[Heathkit] Stainless Hardware

[jeremy-ca]

All that austenitic (304 family) does is add a 6-8% nickel or molybdenum 
content. It has the lowest magnetic response of any of the major categories. 
A good automotive hose clamp is of the 304 family as is stainless exhaust 
system hardware and all current yagi hardware that I'm aware of. A small 
magnet will generally not show much, if any, response but is never a 100% 
indication since the Gauss rating can be just about anywhere depending upon 
the magnets original purpose.

Ive only seen an inferior corrosision resistant hardware grade on the 
earliest Hi Gain antennas when they first switched from Grade X steel. They 
corrected that very fast and supplied free replacements.

Im sure that some of the cheap import consumer items use the basic 430 
ferritic grade but you can be sure that marine, restaurant and hospital 
grades do not.

I deal with stainless in the building of street rods and have seen a wide 
range of quality passed off as "the best" over the years.

Carl
KM1H



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Youngman" <nq5t at tx.rr.com>
To: <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 2:53 PM
Subject: RE: [Heathkit] Stainless Hardware


>
>> All stainless is magnetic to one degree or another, the base
>> metal is still
>> steel. Chromium is the primary metal used in the alloy of all
>> the grades and
>> varieties and it provides a protective oxide coating.
>
> Yes, but high grade austenitic steels with Ni added will generally have a
> significanly lower magnetic permeability than the cheap Cr-only stainless
> steel grades such as 430, which is very magnetic (commonly used in 
> solenoid
> plungers, cheap outdoor "stainless" grills, etc) and WILL rust.
>
> The "magnet test" may not be foolproof for a variety of reasons, but would
> certainly seem to have some validity.
>
> Grant/NQ5T
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
> $$ See the vintage area on the HCI web site - http://www.w9wze.org $$
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Youngman" <nq5t at tx.rr.com>
To: <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 2:53 PM
Subject: RE: [Heathkit] Stainless Hardware


>
>> All stainless is magnetic to one degree or another, the base
>> metal is still
>> steel. Chromium is the primary metal used in the alloy of all
>> the grades and
>> varieties and it provides a protective oxide coating.
>
> Yes, but high grade austenitic steels with Ni added will generally have a
> significanly lower magnetic permeability than the cheap Cr-only stainless
> steel grades such as 430, which is very magnetic (commonly used in 
> solenoid
> plungers, cheap outdoor "stainless" grills, etc) and WILL rust.
>
> The "magnet test" may not be foolproof for a variety of reasons, but would
> certainly seem to have some validity.
>
> Grant/NQ5T
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
> $$ See the vintage area on the HCI web site - http://www.w9wze.org $$
> Heathkit mailing list
> Heathkit at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/heathkit
>