Stainless fittings are bought for the surface as much as the strength. The chromium oxide layer that makes A403 grades corrosion resistant is also why the finishing rules differ from carbon steel: no black paint, careful segregation from carbon steel in storage and transit, and ends capped so the bore stays clean. Buyers ask for those handling rules to be respected from forming to packing — state them on the enquiry and the arrangement is confirmed for your order at quotation.
Grades beyond the catalogue elbow execution are not listed as executions on this page: name the grade your specification requires on the enquiry and it is confirmed for the specific product before order.
| Item | Range / Options |
|---|---|
| Products | Elbows (catalogue execution in A403 WP304L). Tees, reducers, caps and stub ends sit on their own pages, which record no stainless execution for those types |
| Standards | Confirmed per product at enquiry — the catalogue elbow execution is listed to ASME B16.9 |
| Size range | Confirmed per product at enquiry |
| Wall thickness | Confirmed per product at enquiry — state the S-schedule or the exact wall |
| Materials | ASTM A403 WP304L in the catalogue elbow execution; further grades confirmed per product at enquiry |
The Grades, Briefly
As grade knowledge — what the common A403 designations mean, and the service logic buyers use when they specify them:
- WP304 / 304L — the general-purpose austenitic grades: water, food, beverage, air, and mild chemical service.
- WP316 / 316L — molybdenum-bearing, for chlorides, coastal atmospheres and more aggressive chemical duty.
- WP321 — titanium-stabilised, chosen where the line runs hot for long periods.
The L grades are the usual order choice for welded construction because their low carbon content protects the weld zone. Our stainless elbow page goes deeper on grade selection.
Tubes and Fabricated Pieces
Beyond fittings, the catalogue's listing titles name stainless seamless tubes in round, square and rectangular sections, in 201, 304, 316 and 316L, with pickled, brushed or mirror-polished surfaces — as collective titles, in the same way the tube page states them, not as per-product executions: a specific grade, section or finish is confirmed for the specific product before order. The tubes are the tube side of sanitary and structural work that often shares an order with the fittings.
Handling and Packing
Buyers of mixed orders typically require stainless pieces to be packed separately from carbon steel, with end caps fitted and surfaces protected, and the crates marked so site stores can keep them that way — iron contamination on a stainless surface is a defect that starts in the warehouse, not the process. State the packing requirement on the enquiry; it is confirmed for your order at quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I order 304 or 304L fittings?
For welded lines, 304L is the safer default: its low carbon content avoids sensitisation in the weld heat-affected zone. Plain 304 appears where no welding is involved or legacy specifications name it. The same logic gives 316L over 316 for most welded work.
Can stainless and carbon fittings ship together?
They can share a shipment, but buyers typically require separate crates: stainless packed apart with protected surfaces so carbon steel cannot contaminate it in transit. State the requirement on the enquiry so the packing is agreed at quotation.
Do you supply stainless flanges as well?
Flanges are covered in the flange range; no stainless flange execution is among the catalogue executions referenced on this site, so name the grade on the enquiry and it will be assessed for the specific product before order. See the flanges page for the family.
How do I keep stainless fittings uncontaminated on site?
Store them apart from carbon steel, keep end caps on, and avoid carbon steel wire brushes, unpadded slings and shared grinding dust. Iron particles embedded in the surface rust and stain, and can start pitting. The same separation is worth requiring in the packing specification for your order — state it on the enquiry.
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Send Your Specification
Tell us the size, schedule or pressure class, material grade and quantity for the stainless steel fittings you need. MOQ and lead time are confirmed in the quotation for your exact specification.