Stainless steel is used primarily for long-lasting applications, due to its corrosion-resistant nature and durability. At Albany County Fasteners we stock fasteners various stainless steel grades to provide an appropriate solution for any fastener application.
Stainless Steel Grades:
18-8 Stainless Steel – (18% Chrome, 8% Nickel, .08% Maximum Carbon) – This is the standard grade for stainless steel fasteners. They are corrosion-resistant and durable. They are often used in marine applications in freshwater environments, but will not work as effectively in a salt water environment.
304 Stainless Steel – (17%-19% Chrome, 8%-12% Nickel, .08% Maximum Carbon) – This is a superior grade of 18-8 stainless steel. 304 Stainless steel is often used to make Machine Screws, Cap Screws, Sheet Metal Screws, Hex Cap Screws and all cold headed or hot forged fasteners. It is often used in food service and dye applications because of its ability to resist the corrosive properties of organic acids.
305 Stainless Steel – (17%-19% Chrome, 8%-10% Nickel, .12% Maximum Carbon) – This grade has been developed specifically to improve the cold heading qualities of 18-8. This grade does not work-hardened products are actually made from this grade even though they are referred to as being made from type 304 Corrosion resistance and physical qualities are equal to Type 304. 305 stainless steel is used to make deck screws, which are used (shockingly) to fasten wood or composite boards to the main beams of a deck.
 |
Square Drive Deck Screw-305 Stainless Steel |
316 Stainless Steel – (16%-18% Chrome, 10%-14% Nickel, .08% Maximum Carbon, 2.00% Maximum Molybdenum) – This grade of stainless steel is used and recommended for applications in severe or harsh environments. Its corrosion resistance is greater than 18-8 stainless, which is why we recommend using 316 stainless steel fasteners for salt water environments. It is important to remember that even the salt in the air near a body of salt water can do damage to dry applications, so 316 is the material of choice. Common applications of 316 stainless steel fasteners include boats, docks and piers.
410 Stainless Steel – (11.5%-13.5% Chrome, .15% Maximum Carbon) – Due to the fact that this grade of stainless steel can be hardened up to approximately 40 Rockwell C, it is durable in most environments. It is commonly used to make roofing screws and siding screws and self tapping (or self drilling) screws, because it is a harder material than the metal being fastened in these types of applications.