316 Stainless Steel, also known as A4 stainless, has a higher nickel content as well as the addition of molybdenum to keep it corrosion free for much longer than 304 stainless (also known as 18-8 or A2). While only costing slightly more, the advantages in corrosion resistance are extreme. We only carry marine grade 316 stainless for that reason.

The passivation process enhances the corrosion resistance of our fasteners by removing surface contaminants such as free iron. This process wards off surface rust and keeps our fasteners shinier for longer. Read more about the passivation process here.

Our 316 Stainless Steel fasteners excel in a marine environment such as on a boat or dock, but the properties of 316ss make it ideal for many other applications as well. Environments with exposure to acidic substances, exposure to high temps, food grade applications, use in the medical industry, chemical processing, and anywhere that corrosion resistance is paramount.

Big box stores, hardware stores, and online retailers have a habit of selling "stainless steel" fasteners without labelling it's grade. There are approximately 150 different grades of stainless steel. Your project is likely too important to rely on a mystery stainless. We only carry 316, because it's what we'd use ourselves.