Well, let’s yak about this fancy 201 stainless steel coil stuff. I ain’t no fancy engineer, but I’ve seen my share of metal things around the farm, ya know? This here 201 coil, they say it’s strong, and that’s good. You don’t want no flimsy stuff breakin’ on ya when you need it most.
Now, they got all sorts of numbers, like 201 and 202, and then 304 and 316, even 430. Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me, but I reckon it matters. They say 201 ain’t for food, not like that 304 or 316. So, if you’re makin’ somethin’ for grub, best stay away from the 201, I guess. Don’t want nobody gettin’ sick on account of bad metal.

- Strong stuff, this 201 stainless steel. Good for holdin’ up.
- Not for food, though. Use that 304 or 316 for that.
- Cheaper than some others, which is always a good thing.
Folks use this 201 steel for all sorts of things. Cups and such, they say. But the fella at the store, he told me 201 ain’t as good as 304 when it comes to rust. Seems like that 304 got more of that nickel and chromium stuff in it, whatever that is. So, if you want somethin’ that lasts and don’t rust as easy, maybe you gotta shell out a bit more for that 304.
But hey, if you’re lookin’ to save a penny or two, and you ain’t worried about a little rust, that 201 might just do the trick. It’s all about what you need it for, ain’t it? Like, if you’re just makin’ somethin’ that ain’t gotta last forever, why spend the extra money, right?
Now, they got these J1, J2, and J3 types of 201 steel too. I ain’t got a clue what that means, but I reckon it’s about how hard it is and how easy you can bend it. You gotta figure out what you’re gonna do with it before you choose, I guess. Like, if you need to bend it all over the place, you need one kind, but if you need it to stay put, you need another. It’s common sense, really.
They also talk about somethin’ called “austenitic” stainless steel. Big word, huh? Sounds like somethin’ a doctor would say. But it just means it ain’t the kind you can make harder by heatin’ it up. And this 201 steel, it’s got chromium and nickel in it too. I don’t know what they do, but they must be important, ‘cause everyone keeps talkin’ about ‘em.
This 201 stainless steel coil, it’s tough and it don’t cost a fortune. That’s what matters to most folks, I reckon. You can use it for all kinds of things, they say. They even use it on them fancy submarines, whatever them things are. Must be strong stuff if it can go underwater like that.
And if you need it cut up all special, there’s folks who can do that too. They can slit it real thin or put a fancy edge on it. So you can get it just the way you need it. Ain’t that somethin’? You don’t have to do all that work yourself, you just gotta tell them what you want.

So, there you have it. That’s what I know about this 201 stainless steel coil. It ain’t rocket science, but it’s good to know what you’re gettin’ yourself into. You don’t want to go buyin’ somethin’ that ain’t gonna work for ya. Just remember, strong, cheap, but maybe not the best if you need somethin’ that won’t rust or if you are making somethin’ for food. And always ask questions, that’s what I say. Don’t be afraid to look dumb, better dumb now than sorry later. That’s my motto.
You just gotta think about what you need it for and how much you want to spend. And don’t be afraid to ask the fella at the store for help. That’s what they’re there for, ain’t it? They know more about this stuff than I do, that’s for sure. But at least now you know a little somethin’ too. And that’s always a good thing.