Choose for the job and the environment, then for appearance. A shiny finish does not tell you a fastener's grade, load capacity or corrosion resistance.
Everyday materials at a glance
| Material | Where it may make sense | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Plain steel | Dry indoor repairs, machinery and historically appropriate work | Strength grade, rust and any protective finish. Plain steel needs protection where moisture is present. |
| Brass | Decorative fittings, traditional hardware and appearance-sensitive indoor restoration | Suitability and strength for the job. Do not assume a brass-looking coating is solid brass, or force a small screw against high resistance. |
| Silicon bronze | Selected marine and traditional boatbuilding applications | Actual alloy, joint design and compatibility with surrounding metals. An unidentified bronze-colored screw is not a verified marine fastener. |
| Stainless steel | Many damp and exterior applications when the grade is appropriate | Grade and exposure. Stainless is not a promise of immunity from corrosion; salt, trapped moisture and dissimilar metals change the decision. |
| Plated hardware | Appearance or corrosion protection appropriate to the specified coating | Base metal, coating type and condition. Decorative chrome and ordinary thin plating are not universal exterior specifications. |
Woodworking and furniture restoration
Match the original head and finish where appearance matters. Choose enough engagement to grip the sound wood without reaching an unwanted surface. Damaged holes, brittle old timber and end grain deserve extra attention. Pilot-hole size depends on the screw, timber and maker's instructions; the circles on our printable sheet are outside-diameter comparisons, not drill-size instructions.
Browse wood screwsOutside work and treated timber
Rain, condensation, treatment chemicals and nearby salt can accelerate corrosion. Follow the timber-treatment supplier and connector or fastener manufacturer's recommendations for the actual exposure. A fastener approved for one dry location may be unsuitable for wet or treated wood. Building connections need the specified products and installation details; ordinary restoration stock is not automatically a structural substitute.
Simpson Strong-Tie: corrosion conditions and material selection
Marine, coastal and mixed-metal work
Salt exposure needs a deliberate material choice. Silicon bronze is used in marine work; specified stainless grades can suit many other applications. Manufacturer guidance distinguishes 304/305 products for many wet exterior wood applications from 316 products intended for more aggressive coastal and chloride exposure. A generic stainless catalog label does not establish that an NOS lot is 316. Continuous immersion, crevices, contact with aluminum or another metal, and the original assembly's design all affect suitability. Match the boat or equipment maker's specification and obtain specialist advice for critical joints. Do not replace a fastener based on color alone.
Fastenal: fastener materials · Simpson Strong-Tie: stainless fasteners and exposure
When stainless threads seize
Some stainless combinations can gall - the threads grip and damage one another rather than turning freely. Stop when a part binds. Check the pairing, surface condition and the maker's guidance on installation and suitable lubrication. Lubrication changes installation behavior, so do not carry over a dry torque value without checking its specification.
This page gives typical-use guidance, not a load rating, engineering standard or installation approval for an unidentified NOS lot. Lifting, structural, brake and other safety-critical uses require a verified specification and suitable certified hardware.
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