Rock sculptures made from #8ND
Picture of a sunflower in the reflection of the metal finish.
#8 Non-Directional is a high gloss, polished stainless steel that is, as the name implies, non-directional. It is designed for architectural applications; however, artists and others find many creative uses for this mirror finish product. Because of its uniform consistency, #8 Non-Directional is excellent for panel-to-panel matching. It is highly reflective making it suitable for mirrors, wall panels, coping and trim.
#8 Non-Directional polished stainless steel is widely obtainable in Type 304, which is sufficient to prevent corrosion. Type 316 should be used near the seacoast. Low carbon versions of these grades (304L / 316L) should be used when parts are to be welded. For highlights of chemistry and common properties, see Table I in the data sheet.
Thickness (in.) x Width (in.) x Length (in.) x .292
See Table II in the data sheet. coils and cut lengths.
With the exception of sporadic pinholes, as shown in Table III in the data sheet, there are no visible defects.
Should a fire occur, #8 Non-Directional provides additional protection as stainless steel has a melting point of 2750°F.
#8 Non-Directional is supplied to the standard commercial allowances of ASTM (American Society for the Testing of Materials).
To avoid affecting the highly reflective mirror finish surface, joinery should be mechanical. If welding or soldering must be employed, strive to limit it to hidden areas. Heat tint scales and soldering flux residue must be thoroughly removed. #8 Non-Directional is slightly directional. Therefore, it is advisable to orient panels in the same direction.
#8 Non-Directional comes with a protective PVC covering that is high grade UV resistant and is designed to withstand the elements for several weeks. Yet it is recommended that this PVC covering be removed immediately after installation to prevent adhesive residue from adhering to the polished stainless steel mirror finish. #8 Non-Directional’s appearance is very uniform, but any metal surface, including a painted one, is sensitive to misalignment of panels on differing planes. Please take extra care to install within reasonable tolerances to ensure full benefit of #8 Non-Directional’s unvarying appearance. After installation, any rust stains from tools or construction debris must be removed.
#8 Non-Directional is designed to be essentially maintenance free. It will last for decades without requiring attention. Yet it may be appropriate at times to clean the surface in order to maintain its original appearance. Specific stainless steel agents are widely available. For general cleaning, any detergent or ammonia solution is effective. Also, for stains, a sodium carbonate paste with a warm water rinse can be applied. For severe stains, you may use tri-sodium phosphate and caustic soda solutions. More difficult contaminants, like adhesive residue, will come off with pure acetone. Always avoid products containing chloride. Regularly clean out areas where occasional debris may collect, such as gutters.