Our experienced staff are always happy to provide expert advice and help with your hardware needs. Here are some of the questions we frequently hear:
1. Why do plated fasteners rust and stainless or brass do not? Answer
2. Why do we carry two types of stainless screws? Answer
3. What is the controversy surrounding treated lumber and traditional fasteners? Answer
4. What does “lifetime” warranty mean? Answer
5. How do I anchor items to a wall? Answer
1. Why do plated fasteners rust and stainless or brass do not? The rusting process is Mother Nature’s way of bringing stability back to the world. Steel is a man-made product that is inherently unstable. It has to be protected from oxygen and moisture which is what causes steel to rust. A plated fastener has a zinc coating that delays this process by preventing, for a while, oxygen and moisture getting at the carbon steel. As this coating is scratched or wears away, the rusting process starts. Stainless and brass however are also man made but more stable. They do not react with water and oxygen to rust. However, be warned that there are many grades and some stainless will still rust in aggressive environments. There are also coatings that are now stronger such as the “CRX” coating on our exterior hinges and the double coatings on our deck screws. We search the market to find the fasteners and hardware that are best for the applications of our customers.
2. Why do we carry two types of stainless screws? One type we carry is self-tapping. In this case the threads go all the way to the underside of the head. These make them ideal for boat builders or anywhere that the two pieces of wood being joined are already in tight, intimate contact. There are no voids resulting in a tighter joint. A contractor building a deck however, needs a screw with a shoulder so that the screw pulls the two pieces of wood together. For these construction projects we also carry a shouldered stainless wood screw.
3. What is the controversy surrounding treated lumber and traditional fasteners? The “preserved” wood lumber we used to buy was treated with arsenic, a known carcinogen. Today the use of arsenic is banned. The replacement chemicals react with the galvanized coating on fasteners resulting in their rapid deterioration. Ensure that the fasteners you buy for your treated wood project are suitable. We ensure ours are so you can buy from us with confidence.
4. What does “lifetime” warranty mean? Lifetime in this case is used as marketing tool, it has all kinds of conditions attached although the consumer has forced the manufacturers to live up to it’s simpler, implied meaning. Regardless, lifetime always refers to the designed life of the product, something that is hard for a consumer to judge. We cringe when we see this bold warranty claim as we know it means different things to different people. We tend to side with the consumer’s viewpoint and endeavour to honour replacements. We will also warn the consumer if we believe the item is not designed for the use the consumer has in mind. Regardless, lifetime warranty does not cover abuse either accidentally or out of frustration with failure of the item to work properly.
5. How do I anchor items to a wall? Depends on the item – its physical design, it’s weight, the weight it needs to support, the wall structure. We carry anchors to cover most home applications and some industrial applications. Please ask the staff how to best achieve your installation project.