[TowerTalk] 306 stainless steel

[Grant Saviers]

316 is not easy machining.  The (better) marine industry now uses it in 
316L grade which has lower carbon.  This prevents alloy redistribution 
from the heat which causes welded joints to rapidly corrode.  316L is 
also the most corrosion resistant 300 grade.  Ask McMaster for certs on 
the u-bolts you are considering, since the detailed specs say 316 (which 
is probably ok).

All stainless has crevice corrosion problems if there is no oxygen to 
reform the oxide layer.  Probably not an issue in u-bolts, but has been 
in sailboat keel attaching bolts.  Bronze alloys are better.

Hot dip galvanized u-bolts might have a 3 to 10 year marine environment 
life. Probably good for the life of an antenna in no/low chloride 
environments.  (why different than a tower?)  They look fine on my (low 
chlorides air) antennas after 20 years.  see

https://galvanizeit.org/knowledgebase/article/the-performance-of-hot-dip-galvanized-steel-in-water-environments

Grant KZ1W


On 6/3/2021 15:02, Richard Smith wrote:
>   I Googled:
> "tensile strength of 304 and 316 stainless steel" and the result shows that the two alloys have very close tensile strengths and yield strengths.
> 
> I bought a bunch 316 SS hardware, planning to use them at the PJ4K station on Bonaire, but with the travel restrictions haven't been able to go and try them yet. It may take some months or years to see a difference between 304 SS and 316 SS, but the Caribbean is a good test bed.
> 73, Rich, N6KT
>      On Thursday, June 3, 2021, 09:55:03 AM PDT, jim.thom jim.thom at telus.net <jim.thom at telus.net> wrote:
>   
>   I'm going to buy some  U bolts from mcmaster carr....and they come in  316
> marine grade stainless, with mating  316 stainless  nylocks.  Other than
> corrosion resistance,  I believe  316  SS  is the same strength as 304
> SS,  but I am not sure about this.  These are the insulated type  U bolts,
> like  VE6WZ uses on his 80+40m yagis.
> 
> I have never seen  316  SS.  Has anybody had experience with  316  SS  ??
> 
> Jim  VE7RF
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