusion methods, both with and without filler metals. AS 1554.6 pre-qualifies welding of 304 with Grade 308 and 304L with 308L rods or electrodes. Heavy welded sections in Grade 304 may require post-weld annealing for maximum corrosion resistance.
- Heat treatment: Solution anneal ~1010–1120°C, rapid cool. Not hardenable by thermal treatment.
Chemical Formula
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FeBalance
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C< .08%
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Cr18 - 20%
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Ni8.0 - 10.5%
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Mn< 2%
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Si< .75%
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P< .045%
What’s the Difference Between 304 and 18-8 Stainless Steel?
The terms "304 stainless steel" and "18-8 stainless steel" are often used interchangeably, which is generally correct but has some nuance.
18-8 Stainless Steel
This term refers to the chemical composition of the metal, as it contains approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel by weight. "18-8" is a general classification and can include other steel grades, although 304 is the most common.
304 Stainless Steel
This is a specific grade designation under standards set by organizations like ASTM. While a 304 grade must meet the 18-8 chemical composition, it also must adhere to other stringent requirements for quality and consistency.
While all 304 stainless steel is 18-8, not all 18-8 steel necessarily meets the specific standards of the 304 grade. For applications requiring guaranteed performance, weldability, and corrosion resistance, specifying Grade 304 is essential.
Applications for 304 Round Bar
Typical applications include:
- Food processing equipment, particularly in beer brewing, milk processing & wine making
- Kitchen benches, sinks, troughs, equipment and appliances
- Architectural panelling, railings & trim
- Chemical containers, including for transport
- Heat Exchangers
- Woven or welded screens for mining, quarrying & water filtration
- Threaded fasteners
- Springs
Get a Quote on 304 Stainless Steel Today
At Circle H Steel, we can provide you with 304 stainless steel bar in the diameter, length, and amount you need. Contact our experienced team today to get a quote on 304 SS for your application.
800.382.7748
8261 Monroe Rd,
Houston, TX 77061
