High-grade stainless screws, nuts and bolts

[gran398]

We are in that phase of the rebuild, attempting to source quality stainless fasteners. Pursuit boats once came with hardened, chrome-plated stainless screws.

Any ideas as to where to find the good stuff?

Thanks!

[Mikerodrig27]

316 stainless is going to be a good one. I generally don't get anything that has chromium plating on it. What can happen is as the stainless starts to galvanically corrode, a layer of hydrogen will build up between the actual fastener and the chromium layer. This will cause the chrome to part from the fastener, and cause all types of pitting and such to happen. Have you ever seen those chrome plated stainless throughulls, nav lights ect... after ten years of use, they always seem to have some sort of issue.

[dburr]

http://www.boltdepot.com/Sheet_metal_screws_Phillips_pan_head_Stainless_steel_18-8.aspx

This will get you to BoltDepot.com.  I was able to get 6 stainless bolts for my Merc 70 power head (head to exhaust plate) and a bunch of other stuff  lower unit bolts etc (shipping included) for the price of three OEM head bolts at the local mid sized Marine store..

Not 316 but it is 18-8..

[MarshMarlowe196]

Back when I was in the Fastener Business, Zodiac boats was one of my accounts.  They had the chrome plated 316 fasteners on hand and wanted me to quote them a price.  They were VERY expensive, and could only be obtained in the thousands per run.  I researched several alternatives to gain their business, and the only solution I could find was a company that plates fasteners if you supply the fasteners.  I couldn't find a single company that sold them already plated.  Zodiac was a member of the IBBI group and I couldn't touch their fastener prices anyway.  So I ended up selling them rubber gloves and facemasks...  

There is a HUGE mark-up on fasteners.  When I was piecing my boat back together, I was still working for this company and enjoyed the deep discounts (cost) I got on fasteners.  I still have some friends that work for this company, or I could ask Pops what he'd charge to part with some fasteners.  Key West buys through IBBI too.  Just PM me if you're interested.

[seabob4]

Get them through Jessie...  

[gran398]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Jess, that is a great offer. Thank you sir!

[Capt Matt]

Fastenal is where I bought mine in 316 stainless
crazy how much nuts and bolts cost
Capt matt

[gran398]

Thanks Matt.

The boys were talking on another thread about Ace. Our local Ace is easy to deal with too, good folks.

 I'd sure like to find some of those chrome-plated 316 oval head screws to put the tank hatch down with.

Eugene mentioned that they are nearly impossible to find...and also said they were specially hardened prior to plating.

I'll work on it today between victims

[saltfly]

like capt. matt I've gotten most of my hardware from Fastenal. I've also bought hardware from McMaster and Carr. You can get catalogs from both. I like the catalogs for ref.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Fastenal was the company I used to work for.  The average markup for S/S fasteners was 5x the cost, and sometimes as high as 8x the cost... not to mention you now have to buy package qty.  

Knowing this made it difficult to keep a straight face when we sold fasteners to walk in customers.

[gran398]

That's heavy, jeez

[Circle Hooked]

Fastenal was the company I used to work for. The average markup for S/S fasteners was 5x the cost, and sometimes as high as 8x the cost...

Sounds like Worst Marine  

[RickK]

Fastenal was the company I used to work for. The average markup for S/S fasteners was 5x the cost, and sometimes as high as 8x the cost...

Sounds like Worst Marine  

Are they (WM) only 8x  

[Circle Hooked]

Fastenal was the company I used to work for. The average markup for S/S fasteners was 5x the cost, and sometimes as high as 8x the cost...

Sounds like Worst Marine  

Are they (WM) only 8x  

Very true, Worst would be 18x  

[saltfly]

I deal with a local fastenal dealer and never had that problem. I’ve bought hardware from a lot of different suppliers, when I worked for a defense contractor. If they wanted my personal or my company  biss. They better not over charge. All so by buying from so many suppliers. I could check their pricing, not only with whole sellers but local retailers. I’ve nerve been charged by Fastenal that much. But you do have to buy in qty. But I’ve only had to buy qty’s of 25. Which was ok with me. I use so much, that the extra, just went in a bin.