Stainless Steel Fasteners: What You Should & Shouldn’t Do

There’s always a list of dos and don’ts when you want to do things right. It works much the same when it comes to selecting and working with a range of stainless steel fasteners. There’s much to be considered before you can buy the nuts, bolts, rivets, screws, and other types of fasteners that you may need. If you want to know what you should and shouldn’t do to avoid common mistakes, just consider the following advice:

What you should do:

• Choose the correct stainless steel grade for your application. Make sure that you consider the environment the fastener will be used in and what elements or chemicals it will be exposed to.
• Lubricate all stainless-steel fastener threads to avoid potential galling.
• Be smart about what surface finish you choose. A smooth almost buffed looking surface will offer superior resistance to corrosion. If the surface is rough or has a satin or brushed finish, chances are that it will tarnish and start to look bad sooner.
• Thicken the chromium oxide layer on the fastener to improve corrosion resistance. This can be done by electro-polishing the fastener.

What you shouldn’t do:

• Minimize the risk of contaminating the fastener which can lead to corrosion. You can do this by only using drivers and tips that are Chrome Vanadium, only using hardened chrome plated Allen keys and by covering the stainless-steel fastener with plastic while it is on the job site to protect it from filings, etc.
• Avoid galvanic corrosion which is caused when 2 dissimilar metals are in contact with each other for an extended period. Make sure that you are using your stainless-steel fasteners with compatible materials.
• Always check how much nickel and manganese content the fastener has. Low nickel and high manganese contents are of an inferior quality and are prone to rust.

Find all the fasteners you need at Marsh Fasteners

Choosing the right stainless steel fasteners for your business is made easy with the help of our team. Simply contact us via email or telephone for more information and advice on our stainless steel fasteners at Marsh Fasteners today.