[Public-List] questions about bronze fasteners

[Gordon Laco]

This is an interesting topic.

Stainless steel is not particularly 'strong'.... But due to it's appearance
and longevity in rigging, it is now used almost exclusively.   Most sailors
today can't believe that galvanized steel rigging is considerably more
suitable for rigging than SS.  This is because SS is so brittle and prone to
metal fatigue... And in particular matrix's (ie 7x7) it is stronger per
diameter than SS.

There are alloys of bronze that are 'stronger' than stainless steel... An
example would be aluminium bronze.  However, most such alloys are
considerably more expensive than stainless steel.   Because there are so
many alloys of bronze available, it is important to have good reasons to
have faith in the veracity of your bronze gear's maker's claims of what
alloy they supply.  That's a whole separate topic and I have amusing stories
I could tell with a beer in front of me.

Much is sometimes made of 'high quality' 316 grade stainless steel vs 'lower
quality' 304 grade stainless steel.   An interesting fact is that while 316
will look shinier for longer... It is more brittle and the softer and
somewhat less corrosion-proof and cheaper 304.... is stronger even though it
won't look as good after years in service.

Another issue with stainless steel is that it needs to be exposed to O2 in
air for the anti-corrosive properties 'work'.  It is for this reason that
appropriate alloys of bronze are better for fastenings in places where they
will live buried in the materials they hold or underwater, than stainless
steel.  So wrapping it with too much tape,  or putting plastic bags over
various rigging components (or anything) during winter lay-ups are counter
productive practices when dealing with stainless steel rigging.

And so on....

Gord #426 SURPRISE



On 10/05/11 5:57 AM, "Jeffrey" <fongemie at gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree Michael. What I don't like about working with stainless is
> that while I'm sure it is stronger, it gives no feedback to when it
> fails. For example, when putting screws into a hard wood, stainless
> goes in ok right up to the point where it snaps the head off or strips
> the head. With bronze, it seems that you can feel it start to stress,
> as if the head is twisting a little, then springs back. It is subtle,
> but I do notice it. Gives you the chance to make a correction, drill a
> better pilot hole etc.
> 
> -Jeff Fongemie
> #116 Seagrass
> 
> http://picasaweb.google.com/fongemie
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 9:58 PM,  <crufone at comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Brian,
>> 
>> I don't believe that Stainless holds up well in a salt water environment.
>> As with Bronze there are many alloys of Stainless. Some are more salt water
>> resistant than others. But if I had the choice between silicon bronze and
>> stainless fasteners for the same application I would always choose silicone
>> bronze.
>> 
>> Michael #133
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "brian curry" <brian_curry at hotmail.com>
>> To: public-list at lists.alberg30.org
>> Sent: Monday, May 9, 2011 4:40:30 PM
>> Subject: [Public-List] questions about bronze fasteners
>> 
>> 
>> Hi everyone,
>> 
>> Looking for some help here.  I am looking to do several projects with the
>> wood on my boat and am wondering is anyone can give me answers to some
>> questions:
>> 
>> 1.  Without measuring, does anyone know offhand how many sizes and lengths of
>> fasteners are used on our A 30s?
>> 
>> 2. Are silicon bronze fasteners the same as bronze fasteners?
>> 
>> 3.  Where is the best place to buy bronze fasteners?  I have been looking
>> online at Jamestown Distributors (example box of 100 #8 x 1/2 is $8.70/box.)
>>  I would like to buy basically what I would need, meaning various sizes, to
>> use on the boat.
>> 
>> Finally if anyone has another idea INSTEAD of bronze fasteners, please let me
>> know.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Brian Curry
>> Tampa Fl
>> Makai 151
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Brian Curry, Executive Director
>> The Sustany Foundation
>> www.sustany.org
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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