Stainless Steel Etchants

Please use the table below to select the correct etchant for your stainless steel.

Type of Stainless Steel:
Etchant to Use:

301, 302
Fry’s

303, 304
Fry’s or Vilella’s

316, 317, 321
Marble’s

403, 405, 410, 416, 418, 420, 422, 430, 440
Vilella’s

13-8 PH, 15-5 PH, 17-4 PH
Fry’s

17-22, 17-22A
Vilella’s

21-6-9
Fry’s

A286
Fry’s

Duplex 2205, maraging steels
S1098 Schantz

Electrolytic etching of 300 series
Oxalic etching solution

Macro-etching stainless steel
Stainless steel weld etch

Prior-austenite grains
Prior-austenite grain boundaries etch

Others
See this list