The maintenance height required for stainless steel hardware depends on the grade and purpose of the hardware product. You need to understand your stainless steel products and determine usage scenarios to understand how to maximize their lifespan through appropriate maintenance

In fact, regardless of maintenance, all grades and finishes of stainless steel may stain or discolor during normal use, but in many cases, if not maintained properly, the service life of the product can be greatly shortened. In order to achieve the longest lifespan under variable conditions, some general guidelines should be followed.

Understand the grades of stainless steel: 316L, 304 (18-8), and 17-4 PH:

316L: This is the most corrosion-resistant grade and is typically suitable for most applications, making it an ideal choice for saltwater applications. 316L is usually more elastic and has lower load limitations than 304 and 17-4 PH. This level requires minimal maintenance in saline water environments. Due to elasticity, 316 is usually not used for fasteners.

304: This grade is more prone to corrosion than 316, but it does provide a higher strength coefficient. 18-8 is very close to 304 and is usually used for fasteners due to strength reasons. 304 is the most commonly used stainless steel grade, but it is not suitable for high chloride environments such as saltwater or swimming pools.

17-4 pH: 17 is equal to the chromium content, and 4 is equal to the nickel content. PH represents precipitation hardening. This brand is known for its strength and heat resistance, rather than corrosion resistance. Although it has certain corrosion resistance, it requires daily maintenance in saline environments. If you use products made of 17-4 PH, such as Suncor anchor plugs, you need to follow a daily maintenance plan.

We do not recommend mixing grades, we recommend using only 316 grade fasteners with 316 grade hardware.

Environment: Salt water proximity and dry/wet conditions

Not all saline environments are the same, and exposure may vary depending on geographical location. Generally speaking, 316 grade is the optimal grade for most saline water applications, whether dry or wet. In some cases, 316 cannot achieve the strength required for specific applications, therefore a grade with poor corrosion resistance is required. In this situation, you sacrificed the strength requirement to increase maintenance a bit. When deciding on a maintenance plan, it is important to keep this in mind.

In all cases where immersion is a part of the usage requirements, stainless steel products will undergo daily maintenance and replacement based on the severity of water conditions, salinity, and immersion time. Only in freshwater, prolonged immersion cycles can lead to the degradation of stainless steel alloys, depending on the oxygen content of the water. In saline water, any immersion can cause serious damage to the alloy, and prolonged immersion cycles, such as mooring or long-term anchoring (over 48 hours), will require routine inspection and/or replacement as part of maintenance. For 304 and 17-4 PH products, these extended immersion cycles should be avoided. When unavoidable, the product should be disassembled, inspected, and cleaned after each immersion cycle.

What do you want to do for maintenance and cleaning

Do not use strong acids and chemical solutions (such as hydrochloric acid, heptanoic acid, methyl ethyl tyrone, or salt spirits). These chemicals will damage your stainless steel hardware. If you accidentally come into contact with suspicious chemicals, you must immediately remove them by rinsing with water and cleaning with a mild car cleaner (car wash). You should avoid using any grinding compounds or metal abrasives to clean stainless steel. If your stainless steel seems to require irritating chemicals or abrasives for cleaning, you need to reconsider your maintenance plan.

Always use ready-made car or boat wash products to clean your stainless steel hardware. In extreme staining or corrosion situations, you can use derived citric acid products such as Citrus Surf while following safety and usage instructions. Marine polishing products like Flitz or Prism Polish can also be used for cleaning and adding a slight layer of protection to your stainless steel hardware.

If you are unable to easily clean stainless steel hardware with the recommended products, you should reconsider your maintenance plan.

Stainless steel and galvanized materials
Both stainless steel and galvanized steel prevent corrosion by forming a sacrificial layer of protective oxides. Stainless steel forms an almost invisible layer of chromium oxide, while galvanizing forms a relatively thick layer of zinc oxide, according to the metallurgical consultant website.
Ultimately, the zinc oxide coating on galvanized steel will wear out, making it susceptible to corrosion and weather conditions. Stainless steel contains chromium throughout, so its protective layer is constantly replenished.
Stainless steel has a glossy and deep luster, and can also be finished with different types of gravel to give it a different appearance. Galvanized materials are always gray and have no luster.