The slogan "Everlasting Fastening" conveys our absolute commitment to providing the outdoor construction industry with stainless-steel and copper alloy fasteners of unsurpassed reliability and durability. Custom builders have come to count on us for quality nails, screws and a host of specialized fastening solutions to withstand the tests of time and the elements-routinely outlasting even the best of building materials.

Appearance and Corrosion Resistance

Exposure to extreme weather conditions, high moisture levels, salt air or other caustic conditions pose a serious threat to both wood–and wood substitute–based construction applications alike. Our solid stainless steel, copper and copper alloy fasteners are not subject to corrosion most commonly caused by breaches or failures in surface finishes found on their galvanized and ceramic coated counterparts distributed by other suppliers.

Although corrosion of fasteners can eventually impact structural integrity, unsightly staining, streaking and discoloration are often more common and immediate concerns. Given the high costs of labor, lumber and other building materials, paying a little more for top quality stainless steel fasteners (compared to plain or galvanized steel) is a good step toward preventing corrosion and protecting your investment.

About Stainless Steel Alloys

We use only top-grade stainless steel alloys as designated by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Furthermore, we carry our commitment to quality all the way to the retail shelf by clearly labeling each and every package with its specific alloy grade (e.g. Type 316, 305, 304, etc). This practice not only sets us apart in the marketplace, it assures our customers throughout the supply chain of our dedication to the highest of manufacturing standards and providing exactly the right fastener for the job.

Stainless steel is comprised of iron base alloys containing a minimum of 11.5% chromium. This presence of chromium is key to stainless steel’s corrosion resistant qualities–as it combines with oxygen to form a tough, thin, clear film of chrome oxide on the metal’s surface, insulating the alloy against caustic attack.

Types 304, 305 and 316 used in our fasteners are inherently non-magnetic, nickel/chromium Austenitic grades of stainless steel. Although they're not hardenable by heat treatment, their mechanical properties may be enhanced through wrought processes such as cold heading and roll threading. Types 304 and 305 provide more than adequate corrosion protection in most instances.

Type 316 contains slightly more nickel than 304 and 2-3% molybdenum, giving it better resistance to corrosion than 304, especially in high chloride (salt) environments that tend to cause pitting. It offers superior performance when exposed to sea water and even resists corrosion in sulfuric acid compounds. In fact, we always recommend our Type 316 stainless fasteners for seaside applications.

Type 410 stainless steel used in our self-drilling screws intended for steel substrates is a Martensitic alloy containing 12% chromium but no nickel, making it somewhat less resistant to corrosion than grades 304, 305 and 316. It is magnetic and hardenable by heat treatment, lending it the mechanical properties necessary to penetrate most metals.

Nails Stronger Than Steel

The tensile strength of wire used to produce our stainless steel nails ranges from 125,000 to 150,000 pounds per square inch! Carefully controlled tests of nail strength and shear loading properties show that stainless-steel and plain steel nails have about the same stiffness (+/-5%), although the ultimate lateral loads for stainless nails are about 20% higher than comparable plain steel fasteners.

Installation Tips

On the job site, stainless steel fasteners should be kept as clean as possible before and during use. Surface contaminants such as ingrained or impacted dirt can cause "pitting" by denying oxygen direct access to the metal’s surface, thus preventing formation of the clear [chrome oxide] film that gives stainless steel its stain resistant qualities in the first place. Likewise, any traces of carbon steel accidentally rubbed into the fasteners’ surfaces should always be removed before installation.

Painting over stainless steel nail and screw heads, particularly with latex-based coatings, may trap dirt (or in seaside applications, particles of salt) which may cause reddish stains that can bleed through surface coatings. Fastener heads should therefore be painted as soon as possible following installation to keep any foreign deposits to a minimum.

Given proper installation, our stainless steel fasteners ensure a lifetime of structural integrity and pleasing, stain-free appearance. We call it Everlasting Fastening.