430 vs 304 Stainless: Your Practical Guide to Choosing Right

Backed by Walmay Group's 300+ Stainless Grades Expertise，At Walmay Group, we've supplied specialty metals since 2015 to manufacturers facing exactly this choice.

The Core Difference

How do customers decide which type of stainless steel to choose?

When Walmay Recommends 430:

• Building facades - Where cost efficiency matters
• Appliance interiors - Using our short-delivery inventory

Pro Tip: We pre-process coils to reduce your fabrication time by 40%

When 304 Is Non-Negotiable

• Food contact surfaces
• Coastal applications

Here's what costom need to know

Neither is automatically food-safe - Only GB9684-certified versions qualify
Magnet test trick - 430 is strongly magnetic, 304 is slightly magnetic

Heat Conductivity

• 430 stainless- Transfers heat 20% better (ideal for cookware bases)
• 304 stainless- Slower heat distribution (better for uniform cooking)

Pro Tips from Walmay

• For kitchen tools: Use 304 for bowls/cups, 430 for utensil handles
• In architecture: Mix both - 304 for coastal-facing elements, 430 for interior features
• Maintenance hack: Both benefit from regular drying to prevent water spots

At Walmay Steel, we help clients navigate these choices daily.