QUESTION:STAINLESS STEEL

[JH007]

HARD STUFF. DOES IT RUST?
PLEASE ADD WORDS OF WISDOM. WHERE TO USE IT AND WHERE NOT TO.

[Capt. Brian Daley]

Thats up to your wife or girlfreind

[Flatdog]

First of all the harder you go, the more brittle!!!! so use were no flexing or little will take place, difficult on a boat, as were you realy want to put it most likely the place with alot of movement!! Also in the word stainless there is worldwide two little things missing an extra "S" and a "-" the word should read STAINS_LESS, they all rust or mark up over a period of time but harder stainless has more chance to last the mile. As it has a higher chromium content.

[Avenger]

The metallurgists got into it on this thread: IS IT STAINLESS ... OR IS IT BULLSHIT?

You might find your answers there.

[Banshee]

The most common SS screws are the 18-8. yse it does rust a little, but most of that is from the screwdriver bit or screwdriver you use. The best screws and more expensive and hard to find are monel, They do not rust and in my opinion a better screw.
JW

[Outriggers]

I believe the 316 grade stainless is considered to be the Marine Grade. Most suppliers don't carry it but it can be special ordered if you can't find it on the shelf.

Careful when using self tapping screws in items like hardtop piping. they will break off pretty easy. Use a lube on them to help and drill a hole that is close to the size needed.

[Rboats]

Like flatdog says & the name suggests...stainLESS.
Kinda soft as metals go. But polishes nicely, and looks great most anywhere.
It can be tortured into bends w/ heat and can be polished back.
That's what we had to do w/ the strikecap on the Cape Horn 36.
It didn't want to make the sweep in the sheer.
Some heat, sneak up on it, and the polish it up.
Nice...or at least I think so.

[Tuna Tyme]

Not all Stainless Steel is made the same. Most of the angle and plate you see in shops is 304 and 308 works well for you hose reel next to your house but NOT ON A BOAT it WILL RUST. It has just enough nickle in it to keep it from rusting in fresh water, but 316 is better for boats. Even then I have seen 316L when welded rust along the edge of the weld because the nickle bakes out. When I weld stainless for the boat I use A High Nickle Rod like 317L because it adds more Into the weld. Marine grade 316 SS hardware is higher grade then regular 316. Alot of cheaper stuff is coming from China and India that has very little Nickle,Chromium and Molybdenum in it and is still stamped 316 but will stick to a magnet.