mechconst,
The Stainless Steel sheet metal you purchase for the fabrication of your vessel comes with a finish specified on your purchasing specification, including any other limitations you might require. The 2B finish is a standard, brite finish and usually is preserved by a protective plastic film layed on the sheet. The 2B finish is not normaly applicable to the finished product, unless some decorative appearance requirements have been specified in the vessel purchasing documentation. However, I have seen pressure vessels with the protective film attached untill the final inspection, the welds meticulously cleaned and polished. The final light polish of the welds was the only time a power tool came in the contact with this vessel. Laser cutting, highly polished rollers and low energy TIG were the fabrication "secrets".
cheers,
gr2vessels