Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Stainless Rod

Here’s where buying stainless steel rods and bars - or any stainless product, for that matter - can get really confusing. The ‘grade’ of a stainless alloy product denotes precisely what its intended application or environmental resistance will be, and this is dictated by both the specific chemical/elemental makeup of the alloy in question, as well as any finishing or treatment process it has undergone after casting.

As you can probably imagine given the range of options already outlined in this guide, this leaves us with a bewildering number of potential grades of stainless steel (over 150, in fact, although only around 15 of these are especially common in everyday construction use). Worse still, there isn’t even one universal method for grading stainless steels - while there is often a large degree of crossover, specific grading scales do technically vary from country to country!

Stainless steel grading systems are intended to give users an indication of both the subtype of alloy used, and the range of applications a product is therefore suited to. You’ll typically see them written as numbers, occasionally numbers and letters, with a few common examples being:

There are numerous processes that might be applied to metal to give it ideal characteristics, and a great example here is the realm of threading. Virtually anyone reading this has seen multiple examples of threaded metal, including things like studs, screws and other items that are often used as fasteners between items.

At Wasatch Steel, we’re happy to offer a wide range of steel products and services for any job or project you have a need for. One particular form of metal that’s often threaded for varying purposes is stainless steel — why is this done, what are some of the key benefits of stainless steel threaded rod, and how can you go about certain additional processes with this form of steel? Here’s a general rundown.

What is Stainless Steel Threaded Rod?

As its name indicates, stainless steel threaded rod is simply a rod composed of stainless steel. It’s a long, cylindrical shape with threads running along its entire length, and it can come in different diameters to accommodate different purposes. This particular form of steel is popular because of the various benefits it confers.

It’s common to find stainless steel threaded rod across several industries where fastening and related themes are needed. For instance, construction and electrical are two examples where this form of steel is often put to good use.

The Advantages of Stainless Steel Threaded Rod

As we noted above, stainless steel is only one of several metals that can be threaded in a rod format. How does it compare to other options here?

There are quite a few reasons why stainless steel threaded rod is such a popular choice for various applications. Here are some of the main advantages that make this material stand out:

– It’s highly resistant to corrosion, meaning it can withstand even the harshest weather conditions and industrial environments without being affected.

– It’s strong and durable, meaning it can handle a great deal of tension without breaking or bending.

– It’s easy to clean, so any dirt or grime that might accumulate can be quickly wiped away without issue.

– Its aesthetic properties are top-notch, so it can be used in visible applications where appearance is key.

These advantages make stainless steel threaded rod an ideal option for a wide range of needs.

Common Uses of Stainless Steel Threaded Rod

There are a huge range of possible uses for stainless steel threaded rod, mostly within the realm of fastening and similar needs. Here are some examples:

• Joining wood and metal: If you need to join two pieces of wood or metal together, this form of steel can be threaded through both materials to create a solid connection. Screws and studs are some of the most common applications here.
• Attaching hangers: Hangers are often used in construction and other applications, and threaded rod can be used to easily attach them to the desired surface.
• Securing cables: Cables need to be held in place from time to time, and threaded rod is often used for this purpose as well.
• Stabilizing structures: If you need to stabilize a particular structure, threaded rod can be used to provide additional support. In fact, this material is often used to stabilize not only metal or wood, but also concrete walls or ceilings.
• New structure construction: If you’re starting from scratch with a new structure, threaded rod can be used as part of the construction process to help ensure everything stays in place during assembly.

As you can see, there are many potential applications for stainless steel threaded rod.

In some cases, you may have a need for further processing of a given stainless steel threaded rod. Our next couple sections will go over some tips here.

Bending Stainless Steel Threaded Rod

For some applications, there’s a need to bend threaded rods for varying purposes. For instance, it may need to be reheated one or more times to fit a desired shape, and the bending process allows this.

For this job, you’ll need a solid bench vice, plus some bolts and either a propane or oxyacetylene torch. Place two bolts on your vice about an inch apart, then tighten them so they’re secure. Next, take your stainless steel threaded rod and place the portion you need to bend over the bolts. If everything is in place, you should now have a good grip on the piece.

Now it’s time to break out your torch and heat up the portion of the rod that needs to be bent. You’ll want to heat it until it’s red-hot, which usually takes about 15 minutes. Once you’ve heated up the metal, begin bending it slowly into the desired shape. Once you’re happy with how it looks, allow it to cool before removing it from the vice.

If necessary, you can repeat this process as many times as needed to get the desired results.

Cutting Stainless Steel Threaded Rod

In some cases, you may need to cut your stainless steel threaded rod down to size for a given application. Thankfully, this is a fairly simple process that can be completed with a few common tools.

For starters, you’ll need a good quality hacksaw. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have some form of clamp or vise to hold the rod in place while you’re cutting it.

Once you have your tools assembled, begin by measuring out the portion of the rod that needs to be cut off. Once you have your measurement, use a marker to draw a line on the rod at the point where it needs to be cut.

Next, take your hacksaw and clamp the rod in place so the line you drew is in the cutting area of the saw. Once everything is secure, begin sawing through the rod. It’s important to go slowly and steadily here to ensure a clean cut.

For more on stainless steel threaded rod or any of our other steel products or services, speak to the team at Wasatch Steel today.