Brewing Master

Question:

BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap?

The numbers indicate:  18 % Chromium,    8% Nickel. There are probably more than fifty varieties of stainless steels designed for different applications.

Response:

Is it just me or are William’s prices lousy?  I can get the same or much better prices locally.

It’s not you, it’s them. There are much better mail order prices out there. Maybe they spend too much money printing catalogs because they are not cheap. — John Varady           http://www.netaxs.com/~vectorsys/varady/index.html Boneyard Brewing Co.           "The HomeBrew Recipe Calculating Program" "Ale today, Gone tomorrow."

Response:

Is it just me or are William’s prices lousy?  I can get the same or much better prices locally.

Prices aside (I think William’s tend to be slightly higher, but not bad overall), William’s has wonderful service.  I’ve place about 10 orders over the last couple of months and they’ve always had every item in stock and the order arrived promptly the day after ordering. Overall summary:  a very satisified William’s customer. — Robert Dominy Director of Product Development PictureWorks Technology, Inc.

Response:

BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap?

Not Speculation: 18-8 is a genberalization for a class of steels, all of which are similar in composition, but have different properties.  Many of the 300 series of stainless steels are at or very near 18-8 composition. The 18 refers to the Chromium content (as %), and the 8 refers to the Nickel content.  304 is exactly 18-8; 304L is a low carbon version of 304 with the same properties, but with improved resistance to corrosion when welded.  316 stainless is a molybdenum-bearing austenitic steel with nickel increased over the 18-8 type stainless. While 316 is "better" in some respects, most quality stainless used in the food service industry is 304 stainless. They probably mean 304 stainless which is one of the 18-8 stainless steels.

Response:

I believe the 18-8 grade is just "coated". Not high grade SS. FWIW, -Rod Head Brewer at my wifes house….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap? Thanks again… Press Quackenbush Rutgers University

Response:

I just got a catalog from them in the mail.  I was going to complain that their prices weren’t very good for a mail order out-fit.  Then I saw the prices on the SS kettles.  It THOUGHT it was a pretty good deal.  Now that I see these comments below, I realize I was wrong.   Is it just me or are William’s prices lousy?  I can get the same or much better prices locally. mike. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I believe the 18-8 grade is just "coated". Not high grade SS. FWIW, -Rod Head Brewer at my wifes house….. BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap? Thanks again… Press Quackenbush Rutgers University

Michael Hoyt La Jolla, CA

Response:

BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap? Thanks again… Press Quackenbush Rutgers University

18-8 stainless is a stainless steel that is _superior_ to 304 OR 314, and very nearly equivalent to 316.  It is approved for perpetual exposure to sea water and is very commonly used in the boat building industry…nice stuff! (I just build a boat, that’s how I know.)  Actually, I’m very excited to see 18-8 being used and feel much inclined to buy the Williams pot!  And in answer to your last question, if 18-8 is ‘crap’ then maybe you could help talk Williams into sending one to me cheap, eh?  Good luck! — Brian – Bierkiester Brewery, Corvallis, Oregon

Response:

BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap? Thanks again… Press Quackenbush Rutgers University

Response:

BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap? Thanks again… Press Quackenbush Rutgers University

Could be the "gauge" or thickness of the steel.  It might mean  18 gauge sides and 8 gauge bottom? the lower the number,  the thicker the steel.  10 gauge is thicker than 12 etc. Robert

Response:

BTW…The Williams catalog says that the pot is made from 18-8 stainless steel. I’ve heard that the only stainless pot to consider is that made of 304 or 314 stainless?  What the hell do these numbers mean.  Is the 18-8 crap? Thanks again… Press Quackenbush Rutgers University

        304 is the same thing as 18/8 (according to my information).   This is the most resistant type (once again according to the information I have).

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