This may be Cybertruck's 2B stainless steel. Updated Scratch and Sniff* test.

[Mini2nut]

I’m still pinching myself that the monocoque exoskeleton will be manufactured out of extremely durable 3mm thick stainless steel. The body should last 100+ years before it’s recycled for new sinks, dishwashers, refrigerators, commercial kitchen equipment, etc.

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[anionic1]

Given the whole point of the ct steel exoskeleton is to use the same exact steel used on space x rockets specifically to bring costs down per sheet by having twice the demand for that material.. seems unlikely they will use anything but the space x steel.

Elon mentioned that the alloy will change for the truck so it won't be the exact same steel as the rockets. here is a link. Right now the Corten steel would land around $3/lb and the stainless around $6/lb if I tried to go buy it. I am sure Tesla will get amazing pricing on either.

I imagine this Corten idea won't go anywhere but it does seem crazy easy to make that change if you used the same size sheet material in manufacturing (just make sure all the employees are up to date on their tetanus shots) and just switched the materials. I think it would be cool to see some special edition options and I think Corten would fit this truck very well as a special edition.

I really wonder what Tesla's experience has been trying to keep the stainless prototypes from getting scratches. I saw the prototype at the Peterson in LA and it looks like they did a rough polish on the 2B stainless.

 

[anionic1]

You keep using this word. That sounds an awful lot like some sort of painting.


Was that part of the argument? I just figured while they were researching materials for Starship Musk fell in love with the material. It certainly makes sense, but if it didn't make sense for the truck I doubt he'd have used it.

Painting and sealing are very different things. Really the Corten doesn't need to be sealed for its own protection as far as I understand but its more of an effort to keep it from staining other things. And yes I am saying sealing which would definitely be an added step in the process but much less exhausting than the priming and multicoat process that automotive painting typically entails. Tesla would save probably $1k just in the steel material cost per vehicle so that could go towards the sealing. Make no mistake. There will be some treatment done to the stainless to make it uniform looking. They will either polish it or sand it or something. Stainless sheets coming off of a manufacturing line will have blemishes. It would seem very difficult to get the stainless from the mill to the finish line of the truck without blemishes and the cost to make that happen with specialty packaging, handling and manufacturing would seem to exceed the cost of quickly polishing the truck in the final stage.[/QUOTE]

 

[Ogre]

I really wonder what Tesla's experience has been trying to keep the stainless prototypes from getting scratches. I saw the prototype at the Peterson in LA and it looks like they did a rough polish on the 2B stainless.

I kind of dread that awkward stretch of time where the truck looks amazing and brand new. When the truck is 5 years old and has tons of scratches on it, it will be normalized. It's that awkward period from when you buy it until it gets that proper worn in look where I think I'll feel compelled to try and keep it nice looking.

If the Cybertruck gets popular enough, maybe there will be shops where you can get your stainless panels polished and refreshed professionally.

 

[anionic1]

I kind of dread that awkward stretch of time where the truck looks amazing and brand new. When the truck is 5 years old and has tons of scratches on it, it will be normalized. It's that awkward period from when you buy it until it gets that proper worn in look where I think I'll feel compelled to try and keep it nice looking.

If the Cybertruck gets popular enough, maybe there will be shops where you can get your stainless panels polished and refreshed professionally.

I agree. I am crazy observant when it comes to scratches or imperfections especially on new things that cost tens of thousands but I am sure I will get over them. I really think I will do a clear wrap if I can afford it. I come across a lot of wrap products in the industry I work in and there are some really amazing products out there.

People get those Airstreams cleaned up pretty nicely so I am sure there will be a lot of options once a couple hundred thousand CTs are on the road.

 

[CyberGus]

Aluminum != Stainless (soft vs. hardened).

The 2B finish is the result of being rolled, so it is matte. While the stainless could be polished to get a uniform appearance, I doubt the original 2B could ever be exactly restored.

I'd like to think that the finished product will have a grained texture that is easier to maintain, but Mr. "best process is no process" will likely want to ship them as-is.

 

[RVAC]

Elon mentioned that the alloy will change for the truck so it won't be the exact same steel as the rockets. here is a link. Right now the Corten steel would land around $3/lb and the stainless around $6/lb if I tried to go buy it. I am sure Tesla will get amazing pricing on either.

You're misunderstanding, what he's saying is they are moving away from the standard 304L to their own brew for SpaceX's Starship and that the Cybertruck will also be moving away from 304L to that same SpaceX stainless steel.

 

[Mini2nut]

The hood on the concept Cybertruck at the Peterson Museum had plenty of circular swirl marks in it.

 

[OneLapper]

The hood on the concept Cybertruck at the Peterson Museum had plenty of circular swirl marks in it.

Yes it did.

That was likely someone using the wrong type of "rag" to wipe it clean.

It doesn't take much to muck up 2B finished stainless.

One way of mentally wrapping your head around a scratch on 2B is that the visible scratch is now polished stainless, therefore it stands out in contrast to the rest of the metal piece.

I think I've convince myself the only way to prevent these marks is with a clear film or wrapping.

 

[LDRHAWKE]

Painting and sealing are very different things. Really the Corten doesn't need to be sealed for its own protection as far as I understand but its more of an effort to keep it from staining other things. And yes I am saying sealing which would definitely be an added step in the process but much less exhausting than the priming and multicoat process that automotive painting typically entails. Tesla would save probably $1k just in the steel material cost per vehicle so that could go towards the sealing. Make no mistake. There will be some treatment done to the stainless to make it uniform looking. They will either polish it or sand it or something. Stainless sheets coming off of a manufacturing line will have blemishes. It would seem very difficult to get the stainless from the mill to the finish line of the truck without blemishes and the cost to make that happen with specialty packaging, handling and manufacturing would seem to exceed the cost of quickly polishing the truck in the final stage.

[/QUOTE]

i really don’t think there is any plan to use Corten steel. It is a structural steel designed to rust…brown rust, as a protective coating, not simply dulling oxidation you get on stainless steel.

 

[firsttruck]

i really don’t think there is any plan to use Corten steel. It is a structural steel designed to rust…brown rust, as a protective coating, not simply dulling oxidation you get on stainless steel.

[/QUOTE]

------------------------------

I think I can accept some scratches on my Cybertruck but there is NO way I would want my Cybertruck looking like a complete rust bucket.

Most popular colors for pickup trucks are white, black, gray, silver. Brown is less than 2%.

Pickup Trucks
What are the Best Car Colors to Buy? - Kelley Blue Book
White (28 percent)
Gray (24.5 percent)
Black (17.5 percent)
Silver (11 percent)
Red (9 percent)
Blue (5 percent)
Green (3 percent)
Gold/Beige and Brown (tied for 1 percent)
https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/what-are-the-best-car-colors-to-buy/


What is the best truck color?
Most popular truck colors for 2017
White trucks account for 30% of available vehicles.
Gray and silver trucks were next, accounting for 25% of available vehicles.
Black was right behind gray with 23% of available vehicles.
The next highest percentages were red trucks (12%), and blue trucks (7%)
By Tim Esterdahl November 22, 2017
https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2017/11/popular-truck-colors-2017/

 

[CyberGus]

Pickup Trucks
What are the Best Car Colors to Buy? - Kelley Blue Book
White (28 percent)
Gray (24.5 percent)
Black (17.5 percent)
Silver (11 percent)
Red (9 percent)
Blue (5 percent)
Green (3 percent)
Gold/Beige and Brown (tied for 1 percent)
https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/what-are-the-best-car-colors-to-buy/

Cyber Trucks
What are the Best Car Colors to Buy?
Unpainted (100 percent)

When registering the DeLorean, I never know what to put for "vehicle color". I figure that "silver" is the closest.

 

[firsttruck]

Cyber Trucks
What are the Best Car Colors to Buy?
Unpainted (100 percent)

Hey, I agree 2,000%.

 

[LDRHAWKE]

I agree. I am crazy observant when it comes to scratches or imperfections especially on new things that cost tens of thousands but I am sure I will get over them. I really think I will do a clear wrap if I can afford it. I come across a lot of wrap products in the industry I work in and there are some really amazing products out there.

People get those Airstreams cleaned up pretty nicely so I am sure there will be a lot of options once a couple hundred thousand CTs are on the road.

i really don’t think a lot of people have fully thought threw what is involved in polishing metal. The comment about shinny Airstream is a perfect example. Keep in mind aluminum is very soft metal compared to a 300 grade stainless steel. I would guess polishing stainless steel could take ten times as long. Below is a quote from an aluminum Airstream owner polisher…..??

“Polishing is labor-intensive. The time it takes depends on the size of the trailer, the amount of oxidation, the efficiency of your technique, and the number of breaks you need. At a minimum, expect to spend at least three full weekends on this project. Add a weekend to your timeline if you have to remove a plasticoat. It is not uncommon for the project to take twice that much time.

The good news is that once a trailer is polished to a mirror shine, the second time takes far, far less time. That’s an important thing to know since you may very well be repolishing every year to keep the shine.”

 

[Cybr on]

Cyber Trucks
What are the Best Car Colors to Buy?
Unpainted (100 percent)

When registering the DeLorean, I never know what to put for "vehicle color". I figure that "silver" is the closest.

Other. ?

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