[Public-List] questions about bronze fasteners

Tue May 10 06:08:59 PDT 2011

Thanks Gord.

Too bad that bronze is becoming so expensive.

-jeff

On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 9:01 AM, Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
> Hello friends - I just realized I made a number of grammatical errors in my
> tirade below that make my meaning tough to determine.  If anybody is
> interested in what I was trying to say, the version below may be clearer....
>
> Sorry.
>
> Gord
>
>
>
>
> On 10/05/11 8:54 AM, "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
>
>> 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 in comparisine to galvanized steel or iron...  In particular
> matrix's (ie 7x7) galvanized steel or iron rigging is considerably 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 than the softer and
>> somewhat less corrosion-proof, and cheaper 304.  304 is stronger per diameter
> 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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>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Jeffrey Fongemie

 1305032939.0