Depending on what your fastening needs are, you may find yourself buying different types of fasteners, zip screws or Tek screws that are made of stainless steel. It is one of the most common materials to use in projects because of its many benefits.
All Points Fasteners has the stainless steel fasteners you need for your next job — contact us about your fastener needs today.
What Is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel fasteners, such as stainless zip screws and stainless Tek screws, are made of an iron and carbon alloy steel that has been mixed with at least a 10% compound of chromium. Chromium is essential in making stainless steel because it provides the passive oxide layer, meaning that stainless steel screws will not rust. Stainless steel may also contain other metals, such as carbon, silicon, nickel, molybdenum and manganese. These other elements are what bring about stainless steel’s great qualities in building and other uses.
Types of Stainless Steel
Though stainless steel is such a popular fastener material, many contractors don’t know that there are several types of stainless available to use. For simplification, we will categorize the types into two different groups:
- Magnetic stainless: Magnetic stainless screws have a small amount of carbon steel in them. It is common for self-drilling screws (Tek screws) to be made with magnetic stainless. A common magnetic stainless is 410 stainless because it is hardened for self-drilling capabilities.
- Non-magnetic stainless: Non-magnetic stainless screws still work great for many projects, though you lose the convenience of using magnetic drivers for installation. Non-magnetic screws are commonly 18-8 stainless, which means it is made up of 18% chrome and 8% nickel.
Benefits of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel fasteners are a quality product that will help you get the job done right the first time. There are many advantages to choosing a fastener made of stainless steel. The benefits include:
- Resistance to rusting and corrosion: If you want screws that won’t rust, stainless steel is your ideal material. The steel mixed with the metal compounds prevents the steel from rust or corrosion. This quality makes stainless steel fasteners great for outdoors or other conditions where there is a lot of water and moisture. The non-magnetic type of fasteners will not rust at all.