Finding hardware made of appropriate metals

[deblen]

Originally Posted by Siberianhusky

In Canada? I buy from Brafasco a lot.
Key is they won't help you!
Know the diameter, thread, length and material you want and they will get what you asked for.
Show up with a bolt in hand and say I want 5 of these and they may tell you to beat it.
I've bought as small a number as 2 bolts before when working on heavey equipment. You got me thinking about my spring purchases now, new pins in my turnbuckles and some setscrews for my stanchions.

Another example of "don't give a damn" clerks/companies or just plain "don't know". All too prevalent these days.

Get yourself one of these in metric & SAE along with a $20 digital caliper.
Survival tools!

Metric Thread Pitch Gauge | Princess Auto

Cheers/ Len

[Siberianhusky]

Originally Posted by deblen

Another example of "don't give a damn" clerks/companies or just plain "don't know". All too prevalent these days.

Get yourself one of these in metric & SAE along with a $20 digital caliper.
Survival tools!

Metric Thread Pitch Gauge | Princess Auto

Cheers/ Len

Would you trust a toothless guy with one arm to get it right? I'm not freakin' kidding! lol.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by Stumble

Lowes and HD cant tell you what grade the stainless they carry is. It will likely work, but I wouldn't trust it.

+1

Don't go cheap on any metals. Invariably the cheap ones are from areas that do not adhere to QC standards.

[UNCIVILIZED]

There's the option of buying say, half a dozen, or a dozen fasteners from a vendor, & taking note of what make & lot number they are from. And then having some testing done on them in order to determine their quality.
Then, if they're up to snuff, go back to the store & buy several full boxes from the same maker & lot number.

That way you've got a much better than average chance of getting the good stuff.
And in this scenario, I'm referring primarily to stainless fasteners. But you can do the same wth Bronze ones, or anything else.

PS: The buying them in bulk thing, can help with their price. Especially if you're buying several sizes, & a good quantity of fasteners, all from the same vendor.
It's just common sense, but as Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers said, "Commmon Sense Isn't So Common".

[Cadence]

Marine grade is a nebulous term. It has absolutely no meaning. Know what grade you are looking for. JMHO

[deblen]

In N.America 316 first & 304/18-8 second.

In EU & probably other places they use equivalent but under Axx number system-which I'm not familiar with.

Stainless Steel Information Knowledge | 18-8 | 304 | 316

[SVrider44224]

Been in the fastener business for 37 years...
A couple points. A decent order for fasteners would be in the realm of 500,000 per month. Per size. This goes down significantly with SS. the 300 Series, often referred to as 18-8, work hardens...something fierce. The combination of the threads (stress risers) and this tendency can lead to stress fractures, which may lead to corrosion. reputable manufacturers take steps to mitigate these. Expect to pay.