A job depends on choosing good mounting materials. In addition to the shape and length of the mounting material, also pay attention to what it is made of. Each type of material has its own properties, which has an impact on the strength, but also the sustainability of your project.

In this blog we tell you the different properties of the materials, so that you have all the knowledge to make a well-considered choice.

Different type of material

Fasteners come in many different materials. We discuss the most common materials and their properties. These are mounting materials made of:

  • Basic steel
  • Galvanized steel
  • Stainless steel (SS)
  • Aluminium
  • Polymer

Note: Not every tacker can shoot every type of material. Firmly attaching polymer fastening materials requires nailers with a tighter magazine, which reduces the chance of the material breaking. Therefore, always read the product description and/or product manual carefully. Are you stuck? Of course, you can always call our specialists for advice.

Basic Steel Fasteners

For situations where the material does not come into contact with moisture, but strength is important, mounting materials made of bare steel can be used. The big advantage of bare steel is that it is cheap. On the other hand, it is protected against moisture and will therefore rust quickly. When this happens, rust stripes may also be visible on the material.

Galvanized Fasteners

When galvanizing steel, the surface of steel is provided with a layer of zinc using electricity. This better protects the mounting material against rust. Galvanized steel is known for its good price-quality ratio. Galvanized steel is an excellent choice for interior jobs.

Stainless-steel Fasteners

If your mounting material comes into contact with water, it is wise to choose stainless steel. Especially when the application is for outdoors, stainless steel is often chosen.

Stainless steel mounting material is more expensive than galvanized steel mounting material. This is mainly due to the high nickel content.

There are 2 main types of stainless steel, namely A2 quality stainless steel and A4 quality stainless steel. At BestFix we mainly sell stainless-steel fastening materials of A2 quality. Do you have a job for which you need stainless steel type A2? Please contact us to discuss the options.

Stainless-steel type A2

This type of stainless steel is the most common. Fasteners of this type of stainless steel will be suitable for standard use in an outdoor environment in a mild climate.

 

Stainless-steel type A4

This type of stainless steel is less common as it is pricier. However, in some cases, stainless steel A4 is picked because it is suitable for extreme conditions. Consider, for example, an outdoor environment on the sea coast or the use of mounting materials in or near a swimming pool with chlorine.

 

Aluminum Fasteners

An alternative to steel fasteners are aluminum fasteners. Aluminum mounting hardware is light and does not rust. In addition, it has a softer alloy, which makes it easier to remove afterwards.

Since it is softer, you can mill through it more easily. This also makes it less suitable for building constructions. In addition, it is also a somewhat more expensive material.

Polymer Fasteners

Finally, there are also mounting materials made of plastic (polymer). Plastic fasteners can be sanded, shaped and cut without damaging drill bits, saw blades, planers, or sanding belts. This makes them popular for holding CNC materials in place.

In addition, with polymer mounting material, you are also assured that it will never rust or stain. It is also not magnetic, which is important in some applications.

Finally, the pull-out value of polymer fasteners is also higher. However, fastening materials have the disadvantage that the shear strength is half as good as metal fastening materials. For this reason, polymer fasteners are not suitable for structural applications.

 

Interested in plastic fasteners? You can find our range of polymer fasteners in our specialized webshop www.polymerfasteners.com.

Help Choosing Fasteners?

After reading this blog, are you still not sure which type of material will be best for your job? Our specialists are ready to help you. Please contact us, we are happy to help!