Stainless bolts and nuts source?

[Formerjeeper]

Any suggestions for good online source of stainless hardware? Need to get 25-30 stainless bolts, washers, nuts etc. and doubt that Lowe’s or HD will have what I need. Just a double gate repair converting pulled-out screws to through-bolts but don’t feel like driving to multiple stores to piece together what I need.

Thanks

 

[DerekV]

McMaster-Carr

 

[chappys4life]

fastenal? usually there is one local

 

[RTM]

McFeely's

https://www.mcfeelys.com/screw-fast...on/stainless-steel.html?screw_point_type=3786

 

[Formerjeeper]

Thanks. Does Fastenal require a business account? If not I’ll start there. McMaster is my backup plan.

 

[TuxThePenguin]

McMaster, BoltDepot, Fastenal are ones I use (in that order)

I do not have a business account with any of them

Fastenal is a chain by the way. You might even have one near you. They are usually only open weekdays 8/9-5 though.

 

[Chucktin]

Another possibility is a local marina. Tho they'll usually charge a premium so only when strictly necessary.

 

[yugami]

If you have one near you Ace generally has a good selection of stainless.

 

[bimmer1980]

If you don't have a business account with Fastenal, ask for contractor cash rate..... List price at Fastenal can be a bit ridiculous, but company pricing or contractor pricing can be quite reasonable.

Pending what you need (size, length) they may have to order it in from the warehouse. I would suggest calling or set up an online account.

Also, be careful of the grades of stainless. You need to make sure the nut and the bolt are of complementary grades, otherwise they will gall up and seize as turn them together. I don't remember the two alloys that work well together.... maybe 316 and 304..?? If you get both the same grade, they will most likely seize up.....

 

[pcmeiners]

Bolt depot

https://www.boltdepot.com/Catalog.a...1WfwY1DAl4m0pa9_FmnWz2LmqY28a0NRoCaRgQAvD_BwE

 

[marinusdees]

Manasquan Premium Fasteners??

 

[MoonRise]

Try Bolt Depot (mentioned already).

And use never-seize!

BTDT, on some stainless nuts and bolts once. IIRC they were 1/2, but they completely seized up. We had to 'torque-to-yield' and beyond, because they COMPLETELY galled together. I think we used a 'small' cheater bar, something like a 6 or 8 foot long piece of pipe. And we pulled HARD on that extension. So that we could twist the seized units until they snapped in half.

Ideally you want to use different grades of stainless on the nut and the bolt to (slightly) reduce the chances of galling. Don't rely on that working 100% though. Use the never-seize, liberally.

Did I mention to use some never-seize yet?

 

[Phantomd]

I work in the food industry so stainless is standard. Mcmaster and Fastenal have always been my sources.

Galling is tricky too, you can't torque the piss out of stainless bolts like you do with steel.

 

[AA/FC]

My suggestion: If you have a Menards where you live, they will most likely have what you're looking for. They do stock stainless nuts bolts and washers in their stores... at least in my area they do.



Disclaimer:
The following post will not help the OP find his stainless bolts..... This post is a rant about Fastenal after seeing that company name posted in this thread. My rant is NOT against whoever posted Fastenal in this thread, it's against Fastenal as a company. Do NOT take this post personally!


Don't bother with Fastenal. They hate walk-in customers and will NOT have what you're looking for anyway. They do NOT want to sell a small handful of fasteners to one guy, they want to sell a truck load of commercial and industrial supplies to large corporate accounts. The Fastenal counter guys view the average walk-in customer as "annoying". I stopped buying there many years ago. My nearest store is only 2 miles away AND I even have a charge account there but I never use it. I would rather buy from McMaster and not deal with the attitude.

It amazes me why Fastenal even has retail locations with a "store front". They have no desire to sell to the public.... they could easily just have a commercial office space tucked back into an industrial office park and supply their commercial customers just fine without having to deal with the general public.

And lastly: Before I stopped buying from them, they usually didn't even have what I was looking for anyway. Sure, they could order it.... but so can I. My computer places on-line orders just as easily as their computer. lol.

The LAST time I was in there, I was looking for 1/4-20 left hand thread bolts. Nope, none! Keep in mind this is a company named "Fastenal" that specializes in fasteners... No 1/4-20 left hand thread bolts. That's okay, the hometown hardware store 5 blocks away has a FAR better supply of fasteners than Fastenal and I was able to buy my 1/4-20 left hand thread bolts from them. They have a large supply of left hand thread bolts IN STOCK.

Don't waste your time with Fastenal...

 

[joe_padavano]

If all you're looking for is low-grade 304 SS fasteners, HD, Lowes, Tractor Supply, Ace, whatever will likely have them. Of course, HD and Lowes are guaranteed to be out of the size you need. McMaster and others are expensive but have a far better selection and also have high strength stainless fasteners if you need those. Bolt Depot is good. I've also used Totally Stainless, but mainly for automotive applications.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Zoro has been good for odd stuff I have needed.

 

[visionguru]

Graingers

 

[ZRX61]

Disclaimer:
The following post will not help the OP find his stainless bolts..... This post is a rant about Fastenal after seeing that company name posted in this thread. My rant is NOT against whoever posted Fastenal in this thread, it's against Fastenal as a company. Do NOT take this post personally!


Don't bother with Fastenal.

They're also responsible for me no longer buying GW tools after they took ******** months to warranty a 1/4drive ratchet.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

If all you're looking for is low-grade 304 SS fasteners, HD, Lowes, Tractor Supply, Ace, whatever will likely have them. Of course, HD and Lowes are guaranteed to be out of the size you need. McMaster and others are expensive but have a far better selection and also have high strength stainless fasteners if you need those. Bolt Depot is good. I've also used Totally Stainless, but mainly for automotive applications.

This couldn't be more accurate!

I actually find McMaster to be the cheapest for this stuff. Often times a box price is the same price as a few individual bolts from a hardware store. Obviously, shipping plays a role in pricing, but it's always reasonable in my experience. I also like that I can pick the grade of stainless from McMaster vs whatever Chinesium grade I get a the hardware store.

 

[Rinspeed]

Send me a PM, I might be able to help you out.

 

[Can I try?]

Albany County Fasteners

https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com

 

[Newell33]

I realize you're probably not looking for metric hardware, but I've used www.Belmetric.com in the past for some metric black oxide bolts that I couldn't find anywhere else. I stumbled upon them online a few months ago.

 

[Phantomd]

I actually find McMaster to be the cheapest for this stuff. Often times a box price is the same price as a few individual bolts from a hardware store. Obviously, shipping plays a role in pricing, but it's always reasonable in my experience. I also like that I can pick the grade of stainless from McMaster vs whatever Chinesium grade I get a the hardware store.

McMaster does next day shipping on all their business accounts. Not sure if that's just business addresses since they don't really do the traditional account thing.

I spent $30k there one year for the smallish food facility I bought parts for.

 

[BonzoHansen]

McMaster is local to me so i get them there.

Actually not right now, the will call window is closed due to covid.

 

[MoonRise]

On the several little things I have looked up, Bolt Depot was a LOT less expensive than Albany County. YMMV.

McMaster has lots of different choices usually, but again a bit more expensive than Bolt Depot. Again, YMMV.

re: galling My tale of woe that I mentioned above happened before we even were torquing the nut/bolt, it galled while still like 1/2" away from even starting to snug up the joint! By hand, not using any power tools at all, so it wasn't like we went 'too fast'.

Did I mention to use never-seize yet? Liberally?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

On the several little things I have looked up, Bolt Depot was a LOT less expensive than Albany County. YMMV.

McMaster has lots of different choices usually, but again a bit more expensive than Bolt Depot. Again, YMMV.

re: galling My tale of woe that I mentioned above happened before we even were torquing the nut/bolt, it galled while still like 1/2" away from even starting to snug up the joint! By hand, not using any power tools at all, so it wasn't like we went 'too fast'.

Did I mention to use never-seize yet? Liberally?

And don't even think about an impact of any kind to speed things up......trust me.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Fastenal or Automotive Fasteners are the two chain stores near me and they have a wide variety and Ace Hardware has a lot of stainless ones too


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[Formerjeeper]

This is awesome, thanks much everyone. Just placed the order with McMaster and will use nickel anti-seize!