Solid stainless steel fasteners are available in several alloy types. The properties of the alloys used to manufacture our fasteners are shown in the "Chemical & Physical Properties Chart". Generally, AISI types 302, 304 and 305 stainless will provide excellent corrosion protection in most situations. However, in saltwater or other high chloride atmospheres, these alloys may pit and discolor. This may cause color to bleed through finishes and lead to streaking in the wood surrounding a nail or screw head. To prevent this from happening, AISI type 316 stainless fasteners are recommended for any application exposed to saltwater (including immersion).


Some Stainless Steel Alloys May Be Magnetic
From time to time we get a frantic call from a customer worried that the fasteners they received aren't stainless because they jammed a refrigerator magnet in the box and the nails or screws stuck to it. Some alloys, particularly 410 and 18-8 types, which include 302 and 304SS, may exhibit magnetic properties after being subjected to the severe stresses produced when cold working (forming the head, etc.) during fastener manufacture. This is especially the case when cold forming smaller items, such as screws & nails. Type 316 and type 305 stainless steel generally will not develop these magnetic properties because of higher nickel content.

18/8 Stainless Steel is a term used to describe 300 series stainless steel alloys containing approximately 18% Chromium and 8% Nickel. Type 302, 303, 304, 305 and others of this series of close chemical compositions are all 18/8 stainless steels. Corrosion properties of the 18/8 types are similar. All provide excellent performance in most applications. 18/8 stainless is superior to the 410 stainless in corrosion resistance but not as corrosion resistant in saltwater as type 316.

Remember! Type 316 Stainless Steel is recommended in saltwater and other highly corrosive exposures to prevent fastener pitting and/or head discoloration and possible bleeding through finishes.

When selecting a self-drilling screw for penetrating through steel studs or other light steel projects, type 410 stainless is necessary. 300 series stainless steel cannot be case hardened and doesn't have the ability to penetrate steel. Type 410 stainless steel is a case hardenable steel providing a good balance between anticorrosion properties and steel penetration ability. For increased corrosion protection while maintaining good self-drilling properties in steel you should consider using Marutex® self-drillers. These are made from an alloy similar to 410 stainless but which also contains molybdenum, the metal element that makes type 316 stainless so corrosion resistant in corrosive atmospheres.

Our hand-driven nails are manufactured in the USA. Many of our other fasteners are imported and may be sourced from Canada, China, Mexico, India, Korea, Taiwan or the USA, depending upon availability.