Type 304 stainless steel is a popular choice for address numbers and sign letters due to its distinct features and benefits. However, like any material, it also has a few potential downsides to consider. Here's a breakdown of its features, benefits, and downsides:

**Features:**
1. **Corrosion Resistance:** Type 304 stainless steel offers good corrosion resistance, making it suitable for outdoor applications in less harsh environments compared to marine-grade stainless steel. It can withstand exposure to moisture, rain, and moderate atmospheric conditions.

2. **Chromium Content:** With its chromium content, Type 304 stainless steel forms a passive protective layer that helps prevent oxidation and surface rusting, contributing to its durability.

3. **Economical:** Type 304 stainless steel is generally more affordable than higher-grade stainless steels, making it a cost-effective choice for homeowners, builders, and architects on a budget.

**Benefits:**
1. **Durability:** Address numbers and sign letters made from Type 304 stainless steel are durable and can withstand the rigors of outdoor exposure, ensuring they maintain their functionality and appearance over time.

2. **Low Maintenance:** The inherent corrosion resistance of Type 304 stainless steel contributes to its low maintenance requirements. Regular cleaning and occasional polishing can keep the letters and numbers looking their best.

3. **Resistance to Light Oxidation:** Type 304 stainless steel's passive layer helps protect against light surface oxidation, maintaining the aesthetic appeal of your address numbers and sign letters even when exposed to outdoor elements.

**Downsides:**
1. **Limited Corrosion Resistance:** While Type 304 stainless steel offers corrosion resistance, it may not be as suitable for extremely corrosive environments, such as coastal areas with high salt exposure. In such cases, marine-grade stainless steel might be a better choice.

2. **Surface Stains:** In some instances, Type 304 stainless steel can develop surface stains or rust spots, particularly if exposed to harsh chemicals or conditions. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help mitigate this issue.

3. **Less Impact Resistance:** Compared to certain higher-strength stainless steel alloys, Type 304 may have slightly lower impact resistance. Care should be taken to prevent damage in areas with high physical contact.

In summary, Type 304 stainless steel presents a range of features and benefits that make it a practical and versatile choice for creating address numbers and sign letters. Its corrosion resistance, affordability, and aesthetic adaptability cater to the needs of homeowners, architects, and builders. However, it's important to be mindful of its limitations, especially in more corrosive environments and situations with potential for impact damage.

E X E C   S U M M A R Y
The "reverse channel" or "fabricated channel" method is a sophisticated and lower carbon footprint method of crafting dimensional sign letters. It combines cutting-edge CNC technology to shape the faces with the artistry of skilled silversmiths who shape the sides of the letters. Silver solder or other types of solder are used to securely attach the faces and returns. The right angle meeting point of the two surfaces are then blended to achieve either a satin brushed or mirror polished finish, resulting in meticulously crafted letters that are both visually appealing and durable.

M O R E . . .

**Lower Carbon Footprint:**
The method described below is a "greener" use of materials as the end product is hollow, using a fraction of the metal that would normally be consumed for solid letters and numbers of this size. The training and dexterity required from the artisanal standpoint is where this manufacturing method gets its most meaningful inputs.

**CNC Technology for Cutting Faces:**
- CNC technology plays a pivotal role in this process by precisely cutting the faces of the letters and numbers. This ensures accuracy and consistency in the shapes and dimensions, forming the foundation of the letter design.

**Handwork by Trained Silversmiths:**
- Skilled silversmiths, who possess specialized expertise, are essential for shaping the sides or "returns" of the letters. Their craftsmanship becomes particularly crucial for shorter, smaller characters with narrow strokes and deep returns, where manual shaping is more intricate, ensuring the letters achieve a seamless and visually appealing three-dimensional appearance.

**Soldering and Fastening:**
- Inside the open back of each letter, silver solder or other types of solder are applied to securely fasten the faces to the returns. This soldering process reinforces the structural integrity of the letters.

**Blending Faces and Returns:**
- To create a harmonious transition between the faces and returns of the letters, the surfaces are meticulously blended together. This process involves using abrasive tools like a Dynafile and/or other gentler abrasives, depending on whether a satin grained (#4) or mirror polished (#8) finish is specified.

**Attaching Threaded Stud Locations:**
- Depending upon the overall size or complexity of the number or letter shape, 3 to 5 nuts are attached with solder to metal straps and in turn secured to the open backs of each number or letter with solder. These accept the threaded studs that come with each order and over which the spacer tubes are placed prior to installing in the holes drilled into the mounting surface (wall, door, fence post, etc). We also offer alternate attachment/affixing axes such as bottom mount or top mount, as well as offering enclosed backs to match the faces and returns should they be visible from the back.

**Creating the Drilling Pattern:**
The hole pattern for each number is transferred carefully to a single paper drilling pattern for the whole address set. The look of this is based upon your approved layout for the set – whether vertical, monospaced, diagonal or other tracked and kerned specifications – which you have relayed to us.

A #8 metal surface's mirror-polished finish reflects foliage and nearby architectural elements and finishes with remarkable clarity, offering both advantages and drawbacks. Careful consideration is necessary to harness its benefits while mitigating potential downsides.

If your attachment location is above eye level, and across from a view of open sky (rather than foliage) this is a natural lighting environment well suited to the #8 finish.

For best results, consider what the complimentary angle shows the first time searcher of your address. When approaching in a vehicle, would your polished address numbers offer your visitor a view of the plantings on the other side of your property? This can be fine if the surface they are installed to has a brighter LRV (light reflectance value) than your foliage. If however they are installed to a darker surface, you may find that what they reflect back to the eye creates a cloak of invisibility. If so, and you prefer authentic integral metal over painted surfaces, you will find the more subtle approach of the #4 finish to your liking.

NOTE: None of the above applies to our oxidized brass and copper, which start out with a polished surface, but after oxidizing acquire a muted satin quality with none of the above described quirks affecting visibility.

Also Noteworthy: The reflective surface may require more frequent cleaning and maintenance to preserve its pristine appearance, making it less suitable for marine adjacent environments and regions with frequent morning fog or daily rainfall.

E X E C  S U M M A R Y

When stainless steel is exposed to the atmosphere, especially in the presence of moisture, a chemical reaction occurs between the chromium in the steel and the surrounding oxygen. This reaction leads to the formation of a chromium oxide layer on the surface of the steel. This layer is extremely thin and tightly adherent, but it plays a crucial role in preventing further corrosion of the metal. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as "passivation" and is a key characteristic of stainless steel's corrosion-resistant properties.

M O R E . . .

1. **Self-Healing:** One of the remarkable features of the chromium oxide layer is its ability to self-heal. If the layer is scratched or damaged, even down to a molecular level, it will quickly reform when exposed to oxygen. This property ensures the continued protection of the stainless steel surface.

2. **Thin and Transparent:** The chromium oxide layer is extremely thin, measuring only a few nanometers in thickness. Despite its minimal thickness, it provides effective protection against corrosion.

3. **Inert and Stable:** The layer is chemically inert and stable, which means it doesn't react with other substances in the environment. This stability ensures that the protective qualities of the layer remain intact over time.

4. **Enhanced by Alloying Elements:** Various alloying elements in stainless steel, particularly chromium and nickel, contribute to the formation and stability of the chromium oxide layer. Higher chromium content enhances the protective capabilities of the layer.