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More than 2000 kinds of furniture fitting hardwares are available.
When you are selecting handles for your doors or cabinets the design isn’t the only thing that matters. You also have to make sure that you choose the right material for the handles. A stainless steel handle is best for most door handle applications and they come in a wide range of design options.
However stainless steel handles are further divided into different alloys and 304 and 201 steel are the most common ones. While both of these steel types seem similar on the surface they offer different characteristics. So when you are choosing the best stainless steel handle for your home or commercial place you have to know the differences between 304 and 201 steel handles.
Installing the wrong stainless steel alloy in the wrong environment can even reduce the lifespan of the handles and they may lose their aesthetic appeal. So to help anyone planning on buying stainless steel handles we have created this helpful article. Read until the end to learn how to select the right stainless steel handle alloy.
A stainless steel handle is basically a lever that is used for opening or closing cabinet doors. They are mainly designed for gripping and pulling the door open and for pushing it close.
Stainless steel handles designed for cabinets and doors vary in size and shape. The ones that go on cabinets are shorter in length and thickness on the other hand one’s designed for doors are longer and sturdier. However the functionality of both of these options are similar to one another.
It is important to mention that there are steel handles with internal lock systems as well that are designed for specific cabinet applications. However with self closing cabinet doors and soft closing options available you can simply install simple handles on the cabinets instead of the locking ones.
While handles are a small part of your cabinet’s structure they directly impact the appearance as well as the functionality of the cabinets. With that being said the type of alloy you choose can affect the way a stainless steel handle behaves and looks. In the next section we will cover the two material options that you commonly come across when shopping for handles.
By now we have already established that 304 and 201 steel handles are two of the most common options available in the market. If you aren’t an expert in steel alloys you won’t be able to tell 304 and 201 handles apart just be looking at them. There is very little variation in color of both types of handles and they can have the same finishing as well.
However their chemical composition varies greatly and therefore they behave differently when exposed to elements such as heat, moisture, and corrosive materials. The unique chemical composition of these alloys gives them certain properties which set them apart. Here are the differences in properties of 304 and 201 steel handles:
Corrosion resistance: When comparing the corrosion resistance of 304 and 201 steel handles the 304 steel handles definitely come out on top. That is because of the high chromium content of 304 stainless steel handles that prevents it from rusting easily.
On the other hand the 201 steel has a lower chromium content making it less corrosion resistant. While 201 steel handles are not low quality they are not ideal for cabinets that are meant for high moisture environments such as bathrooms. With that said if you are planning on using the 201 steel handles outside of the bathroom you can use both types of steel alloys without any issues.
Cost considerations: Another factor to consider when comparing 304 and 201 cabinet stainless steel handles is the cost of the handles. 304 stainless steel handles are much more expensive compared to the 201 steel handles because of the higher cost of the material.
The reason for the higher cost of the 304 steel handles boils down to the composition of the steel. Since nickel and chromium content of 304 steel is higher and both of these elements are rare and costlier you have to pay the higher cost for the 304 handles.
So if your budget is high you should definitely go with the 304 steel handles. However if your budget is not high you can always choose 201 steel handles instead. You will still be able to get many years of use out of 201 steel handles if they are installed and used correctly.
Anti bacterial properties: Handles are meant to be touched frequently for closing and opening cabinet doors.
This makes handles a possible way to spread bacteria from one person to the other. When we talk about anti bacterial properties it has been known that the 304 steel is less likely to allow bacteria to stay on its surface for prolonged periods.
On the other hand 201 stainless steel handles are not particularly good at keeping the bacteria at bay. So as far as preventing the spread of bacteria is concerned the 304 steel handles are a good option.
304 steel is known for its low carbon content and high chromium and nickel content. Here is the exact composition of the 304 steel:
Element | Percentage |
Iron | 66.74 - 71.24% |
Chromium | 17.5 - 19.5% |
Nickel | 8 - 10.5% |
Manganese | 2% |
Silicon | 1% |
Nitrogen | 0.11% |
Carbon | 0.07% |
Phosphorus | 0.05% |
Sulphur | 0.03% |
As opposed to the 304 steel the 201 steel has a lot lower amounts of chromium and nickel in it. However it still shares some of its composition with the 304 alloy. Here is the exact composition of the 201 steel alloy:
Element | Percentage |
Iron | 67.5 - 75 % |
Chromium | 16 - 18 % |
Nickel | 3.5 - 5.5 % |
Manganese | Manganese |
Silicon | 1.00% |
Nitrogen | 0.25% |
Carbon | 0.15% |
Phosphorus | 0.06% |
Sulphur | 0.03% |
