stainless steel nuts and bolts

Hi,

Looking at Tool station prices, BZP nuts and bolts are much cheaper than the stainless steel versions. The stainless steel is approximately four times more than the BZP. So why is it that SS washers cost about the same as BZP washers? Why is there not the same

4x differential? Is it that less machining is involved to manufacture them?

Is there any reason to buy BZP washers when you can have SS for the same price?

TIA

Reply to
Fred
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Probably because washers are stamped but nuts and bolts machined. Stainless is a bit more difficult to machine than mild steel.

Reply to
newshound

BZP washers require more manufacturing operations than SS. they both need stamping and then the stainless is finished. The BZP then need cleaning, plating, cleaning, etc.

Stainless screws need different manufacturing to BZP.

Reply to
dennis

I thought most bolts and screws were rolled???

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Horse's bolt, people get screwed and joints are rolled ;-) simples

Reply to
whisky-dave

You owe me a lid then.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

I thought I'd had some machined stainless bolts or studding a while ago but, quite right, my latest M8s are rolled. The nuts are tapped, though.

Reply to
newshound

Though you might well find they're using fluteless taps which just displace the metal rather than cutting it - so similar in principle to rolled threads...

Reply to
docholliday93

In most circumstances I don't see a problem with that. Sometimes stainless can become embrittled, but that's referring to studs and bolts.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

Thanks. That seems obvious now but I hadn't thought of that before. This may be another daft question but BZP is bright zinc plated. Why "bright"? Is there a dull zinc too? TIA

Reply to
Fred

Crickey. How can you tell? TIA

Reply to
Fred

passivated. I cant recall what with, but I think its zinc chromate - yellowish greenish layer that you see on a lot of steel kit.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Thanks.

Reply to
Fred

Well, they *look* tapped to me, under a magnifying glass. And I am a tribologist.

Reply to
newshound

They can't touch you for it.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

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