In-House Stainless Steel Ensures Heavy Duty Exterior Door Hinges

At Waterson, we are committed to providing consistent quality across all of our hinge products. To that end, we strictly adhere to ANSI standards by crafting all of our hinges with stainless steel to ensure corrosion resistance, as well as durability, longevity, and functionality. Stainless steel hinges tend to cost more, however, they are much more reliable, particularly in rugged environments. Heavy-duty 304 and 316 stainless steels, like the ones we use on our hinges at Waterson, are much more weather resistant and less affected by chemical exposure due to their chromium, nickel, and molybdenum elemental properties. ( Learn Waterson 316 stainless steel gate hinges. )

HIGH-QUALITY STAINLESS STEEL

Due to its numerous properties and, specifically, its corrosion resistance, stainless steel is used for many commercial and residential applications. High-quality stainless steels (ie. 304 & 316) are those with a chromium content of approximately 18.0%. The higher the chromium content in addition to other alloys like nickel and molybdenum, the greater the corrosion resistance.

304 & 316

304 and 316 stainless steels, also known as CF8 and CF8M respectively are the industry standard for high-quality stainless steel. The key components in these alloys are chromium and nickel. However, unlike CF8, CF8M contains 2% to 3% molybdenum, so CF8M tends to cost more. Nevertheless, through the investment casting process, Waterson is able to ensure that the required chemical composition is accurate and in accordance with acceptable ratio guidelines. In addition, we record specific batch ratios, which allows for accurate hinge traceability.

VERIFYING QUALITY

Waterson stainless steel-made products go beyond standard salt tests by performing at a high level in rugged seaside commercial environments. A common stainless steel quality verification procedure is to conduct a salt spray test according to ASTM B117, which Waterson easily satisfies the A156.7 standard for over 200 hours in a 5% salt concentration. However, while this test is good for creating a standard to compare materials, according to the spec it does not reflect on usage time in an actual harsh environment. Waterson, on the other hand, has a proven track record of performing reliably in commercial seaside exterior applications for over 5 years. As manufacturers, we control the investment casting process. This ensures that all Waterson stainless steel maintains a consistent and stable ratio in accordance with high-quality 304 and 316 standards.

WATERSON STAINLESS STEEL HIGHLIGHTS

• 304 is recommended for general outdoor use
• 316 is recommended for harsh environments
• 304 and 316 material ratio varies by only 2-4%
• Hinge traceability ensures high-quality material
• Waterson stainless steel outperforms standard salt tests
• In-house investment casting ensures accurate material composition
• Optimal product performance achieved through rigorous material testing
  Read our case study here.

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