On Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:51:25 -0400, Joe Gwinn
wrote:

In article , Ed Huntress
wrote:

On Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:40:16 -0400, Ned Simmons
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:27:00 -0400, Ed Huntress
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:59:29 +0700, J.B.Slocomb
wrote:

On Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:06:48 GMT, wrote:

The rod needs to be smooth except for the threads. I will check the die,
it
was $40 which is all I know about it. I did taper the end. It will be used
on a boat, not sure what as this is something for my father. But it can't
stain the wood. I do have a woodworkers lathe which I assume is useless.
My
father is 90 so I am just trying to keep him happy.

If it is for a boat then use 316 stainless as it is far more
"stainless" than other common stainless :-)

As for threading. Try to file the end of the rod that you are planning
on threading. If a file cuts it easily than your problem is the vise
not the threading.


On 20-Apr-2013, wrote:

Looking for 1/4" metal rod I can thread. These will be attached to wood
so
rusting or staining can be a problem since they will be outside. Got a
piece of stainless, the softess I could get but it is too hard to
thread,
have a good vise but with all the pressure It won't hold in the vise.
Even
bought a new die and tapered the end first. Had tried aluminum but it
makes
dark stains. Not into metal stuff so don't know what to look for. Maybe
something coated? Thanks.

As JB says, 316 stainless if you want it to be stain-free.

I didn't notice if this is for fresh water or salt, but if it is for
salt water use and it has any load on it, anything but 316 will
develop stress-corrosion effects that can drive you nuts. Even if
strength isn't an issue, a stressed piece of 304 in salt water will
probably get rust spots or streaks on it.

Sure you're not mixing up stress corrosion and crevice corrosion? Both
304 and 316 are prone to stress corrosion. 316 does resist crevice
corrosion and pitting better than 304.

Stress corrosion is blamed for rusting of sailboat rigging and similar
applications. It's not something I learned from materials science but
rather something I learned as a sailor. I don't know what the
mechanism is. But the story is that 304 gives problems, and 316 does
not. I've seen it, but the descriptions come from experieced boating
people I've known, not from materials scientists.


As far as cosmetic rust spots go in a marine environment, for stuff
out in the open and above the water line, the finish can make a bigger
impact on rust spotting than the the difference between 304 and 316.
It's tough to distinguish between 304 and 316 for parts that are
highly polished and not exposed to stagnant water.

I don't have experience with that, but I'll take your word for it.
Passivating and the quality of the steel are issues, too.

I have a very good book (reportedly a classic) on sailboat rigging:

"The Complete Rigger's Apprentice - Tools and Techniques for Modern and
Traditional Rigging", by Brion Toss, International Marine (a division
of McGraw-Hill), 1998.

The matter of corrosion of stainless steel fittings is discussed at
some length, starting on page 275. Basically, crevice corrosion is the
issue. The mechanism is lack of oxygen in confined spaces, such as
between a stainless steel fitting and the thing it is bolted or crimped
to.

The general solution is to fill such spaces with a compound he calls
"slush", which is composed of 6 parts stockholm tar, 3 parts boiled
linseed oil, 1 part Japan drier, and 1 part spar varnish. I assume
that this is a traditional recipe, handed down in one form or another
since the age of sail.

Also widely used is straight lanolin.

I developed a similar trick in the 1970s to slow automobile
battery-post corrosion down: I smeared the post and the inside of the
clamp with silicon dielectric grease, pushed clamp onto post, and
tightened. This ensured that the space between post and clamp was
filled with silicon grease, preventing wicking of acid into that space.
I should have patented it - now kits to do the same are in every auto
parts store. But it seemed too simple and obvious. I bet a thousand
people had the same experience.

The author also addresses stress corrosion and metal fatigue, largely
in the context of failure swaged connections between fittings and wire
rope. The general solution there is slush plus better mechanical
details.

Anyway, I'd recommend that people read this part of the book for the
practical experience and advice.


Joe Gwinn

It sounds interesting, and enjoyable reading, because I like that old
stuff. Maybe I'll get a chance to look it over. I don't get the
International Marine catalogs anymore. Maybe they gave up on me.

But I'll keep it in mind. Anything to do with sailing catches my
attention even though I don't do much of it anymore.

--
Ed Huntress