The Ultimate Automobile Manufacturing Guide

The Advantages Of Using Stainless Steel Fasteners For Your Project

6 July 2017 by Carlos Sullivan

When you are considering fasteners for your project, you have a lot of choices. You may want to consider the environment the finished product will be in, whether or not it will be painted, and the strength of the fastener. Stainless steel bolts, screws, and hardware have some advantages that you may want to consider when making your choice but may not be the best fit for every situation.  

What Is Stainless Steel?  

Stainless steel is made up of several different metals, making it an alloy, not a natural material. Low carbon steel is mixed with chromium, nickel, iron, manganese, silicon, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, molybdenum, titanium, niobium, copper, tungsten, or vanadium to produce stainless steel. It is corrosion resistant and depending on the mix, the grade, hardness, and durability of the steel changes. 

Is Stainless Steel Rust Proof?  

The truth is, stainless steel is not rust or corrosion proof. The level of corrosion resistance is greatly dependent on the grade of the stainless steel and what the alloy is made up of. Talk to an associate at the home center or supplier where you are buying the fasteners about the grades available and the properties of them. There is such a large range of stainless steel alloys that you can choose from so getting the one with the properties you need might take a little research but should be no problem.  

Is Stainless Steel Magnetic?  

Whether or not the stainless steel alloy you are using is magnetic or not is dependent on the original formulation of the alloy. The amount of magnetism will change depending on what is mixed into the steel to create the stainless steel and how much of it is added. If you are looking for a stainless steel that is nonmagnetic, they are available but just because it is stainless steel does not mean it will be.  

Keeping The Fasteners Clean  

Stainless steel can corrode over time if it is not kept clean. If you are using stainless steel screws in the construction of a deck or outdoor structure, you most likely won't want to go clean the screw heads regularly, but if you use stainless steel bolts or hardware on a project that leaves them visible, a quick cleaning occasionally will help keep them looking good and avoid staining the material that they pass through. How to clean them will vary by the alloy but in most cases, just wiping them down with a metal cleaner is enough to keep them looking great.

Contact a company like AUSTIN  MAC INC for more information and assistance. 

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