By “DEE GEE”
Count your Blessings ……
Recently I had the opportunity of studying the result of atmospheric exposure tests on a range of stainless steels over a five-to-six years’ period in England. In brief, the results showed that the straight chrome series were hopeless, the 18/8 types suffered substantial staining and pitting, whilst only the 316 specimens were considered satisfactory. Siting points for the tests were Birmingham and London.
Corrosion-Resistant
This set me thinking of our experiences on the Reef. About nine years ago I bought a garden swing seat and knowing that it would be subjected to all weather conditions of rain, heat, hail and even snow, I replaced the painted mild steel back and seat panels with 18/8. I had occasion to carefully examine the seat recently and there was not the slightest sign of staining or pitting and the stainless steel retained its bright appearance.
Continuing my research I walked round Johannesburg and examined critically our oldest stainless steel architectural application – Chrysler House in Eloff Street and the old Escom House in Rissik Street – and again the 18/8 was in excellent condition. (Unfortunately, the oldest application, at the Metro Cinema, installed by my friends, A.L. Collins, has been “painted”.) Then I had a close look at our stainless steel shop front systems, of which we have several excellent prestige examples, and none showed any signs of rust or pitting, though some were installed many years ago. (Why don’t some shopkeepers put a duster or damp cloth over the shop fronts occasionally?) Iscor personnel tell me they haven’t put a cleaner near their stainless steel building since erection.
This all proves that our Reef atmosphere is very kind corrosion-wise and as long as you have a corrosion-resistant material hard enough to stand up to our wind-swept mine sand as stainless steel does, it will last indefinitely.
But my thought went out to those unfortunate people in London, Birmingham and Sheffield who have to live in that dirty, sulphur-laden, humid atmosphere which, if it eats into stainless steel, what price their lungs? People who sometimes revile our occasional weather lapses should count their blessings.