"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:21:04 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

On Apr 20, 10:17 pm, wrote:
On Apr 20, 11:12 pm, "David E. Powell"
wrote:





On Apr 20, 9:49 pm, wrote:

Went to buy some stainless 1/4-20 wingnuts from Home Depot for my
boat (Tolman Skiff). All thjey had were some really crappy looking
ones. Sure enough, made in China. I threw them back on the shelf
figuring they were probably pot metal. Cannot trust Chinese made
stuff. Went to Ace and bought some US made ones. They cost a lot
more but I know they are real SS.
Th cheapo Chinese stuff really costs a LOT more than the US made
stuff
if you figure you will likely need to replace the Chinese stuff.
Besides, when I am offshore, I want to be sure my boat will stay
together. My life is worth paying a little more.

Chinese tool quality has come up quite a bit in the past 10-15 years
but I haven't dealt with their fasteners yet, all of the nails and
screws I use are Made in USA. I agree with your point about
replacement being an issue and with a boat, going with the best you
can find is very important. Has anyone else here used Chinese boat
stuff?

The Chinese ones were $1.20 for a dozen while the USA made ones at Ace
were $1.10 EACH. Yeah, I got ripped off but I needed them NOW and
will not put chinese crap on my boat.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

$1.10? i think that's plenty, but when you think about it, it really
isn't that high for quality stainless. At least you know they arn't
going to have their plating turn to corrosion, then powder, then rust
the first month left out in the humidity.

Well, I've gotten some of these "higher" quality SS fasteners and they
are magnetic - which means they will rust.

Not necessarily. Lots of stainless is magnetic. Austenite is the only one
not magnetic and it can become magnetic when cold worked. Also even 310
will rust if heated red hot and then cooled. Lets the carbides precipitate
out. I have a very nice stainless gazing ball stand I made for SWMBO.
Where I had to heat it to get some tight bends, it does show some rust.

On Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:53:24 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:21:04 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

On Apr 20, 10:17 pm, wrote:
On Apr 20, 11:12 pm, "David E. Powell"
wrote:





On Apr 20, 9:49 pm, wrote:

Went to buy some stainless 1/4-20 wingnuts from Home Depot for my
boat (Tolman Skiff). All thjey had were some really crappy looking
ones. Sure enough, made in China. I threw them back on the shelf
figuring they were probably pot metal. Cannot trust Chinese made
stuff. Went to Ace and bought some US made ones. They cost a lot
more but I know they are real SS.
Th cheapo Chinese stuff really costs a LOT more than the US made
stuff
if you figure you will likely need to replace the Chinese stuff.
Besides, when I am offshore, I want to be sure my boat will stay
together. My life is worth paying a little more.

Chinese tool quality has come up quite a bit in the past 10-15 years
but I haven't dealt with their fasteners yet, all of the nails and
screws I use are Made in USA. I agree with your point about
replacement being an issue and with a boat, going with the best you
can find is very important. Has anyone else here used Chinese boat
stuff?

The Chinese ones were $1.20 for a dozen while the USA made ones at Ace
were $1.10 EACH. Yeah, I got ripped off but I needed them NOW and
will not put chinese crap on my boat.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

$1.10? i think that's plenty, but when you think about it, it really
isn't that high for quality stainless. At least you know they arn't
going to have their plating turn to corrosion, then powder, then rust
the first month left out in the humidity.

Well, I've gotten some of these "higher" quality SS fasteners and they
are magnetic - which means they will rust.

Not necessarily. Lots of stainless is magnetic. Austenite is the only one
not magnetic and it can become magnetic when cold worked. Also even 310
will rust if heated red hot and then cooled. Lets the carbides precipitate
out. I have a very nice stainless gazing ball stand I made for SWMBO.
Where I had to heat it to get some tight bends, it does show some rust.

Didn't know that, but these screws were never cold worked that I know
of - supposedly not anyway.

The odd thing is that the original screws/bolts/etc are not magnetic -
the rusted ones are.

I am not sure what ACE hardware store you buy from, but I manage the hardware department of one and I have never charged a $1.10 + for a stainless steel wingnut (1/4-20). We stock Hillman Fasteners in bulk and I would say (not at work right this minute) that at the most they might price at @ $0.45 each. We offer a huge selection of bulk fasteners and yes they do cost more - but our key is that we have hardware the Big Box stores can't even contemplate stocking. We sell by the piece or by the box (with a discount of 20% for full boxes). Charging a bit more allows us to afford to stock such a large variety...

Andy

p.s., Sorry folks, we don't ship... lol

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:59 +0100, Andym
wrote:

I am not sure what ACE hardware store you buy from, but I manage the
hardware department of one and I have never charged a $1.10 + for a
stainless steel wingnut (1/4-20).

ACE hardware - Danielson, CT - $1.15.

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:59 +0100, Andym
wrote:

but our key is that we have
hardware the Big Box stores can't even contemplate stocking.

Not even Home Depot?

Heresy. :)

wrote:
On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:23:58 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:59 +0100, Andym
wrote:

I am not sure what ACE hardware store you buy from, but I manage the
hardware department of one and I have never charged a $1.10 + for a
stainless steel wingnut (1/4-20).
ACE hardware - Danielson, CT - $1.15.

I very recently bought 5 stainless wignuts at an Ace in CT. Slightly larger than
1/4-20, but not much. They were $1.30 each. The cashier gasped at the price I
had written on the little bag, and asked if they were actually 30 cents. When I
told him the price was correct as I had written it, he shook his head and rang
them up.



That must be some wig...needs five nuts to hold it on! :)

Our local John Deere, Stihl, Husqvarna dealer is part of a nice, locally
owned hardware store that charges rational prices for pieces and parts,
and specializes in fasteners. I always shop there first, and avoid the
"chain" stores if I can.

In the good old days when Connecticut was an industrial powerhouse,
there was a place up the road from my father's land-based boat store
that had every fastener imaginable. It was called Roberts, Corozier and
Ballou, or something close to that. It was a huge, warehouse operation
and supplied all the manufacturers in the area, including Sikorsky.
You could find any damned bits and pieces you needed there. I'm sure it
is long gone by now.

On Apr 22, 8:56*am, hk wrote:
wrote:
On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:23:58 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:59 +0100, Andym
wrote:

I am not sure what ACE hardware store you buy from, but I manage the
hardware department of one and I have never charged a $1.10 + for a
stainless steel wingnut (1/4-20).
ACE hardware - Danielson, CT *- $1.15.

I very recently bought 5 stainless wignuts at an Ace in CT. Slightly larger than
1/4-20, but not much. They were $1.30 each. The cashier gasped at the price I
had written on the little bag, and asked if they were actually 30 cents. When I
told him the price was correct as I had written it, he shook his head and rang
them up.

That must be some wig...needs five nuts to hold it on! *:)

Our local John Deere, Stihl, Husqvarna dealer is part of a nice, locally
owned hardware store that charges rational prices for pieces and parts,
and specializes in fasteners. I always shop there first, and avoid the
"chain" stores if I can.

In the good old days when Connecticut was an industrial powerhouse,
there was a place up the road from my father's land-based boat store
that had every fastener imaginable. It was called Roberts, Corozier and
Ballou, or something close to that. It was a huge, warehouse operation
and supplied all the manufacturers in the area, including Sikorsky.
You could find any damned bits and pieces you needed there. I'm sure it
is long gone by now.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Of course it's not there now. It never was.

hk wrote:
wrote:
On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:23:58 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:59 +0100, Andym
wrote:

I am not sure what ACE hardware store you buy from, but I manage the
hardware department of one and I have never charged a $1.10 + for a
stainless steel wingnut (1/4-20).
ACE hardware - Danielson, CT - $1.15.

I very recently bought 5 stainless wignuts at an Ace in CT. Slightly
larger than
1/4-20, but not much. They were $1.30 each. The cashier gasped at the
price I
had written on the little bag, and asked if they were actually 30
cents. When I
told him the price was correct as I had written it, he shook his head
and rang
them up.


That must be some wig...needs five nuts to hold it on! :)

Our local John Deere, Stihl, Husqvarna dealer is part of a nice, locally
owned hardware store that charges rational prices for pieces and parts,
and specializes in fasteners. I always shop there first, and avoid the
"chain" stores if I can.

In the good old days when Connecticut was an industrial powerhouse,
there was a place up the road from my father's land-based boat store
that had every fastener imaginable. It was called Roberts, Corozier and
Ballou, or something close to that. It was a huge, warehouse operation
and supplied all the manufacturers in the area, including Sikorsky.
You could find any damned bits and pieces you needed there. I'm sure it
is long gone by now.



Actually, "Crozier" would be closer to the speeeeeling...

In those days, the old Boston Post Road between New Haven and
Bridgeport, Connecticut, was *the* place to be if you were in the
manufacturing or manufacturing supplier biz. Many of the big companies
had plants there, and the area employed a huge workforce of skilled men
and women. Guns, machine tools, electronics, helicopters, you name it,
and they were making it there. No more, sad to say.

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:40:06 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:23:58 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:59 +0100, Andym
wrote:

I am not sure what ACE hardware store you buy from, but I manage the
hardware department of one and I have never charged a $1.10 + for a
stainless steel wingnut (1/4-20).

ACE hardware - Danielson, CT - $1.15.

I very recently bought 5 stainless wignuts at an Ace in CT. Slightly larger than
1/4-20, but not much. They were $1.30 each. The cashier gasped at the price I
had written on the little bag, and asked if they were actually 30 cents. When I
told him the price was correct as I had written it, he shook his head and rang
them up.

Now that Fastenal has moved into retailing, I've found they are really
good wth various nuts, bolts and such in SS.

At least around here.

wrote:
On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:34:28 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:40:06 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:23:58 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:03:59 +0100, Andym
wrote:

I am not sure what ACE hardware store you buy from, but I manage the
hardware department of one and I have never charged a $1.10 + for a
stainless steel wingnut (1/4-20).
ACE hardware - Danielson, CT - $1.15.
I very recently bought 5 stainless wignuts at an Ace in CT. Slightly larger than
1/4-20, but not much. They were $1.30 each. The cashier gasped at the price I
had written on the little bag, and asked if they were actually 30 cents. When I
told him the price was correct as I had written it, he shook his head and rang
them up.
Now that Fastenal has moved into retailing, I've found they are really
good wth various nuts, bolts and such in SS.

At least around here.

My local Ace has a better selection of stainless hardware than Home Depot and
West Marine combined, and at better prices than either. Defender has a pretty
good selection, but they are an hour away. There is also a great old fashioned
"real" hardware store in East Haven, called Goody's. Old guys wearing canvas
aprons, that like to socialize as they walk around the store with you. If you
need a circuit breaker, and the company that made it went out of business 20
years ago, Goody's will have them. There was a similar place in Meriden years
ago that had several sub-basements crammed with old stock. That one is now gone
I believe.




East Haven? Wow! Haven't been *there* in 40 years. Is it still kinda
sleepy?