How to buy stainless steel pipe

Introduction to how to buy stainless steel pipe

Although people use stainless steel pipes in all aspects of life, people still don’t know how to buy stainless steel pipe.

And this is a normal phenomenon because the purchase of a stainless steel pipe involves many aspects.

For example, there are many types of stainless steel pipes, so how do we distinguish them?

What should people do if they want to buy good quality stainless steel?

Due to market changes, the price of stainless steel pipes is also changing.

So, how can people buy stainless steel pipes at the right price?

These issues are very important for people who need stainless steel pipes.

And this article will give you a detailed answer on how to buy a stainless steel pipe.

So, let’s first take a look at what a stainless steel pipe is.

What is a stainless steel pipe?

The stainless steel pipe is open at both ends.

Moreover, it has a hollow section.

Generally speaking, it’s steel whose length is greater than the circumference of the section.

However, when the length is smaller than the perimeter of the section, people call this steel a pipe fitting.

Moreover, the stainless steel pipe is economical section steel. So, it accounts for about 8%-16% of the total amount of steel.

Because stainless steel pipe has a hollow section, it is most suitable for conveying liquid, gas, and solid.

And oil drilling, smelting, and transportation industries have great demand for it.

Meanwhile, compared with round steel of the same weight, the section coefficient of the stainless steel pipe is larger, and the bending and torsion resistance is higher.

Therefore, it is also an important material in various machinery and building structures.

Moreover, with the development of new technologies such as atomic energy, rockets, missiles, and aerospace industries, stainless steel pipes have become increasingly important in the defense industry, science and technology, and economic construction.

Besides, the types and properties of stainless steel largely depend on its alloy ratio content.

Next, let’s take a look at its alloys.

If you want to know the types of stainless steel pipe, please check out articles loaded before. One of them is Overview of 201 stainless steel pipe.

Elements in stainless steel pipes and their functions

The alloy ratios in different types of stainless steel are different. And this leads to differences in their performance.

Therefore, when choosing stainless steel, people can make a decision based on the role of the alloy.

Now, let’s look at the main alloys in stainless steel:

1. Carbon: Improve the deform-ability and tensile strength of stainless steel.  Moreover, it can enhance hardness and improve wear resistance
2. Chromium: it can enhance the hardness, tensile strength, and toughness stainless steel pipe. Moreover, it can against wear and corrosion
3. Cobalt: increase the hardness and strength, so that the stainless steel pipe can withstand high-temperature quenching. Usually, people use it in more complex alloy material to enhance certain individual properties of other elements.
4. Copper: Enhance corrosion resistance and wear resistance.
5. Manganese: increase the abrasion resistance, improve the wearing force, and tensile strength. From the molten metal-separate oxidation and separate vaporization to take away oxygen. When added in a large amount, the hardness is enhanced, and the brittleness is only improved.
6. Molybdenum: it can enhance strength, hardness, harden-ability, and toughness. Moreover, it can improve machine-ability and corrosion resistance.
7. Nickel: Enhance strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance.
8. Phosphorus: it can enhance strength, machine-ability, and hardness. But it is easy to be brittle when the concentration is too large.
9. Silicon: It can enhance its ductility and Increase the tensile strength. Moreover, it can remove oxygen from the molten metal by separating vaporization.
10. Sulphur: a small amount of use can improve the machine-
11. Tungsten: It increases strength, hardness, and toughness.
12. Vanadium:It increases strength, hardness, and seismic resistance. And it can prevent the generation of particles.

Besides, combining the above elements, the advantages of stainless steel are mainly resistant to common corrosion. Moreover, its appearance is beautiful. And the price is relatively cheap.

How to choose stainless steel pipe?

There are many models of stainless steel pipes.

However, each model looks similar to the naked eye.

So, when we buy stainless steel, how should we distinguish them?

Stencil

Generally speaking, the model number is printed on the steel stamp of the stainless steel tube.

Although the content of the steel seal of each factory is different, basically there will be a model mark. Such as 304, 201, etc.

Thickness

At present, the thickness tolerances of stainless steel pipes produced by most stainless steel pipe manufacturers are different.

Sometimes, they all produce stainless steel according to the corporate standards of their factories.

This has resulted in some illegal distributors mixing stainless steel pipes with insufficient thickness during the sales process. For example, ten pipes are a bundle.

Among them, the thickness of 3-5 sticks is insufficient. At this time, the merchant will sell at a lower price than the normal price.

Since people do not know the thickness of the product after the product is completed, some merchants directly use steel pipes of different thicknesses to pretend to be.

So, how to avoid these problems?

That is to choose the stainless steel pipe with an actual thickness stamp.

Generally, people will stamp the specifications and models of the pipes, the number of years of manufacture, and the number of the person in charge of the steel stamp.

Moreover, these specifications obey national standards. Therefore, this prevents the vices often found in the stainless steel industry.

Thus, users can use reassuring products.

Moreover, the processor does not need to worry about the future.

Steel pipe material

The material of the stainless steel pipe is one of the most concerning issues for buyers.

And there are both good and bad stainless steel pipes on the market also have good and bad.

Among them, the stainless steel pipe produced by the steel belt of the refining furnace is much better than the stainless steel pipe produced by the steel belt of the intermediate frequency furnace.

Therefore, the price is more expensive.

So when buying, people can ask about the material of the steel pipe.

However, experienced people can also judge the quality of the pipe by its workmanship.

For example, one can see whether the color of the outer surface and the inner wall of the stainless steel pipes are bright and smooth.

Moreover, whether its thickness is uniform.

And people also need to check whether the stainless steel pipe is rough and whether there are missing welding, black lines, peeling, etc.

In this way, you can check the quality of its material.

Steel pipe material you need to know when buy stainless steel pipe

The material of the stainless steel pipe is one of the most concerning issues for buyers.

And there are both good and bad stainless steel pipes on the market also have good and bad.

Among them, the stainless steel pipe produced by the steel belt of the refining furnace is much better than the stainless steel pipe produced by the steel belt of the intermediate frequency furnace.

Therefore, the price is more expensive.

So when buying, people can ask about the material of the steel pipe.

However, experienced people can also judge the quality of the pipe by its workmanship.

For example, one can see whether the color of the outer surface and the inner wall of the stainless steel pipes are bright and smooth.

Moreover, whether its thickness is uniform.

And people also need to check whether the stainless steel pipe is rough and whether there are missing welding, black lines, peeling, etc.

In this way, you can check the quality of its material.

Reagent test

When choosing stainless steel pipes, people can also use reagents to test the type of stainless steel pipes.

If people test it with an acid reagent, the 304 stainless steel pipe does not change color after 30 seconds.

But the 201 stainless steel pipe turns black after 30 seconds.

People can buy reagents on the market, which is convenient.

Good reputation

If you are worried about the quality of stainless steel pipes, the easiest way is to choose a brand with a good Since the good reputation has been honed for a long time, both product quality and workmanship can withstand the test of the market.

So, you are more likely to buy a good product.

However, don’t forget to inspect the after-sales service system of stainless steel pipes.

Field inspection workshop

For wholesalers and distributors of stainless steel pipes, they can go to the workshop for on-site inspections if they have the conditions. This can make them more aware of the pipe workmanship and workshop management of this brand.

How to distinguish different types when buy stainless steel pipe?

First, we need to know the types of stainless steel pipes.

Several models of stainless steel

A stainless steel pipe is a common thing around us.

And we can see them often in daily life or industrial pipelines. According to the differences in its materials, stainless steel pipes have a lot of types.

Moreover, different types refer to different uses.

And the most common types we use are as following.

ordinary carbon steel pipes, high-quality carbon structural steel pipes, alloy structural pipes, alloy steel pipes, Bearing steel pipes, stainless steel pipes, bi-metal composite pipes, plating, and coating pipes, etc.

There are many types of stainless steel pipes with different uses.

When buying stainless steel pipes, we need to know their grade engraved on the pipes.

Now, let’s take a look.

1. 316 stainless steel: 0Cr17Ni12Mo2
2. 304 stainless steel: 06Cr19Ni10
3. 201 stainless steel: 1Cr17Mn6Ni5N

How to distinguish the different materials when buy stainless steel pipe?

Generally speaking, all stainless steel pipes have a steel stamp. And there is much key information on the steel stamp to determine the material, thickness, specification, age, and worker number of the steel pipe.

However, many stainless steel pipes do not have this stamp.

In this situation, how should we distinguish these stainless steels?

Next，we will introduce some methods to you about buy stainless steel pipe.

Potion detection

There are potions for testing stainless steel pipes on the market.

When people use it on the surface of 316 and 304 stainless steel pipes, they will not change.

However, dripping on the surface of the 201 stainless steel pipe will immediately turn black. Or it will corrode the 201 stainless steel pipe.

So, how to distinguish between 304 and 316 stainless steel pipes?

Usually, people use the Ni8 potion to detect 304 stainless steel.

When people drop the medicine on 304 stainless steel, it will turn red.

If the stainless steel pipe tested does not turn red, it is not a 304 stainless steel pipe.

And people can use the No.2 potion to test 316 stainless steel, and its color will turn red. Similar to the last process we’ve said, if it doesn’t turn red, it’s not the 316 stainless steel pipes.

Magnetic detection

201 stainless steel pipe has relatively strong magnetism.

But the magnetic properties of 304 stainless steel pipes are relatively weak.

However, 316 stainless steel pipe is not magnetic.

Therefore, we can use magnetite to detect the type of stainless steel pipe.

So, how does it work?

People only need to put the magnets on 304 and 201 stainless steel respectively.

Then, observe the magnitude of the magnetic force they feel so that people can distinguish them.

Magnetic detection about buy stainless steel pipe

201 stainless steel pipe has relatively strong magnetism.

But the magnetic properties of 304 stainless steel pipes are relatively weak.

However, 316 stainless steel pipe is not magnetic.

Therefore, we can use magnetite to detect the type of stainless steel pipe.

So, how does it work?

People only need to put the magnets on 304 and 201 stainless steel respectively.

Then, observe the magnitude of the magnetic force they feel so that people can distinguish them.

How to sell stainless steel pipe

There are two common ways to sell 304 stainless steel pipes in the market: sales by weight and sales by quantity.

So, which selling method is more cost-effective?

Let’s take a look together.

Sell by weight

Usually, the manufacturer will calculate the price of the stainless steel pipe according to its weight.

Moreover, this is the fairest way.

However, this method is suitable for people who buy stainless steel pipe in large quantities.

Because for those who buy a small amount of stainless steel, the seller has to bear the freight.

And this is very uneconomical for businesses.

Sell by quantity

Some agents and processors will sell according to the quantity of 304 stainless steel pipe.

Moreover, this method is more suitable for people who buy stainless steel pipe in small quantities.

Because if you buy directly from the manufacturer, the manufacturer with a small order will not ship it.

Moreover, the manufacturers have to bear the freight by themselves. So, the manufacturers are not cost-effective if the order quantity is small.

However, sometimes the price of stainless steel will vary greatly.

Let’s take a look at the reasons.

About the price fluctuation about buying stainless steel pipe

Competition in the market is fierce now.

So, whether people buy stainless steel pipe by weight or by quantity, the prices vary greatly.

However, because people can find quotations from steel mills online, these price changes are almost all transparent.

Therefore, as long as people are carefully prepared, they can still buy products at reasonable prices.

Conclusion

The stainless steel pipe is open at both ends.

Moreover, it has a hollow section.

Generally speaking, it is steel whose length is greater than the circumference of the section.

There are many models of stainless steel pipes. However, each model looks similar to the naked eye.

However, people can distinguish them from the following aspects. Thus, to buy better steel:

1. Stencil
2. Thickness
3. Steel pipe material
4. Reagent test
5. Good reputation
6. Field inspection workshop

There are many types of stainless steel pipes with different uses.

Generally speaking, people have the following ways to distinguish: potion detection，magnetic detection，observe the sparks of polishing。

When people want to know how to buy stainless steel pipe, there are to ways to sell：sell by weight and sell by quantity.

But no matter which way it is, the price will change. At this time, people need to check their prices online on time.