Screws That Don't Rust

Stainless steel are use extensively on boats , you are probably OK with only four of them because they are expensive by the box, ( but of course all hardware is getting expenive these days)they are not hard to find big box stores should have them along with hardware stores.

can you paint the screws? clear nail polish works for a while as well. Even some stainless steels will discolor or rust (304 or 18-8). 316SS is just too darn expensive, but will hold up the best

Agree on stainless steel. I went around recently to a number of hardware stores including HD and not one of them sold brass screws anymore. Ceramic coated deck screws should also work if you can find the style and size you want. I bought a box of stainless screws years ago and tried a few but found they wouldn't stay tight and tended to back themselves off. Too slippery I guess. Most hardware stores are selling them in blister packs now.

patlaw said:

I need to mount a lamp post light that will have four exposed #10 x 1-1/2" wood screws. Are brass screws the only ones that will not rust?

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stainless as long as it is 316/18 or better...
200 series SS will corrode/rust/tarnish...
and I wouldn't trust chinese made, at all...

I use SS wood screws A LOT, and to be honest, they've been just fine. We live across the street from an ocean beach; salt spray, constant rain, fog, you name it, but I haven't had any issues with the stainless steel screws.
Having said that, I buy them by the 100 count box. I hate the quality of the junk in the blister paks.
I get my stuff from a local shop, Gibsons Fasteners, who cater to the marine industries up here. Not saying the products are the ultimate in quality but I think they'd be concerned enough to make sure the clients were getting decent product.

Use SS for this application. Just painting or coating them is subject to the weather and it could peel off.

I buy my screws online and I get most of them from McMaster-Carr. Way cheaper than buying them local.

https://www.mcmaster.com/

Even with shipping?

I would use stainless steel screws they are very tough and never rust.

roxanne562001 said:

I would use stainless steel screws they are very tough and never rust.

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Never say Never ! (lol)

I use SS in the feet for my CBs and buy them in small quantities as needed from my local ACE Hardware which carries an extensive collection.

Use titanium screws, they may cost you $150.00 a screw but they wont rust. N

neville9999 said:

Use titanium screws, they may cost you $150.00 a screw but they wont rust. N

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True and if the structure fails you can reuse the screw to put your hip back together :nerd:

I used the ceramic coated screws on a fence gate that I replaced five years ago and they still look like new. There were a few colors to choose from as I recall so they blend in with the wood... a little I've used stainless steel screws on my dock and they've shown wear in one season. Perhaps they weren't good stainless steel so your mileage may vary.

I worked with ss fasteners and food packaging equipment for forty yrs . If it won’t hold to a good magnet your good to go.
Tom

here...

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I've always had good results with SPAX screws. The German ones, not the Chinese knock offs. Make sure you get the woodworking screws because the construction ones sold by HD are useless.

Just a thought - if the lamp post light casing is metal there is a risk of galvanic corrosion between the casing and the fasteners if you have an incompatible combination, in which case safest to go for 304 or 316 stainless as it would be unlikely to cause any problems.

Alan

Semipro said:

Stainless steel are use extensively on boats , you are probably OK with only four of them because they are expensive by the box, ( but of course all hardware is getting expenive these days)they are not hard to find big box stores should have them along with hardware stores.

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The big box stores stock stainless in small quantities, often in blister packs Marine stores are another source. Brass is a poor choice, especially for wood screws. If you do not drill pilot holes or the wood is hard the heads can strip and the screws can break. Stainless steeel is the logical choice.

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