Visualization is approximate. Colors on screen are never color-accurate for PVD — request a physical sample.
Brush finish stainless steel
Mechanical · Mechanical & textured
Brush finish, also called No. 4 or satin, is a directional polished surface of fine parallel grit lines on stainless sheet. It hides handling marks better than mirror and takes PVD colour, so it is the usual choice for lifts, cladding and food-contact equipment.
A physical swatch of this finish, on the metal you intend to use, ships with our compliments. Screens are not color-accurate — the sample is the specification.
About this finish
A brush finish is made by running the sheet under an abrasive belt or wheel so that every grit particle cuts a shallow, straight scratch in the same direction. The group's page describes the architectural route as a 120–180 grit belt followed by a softening pass, either a greaseless compound at 80–120 grit or a medium non-woven belt, which is what turns raw grinding lines into an even satin. ASTM A480 lists this general-purpose one-directional polish as the No. 4 finish; EN 10088-2 covers brushed and satin-polished routes under 2J and 2K.
At arm's length the surface reads as a soft, even satin with a single brightness band that moves as you walk past; close up you see the parallel lines. Light scatters along the grain rather than across it, so a horizontal grain widens a lift door and a vertical grain heightens a column. The same abrasive route at a finer grit gives the No. 4 sanitary or dairy grade, which the page describes with 180–240 grit belts and a fine non-woven pad; the finer, shallower scratch leaves fewer places for residue to sit.
The finish is a base for other processes on the group's compatibility list: PVD colour (bronze, gold, light gold, rose gold, black and copper are the swatches shown), an anti-fingerprint coating, etching and embossing. The colour sits in a thin, hard ceramic layer, so the brushed texture stays visible underneath it. The page states no specific grades for this finish; the grade is chosen for the environment and the finish is applied to it.
Where it is used
- Lift doors, lift car interiors and lobby cladding
- Column casings, wall panels and reception fronts
- Kitchen, food-processing and dairy equipment, using the finer No. 4 sanitary route
- Door furniture, handrails and balustrade infill
- Signage backplates and retail fit-out
- Coastal exteriors in Jeddah and Dammam: specify 316 under the brush finish; the open grit lines hold chloride-laden dust and 304 tea-stains
Variants
- Bronze brush
Gold brush
Light gold brush
Rose gold brush
Black brush
Copper brush HL
Gold brush HL
Compatibility
| Base materials | Stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Combines with | PVD, Anti-fingerprint, Etching, Embossing |
| Indoor | Yes |
| Outdoor | Yes |
| Seaside | —316 or duplex; 304 stains in Jeddah/Dammam |
Care & maintenance
Wash with warm water and a mild detergent, using a soft cloth or sponge moved along the grain, then rinse and dry with a clean cloth. Never scrub across the grain and never use steel wool, scouring pads or chloride cleaners such as bleach; the first cross-scratches the lines and the second starts pitting. On PVD-coloured brush the colour is a thin ceramic layer, so do not polish it with abrasive metal cleaners, which cut through it. External work near the coast needs a scheduled fresh-water rinse and a 316 base.
Products with this finish
No published products carry this finish yet — it is available on enquiry.
Frequently asked
- 01Is brush finish the same as No. 4 or satin stainless steel?
- Yes. Brushed, satin, directional and No. 4 describe the same one-directional polished finish; ASTM A480 gives it the No. 4 designation. Hairline is a different, finer and longer line produced by another route.
- 02Does brushed stainless steel show fingerprints?
- Less than mirror, but yes on the darker PVD colours such as black and bronze. An anti-fingerprint coating is on the compatibility list for this finish and is the usual answer for lift interiors and door faces.
- 03Can brush finish stainless steel be used outdoors in Saudi Arabia?
- The group lists it for indoor and outdoor use. Inland, 304 with a brush finish serves; within reach of sea air in Jeddah or Dammam, specify 316 or a duplex grade, because the grit lines trap chloride dust and 304 stains.
Next
- Request a Sample
- The service behind this finishPolishing & Surface Finishing
- Metal surface area calculatorFinishing is priced by the square metre. Work out the area before you ask for a quotation.
Judge it in the hand
A physical swatch of this finish, on the metal you intend to use, ships with our compliments. Screens are not color-accurate — the sample is the specification.