You could check with Straub metals and find out if anyone on the west coast stocks their 409 or 439 SS sheet. Per the website, its available from .006 thick up to 1/2" thick. I've had prices on it in the past, and it was about 1.5 times the price of cold rolled commercial quality sheet steel. Its made to be a cheap stainless, developed initially for use in automotive exhaust systems when the heat got to the point where bare or aluminized steel wouldn't survive. It will take on a brownish color but doesn't rust per se. Formability is much better than 304 and similar SS sheet.I agree with Ries that any sort of arc welding isn't the way to go if you find some really thin stuff. There's still a ceramic kiln at my dad's house that was my mother's. Its a kind of octagon shape with a really thin SS wrapper that's made in the form of a drawband sort of deal. I think in that case the wrapper both protects the outside and keeps the firebrick sections in place. The material itself is down in the shimstock thickness range.
For more information, please visit our website.
With competitive price and timely delivery, ACE sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website sheet metal type frame.