Steel vs Aluminum - Eye Opener
02-26-2015, 06:02 PM
#21
Senior Member
I'm wondering about this too. All this talk about not mixing aluminum and steel, how can the bracket be aluminum and the bolt be steel? Is the bolt treated somehow? It's a dry environment, but I would have an occasion to spray out the bed after getting it dirty. It would be hard not to introduce some moisture to the brackets.
02-26-2015, 10:20 PM
#22
Purchased FORD 2015 wheel well covers and asked the FORD Parts salesman if the screws and clips were going to be a problem, due to galvanic corrosion. He looked at me strangely and said he had no idea what I was talking about.
I phoned FORD VEHICLE ENGINEERING (as per SVE bulletin Q-222) and they told me to talk to the dealer!
I assume, since it is a FORD part, that the attachments will be okay.
I phoned FORD VEHICLE ENGINEERING (as per SVE bulletin Q-222) and they told me to talk to the dealer!
I assume, since it is a FORD part, that the attachments will be okay.
02-27-2015, 07:25 AM
#24
I'm not so sure about that. The clamp bodies are aluminum, but I need to go take a closer look at the bolts.
Remember, you have to have moisture to have galvanic reaction. If you can seal the contact point, you should be OK. Also, a couple of notes about tools: don't use wire brushes, which are usually steel; and if you drill, make sure to use a new bit or one that is dedicated to only aluminum work.
Remember, you have to have moisture to have galvanic reaction. If you can seal the contact point, you should be OK. Also, a couple of notes about tools: don't use wire brushes, which are usually steel; and if you drill, make sure to use a new bit or one that is dedicated to only aluminum work.
I say it's gonna happen if the fasteners are wrong-more so in some spots , less so in others.
I'll throw this out- lots of folks were fastening parts in steel, with steel fasteners and not providing for THAT! corrosion when we were handling steel parts-consider that before you go all worry wart on AL doings...
As in "run in a screw and forget it" style work.
Last edited by Kantuckid; 02-27-2015 at 07:27 AM.
02-27-2015, 06:23 PM
#25
Opinionated Blowhard
Kantuckid Wtf?
02-27-2015, 06:33 PM
#26
Senior Member
If your "looking for moisture", (on your fasteners for galvanic action) as a lifelong woodworker, I can attest that air moisture content in my area/KY averages nearly 25% as 20-25% is the "equilibrium moisture content" of air dried wood. I say it's gonna happen if the fasteners are wrong-more so in some spots , less so in others. I'll throw this out- lots of folks were fastening parts in steel, with steel fasteners and not providing for THAT! corrosion when we were handling steel parts-consider that before you go all worry wart on AL doings... As in "run in a screw and forget it" style work.
I'll throw this out- lots of folks were fastening parts in steel, with steel fasteners and not providing for THAT! corrosion when we were handling steel parts-consider that before you go all worry wart on AL doings... As in "run in a screw and forget it" style work.
and he is a retired educator??
02-27-2015, 09:57 PM
#28
Senior Member
I think what he's saying is putting a steel screw in aluminum will probably be no worse than drilling a hole in a painted steel truck body and putting a steel screw in it without painting/sealing the drilled area. One instance causes corrosion, the other causes rust. I probably understand Kentuckanese because I'm from Mississippi. Poor grammar don't phase me, pahdnah.
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Kantuckid (02-28-2015)
02-28-2015, 08:54 AM
#29
Sorry to "hover above the crowd".
Try these short sentences:
Perhaps you have "heard of" humidity?
I dry wood for personal use & measure the moisture content.
That wood will not go below 20-25% moisture content in my area based on humidity.
In AZ you might achieve 6% as that's a desert.
If you have humidity you can have galvanic with no rain or snow thrown onto the fastener.
Hello.
Try these short sentences:
Perhaps you have "heard of" humidity?
I dry wood for personal use & measure the moisture content.
That wood will not go below 20-25% moisture content in my area based on humidity.
In AZ you might achieve 6% as that's a desert.
If you have humidity you can have galvanic with no rain or snow thrown onto the fastener.
Hello.
02-28-2015, 09:02 AM
#30
I think what he's saying is putting a steel screw in aluminum will probably be no worse than drilling a hole in a painted steel truck body and putting a steel screw in it without painting/sealing the drilled area. One instance causes corrosion, the other causes rust. I probably understand Kentuckanese because I'm from Mississippi. Poor grammar don't phase me, pahdnah.
To clear the air, I'm from KS but "speak hillbilly"
all too well
Another: "bare metal can corrode"as there's moisture in the air...
Another: Here we are worrying about "steel into AL & galvanic scientific BS" when lots of folks don't seal steel into steel.
Of course, rust is corrosion and vice versa...
My KY/nephews a doc in MS and he says "they can understand him down there" (near Natchez)
