resto
Pacific Northwest
Experiment Final Pictures
Here are the final pictures of my experiment with various types of screws (after using a nylon brush to wash away debris) and some final thoughts:
After being left in garden x 18 months
After left in salty environment x 18 months. You can clearly see bubbling under siding of the 2 left screws. This is not due to galvanic corrosion, but rather because I was not careful in installing the screws and scratched the siding during screw installation. In fact I likely caused the screws to over torque and spin, not just scratching but also weakening the screws holding power. Don't over torque! Use silicone sealant on screw threads!
The screw (self-drilling) on the left, in the picture below, went in noticeably smoother than the others.
The 2 stainless steel screws appeared like new after 18 months.
Despite the self-drilling screw having performed so well, I do not recommend using self-drilling on a FWC as there holding power is greatly reduced and thus subject to loosening do to off road stresses - use self-tapping screws!!!
Under butyl siding looked like new.
There are small sections on the latches that still have galvanic coating on it and held up well. So don't try polishing your galvanized latches you will remove that protective coating. I like SS latches better.
The experiment is over.
Here are the final pictures of my experiment with various types of screws (after using a nylon brush to wash away debris) and some final thoughts:
After being left in garden x 18 months
After left in salty environment x 18 months. You can clearly see bubbling under siding of the 2 left screws. This is not due to galvanic corrosion, but rather because I was not careful in installing the screws and scratched the siding during screw installation. In fact I likely caused the screws to over torque and spin, not just scratching but also weakening the screws holding power. Don't over torque! Use silicone sealant on screw threads!
The screw (self-drilling) on the left, in the picture below, went in noticeably smoother than the others.
The 2 stainless steel screws appeared like new after 18 months.
Despite the self-drilling screw having performed so well, I do not recommend using self-drilling on a FWC as there holding power is greatly reduced and thus subject to loosening do to off road stresses - use self-tapping screws!!!
Under butyl siding looked like new.
There are small sections on the latches that still have galvanic coating on it and held up well. So don't try polishing your galvanized latches you will remove that protective coating. I like SS latches better.
The experiment is over.
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