Stainless steel fasteners are, without a doubt, not just an economical option but also a brilliant choice because of their longevity and durability. Having said that, it would be illogical to think that stainless steel nuts and bolts do not require any maintenance whatsoever. It is highly likely that, without proper care, they are not going to last as long as they are supposed to.

To avoid untimely wear and tear of stainless steel nuts and bolts, one must use the tools that are best suited for them. A setting that is known as the modulus of elasticity plays a pivotal role in the process and decides the pull-out strength and holding capacity. If this one setting is not paid attention to, then it has the potential to make the fasteners unscrew very early.

Here are some things that one can keep in mind for proper maintenance of stainless steel nuts and bolts:

Different grades of stainless steel

For the stainless steel nuts and bolts to function properly in the environment, one has to make sure that they are the right kind and belong to either grade 304 or 316. Among these two the 316 stainless steel nuts and bolts are more resistant to corrosion and rusting than the 304-grade steel and bolts. These grades of steel do come at a higher cost than the rest of their counterparts, but they are great value for the money that is spent as they last longer.

Regular cleaning schedule

Stainless steel needs to be cleaned properly and kept away from dust particles for better performance and longevity. When dust is allowed to settle for a long time on its surface, it starts to eat away the layer that protects the steel from moisture and eventually leads to corrosion.

Lubricating the threads

Wear and tear also often happens because of the sticking together of surfaces that slide together. The friction between the two causes the protective layer on the stainless steel to become weaker and hence, makes the stainless steel more prone to damage and corrosion. The phenomenon that makes this happen is called galling in which the wear and tear happens, due to contact with another surface under force more than is usual.

Electrochemical polishing

Electropolishing is the process through which the layer is maintained on the surface of stainless steel nuts and bolts for its longevity and durability. The process is used to keep the stainless steel well preserved and free of all contaminants. This can be applied to every instrument made out of stainless steel.

Scheduled monitoring

The fasteners often start losing the threads and hence, the grip, because of lack of maintenance and that makes them last a little less long. If the structure has problems that need to be fixed and isn’t given any attention, it can lead to irreparable damage to the whole structure. This can be avoided by setting out time for maintenance and monitoring.