On Fri, 01 May 2009 03:01:12 GMT, "Lew Hodgett"
wrote:


"Bruce in Bangkok" wrote:

Well, obviously things get a bit confused after a while. I must
admit
that I didn't follow the thread when it started. Just chimed in when
the comment about no stainless that don't corrode under water came
up.

As long as you brought it up again, "stainless" actually should be
written as "Stain Less".

Sooner or later, it all pits.

About all 304 (AKA: 18-8) is good for is cooking pots and pans, also
classified as intermittent service..

It certainly has no place in a marine environment, IMHO.

316L is a step up the food chain, but even that has it's limitations.

Lew


From the Wiki (the font of all knowledge :-)

In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox, is
defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 11% chromium content by
mass.[1] Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as
ordinary steel (it stains less), but it is not stain-proof.
--------------

I wouldn't argue that 304 is the alloy of choice for marine use but I
have rails on a 40' boat that were built from 304 and 10 after years
of use there is no corrosion on them.

I have this feeling that people read recommendations as carved in
tablets of stone rather then as conservative suggestions. As I said in
another post the rudder post (built in 1973) is stainless with no
signs of corrosion yet...


Cheers,

Bruce in Bangkok
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)