McMaster for rigging pins?

Sep 24, 2018
4,531
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
After a hiccup with another vendor, I'm deperately trying to find a replacement forestay pin for my masthead. McMaster has a 316SS pin that will fit and their will call is open till 10PM. Is there anything I need to check on this pin to make sure it will withstand the loads? It has a hardness of B80 but I doubt that's terribly applicable in this case

 
Jan 11, 2014
14,024
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
I don't see why not. Do use a cotter pin and not the quick release pin shown on the photo.
 
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dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
5,095
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
You just need to make sure your dimensions are correct. The B80 simply is an indicator that the cotter pin material is not cold worked.

The only other thing I've found with those pins from McMaster is the head is a bit smaller than I sometimes like. I tend to buy a washer for both the head end and the end getting the cotter pin.

I've also found the spacing between head and hole never seems just right, so actually a package of washers is usually on my buying list.

dj

p.s. Just looked at the listing - the B80 is a minimum. It simply means the material is 316 stainless - it's actually pretty meaningless in practice.
 
Sep 24, 2018
4,531
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
You just need to make sure your dimensions are correct. The B80 simply is an indicator that the cotter pin material is not cold worked.

The only other thing I've found with those pins from McMaster is the head is a bit smaller than I sometimes like. I tend to buy a washer for both the head end and the end getting the cotter pin.

I've also found the spacing between head and hole never seems just right, so actually a package of washers is usually on my buying list.

dj

p.s. Just looked at the listing - the B80 is a minimum. It simply means the material is 316 stainless - it's actually pretty meaningless in practice.
New 316 and phenolic (to prevent corrosion) washers are on the way. I'll be applying Tefgel as well.

Are you sure about B80 referring to it being anti corrosive? I keep seeing it in reference to Rockwell hardness.
 

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
5,095
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Are you sure about B80 referring to it being anti corrosive? I keep seeing it in reference to Rockwell hardness.
B80 minimum is the Rockwell B scale hardness - more correctly labeled 80 HRB. It's the standard requirement from the ASTM standards for 316 stainless steel. I never said it related to anti-corrosive properties, only that it's an indication that the product is produced from ASTM compliant 316 stainless steel. Am I sure? LOL.... Yeah... 100%...

dj
 
Sep 24, 2018
4,531
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
B80 minimum is the Rockwell B scale hardness - more correctly labeled 80 HRB. It's the standard requirement from the ASTM standards for 316 stainless steel. I never said it related to anti-corrosive properties, only that it's an indication that the product is produced from ASTM compliant 316 stainless steel. Am I sure? LOL.... Yeah... 100%...

dj
Got it. Are there other steels with the same hardness?
 

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
5,095
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Got it. Are there other steels with the same hardness?
Hmmm, let me walk you through what you've got on the McMaster page saying what this material is. You have all the dimensional "stuff" which I won't address. I'm only going to walk you through the materials part that is published. I'm attaching a screen shot of what they say on their page.

First you have the material stated as "Material 316 Stainless Steel". You then see what you were asking about, the "Minimum Hardness Rockwell B80". Note below this you have "Certificate Type Material Certificate with Traceable Lot Number" - this last item I always ask McMaster to send to me - I'd suggest you do the same but that's up to you. Now also note that they have "Passivation Unpassivated"

The single most critical thing on that list that tells me I can rely on what they are selling me is that the supposed 316 has the availability of that traceable lot number. With that traceable lot number they are legally bound to provide 316 material - another reason I always request it. Once you've gotten that product and didn't ask for it - you have nothing to say that this is what you bought.

Now note that I also highlighted "Passivation Unpassivated". That would say to me that once I got this piece, I'll passivate it. It's pretty simple to do. Before installing, really you should passivate the piece, although lots of folks don't.... And you'll probably not have an issue. I just don't like the "probably".... Even when I buy fasteners like screws, nuts, washers and such, I passivate them myself. Especially threaded fasteners...

Long winded way to say - It doesn't matter the 80 HRB. That number is pulled straight out of the ASTM specification that the 316 material was produced to. It's just kind of "fluff" that makes this list look very "engineering". McMaster is really good. They hold their suppliers to very high standards. I used to work in an industry that produced product for McMaster so I know first hand just how high of a requirement they have to become an approved supplier to them. After you get approved, periodically they audit you.

The fact you can get that traceable lot number - and actually get the material certifications for this part means... Well, it just doesn't get better than that....
Mcmaster Cert.jpg


dj
 

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
5,095
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I replaced all mine from McMasterr. No issues whatsoever with corrosion. Seem to be much better quality than what I was ordering from online chandleries.
I'm not surprised.

Ask that online chandlery for the lot code/material cert... It's got to be a good chandlery that can provide you one. Most can't - it's one of my filters to decide if I'll buy from that source. No certs? No purchase.

dj
 
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Sep 24, 2018
4,531
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
Hmmm, let me walk you through what you've got on the McMaster page saying what this material is. You have all the dimensional "stuff" which I won't address. I'm only going to walk you through the materials part that is published. I'm attaching a screen shot of what they say on their page.

First you have the material stated as "Material 316 Stainless Steel". You then see what you were asking about, the "Minimum Hardness Rockwell B80". Note below this you have "Certificate Type Material Certificate with Traceable Lot Number" - this last item I always ask McMaster to send to me - I'd suggest you do the same but that's up to you. Now also note that they have "Passivation Unpassivated"

The single most critical thing on that list that tells me I can rely on what they are selling me is that the supposed 316 has the availability of that traceable lot number. With that traceable lot number they are legally bound to provide 316 material - another reason I always request it. Once you've gotten that product and didn't ask for it - you have nothing to say that this is what you bought.

Now note that I also highlighted "Passivation Unpassivated". That would say to me that once I got this piece, I'll passivate it. It's pretty simple to do. Before installing, really you should passivate the piece, although lots of folks don't.... And you'll probably not have an issue. I just don't like the "probably".... Even when I buy fasteners like screws, nuts, washers and such, I passivate them myself. Especially threaded fasteners...

Long winded way to say - It doesn't matter the 80 HRB. That number is pulled straight out of the ASTM specification that the 316 material was produced to. It's just kind of "fluff" that makes this list look very "engineering". McMaster is really good. They hold their suppliers to very high standards. I used to work in an industry that produced product for McMaster so I know first hand just how high of a requirement they have to become an approved supplier to them. After you get approved, periodically they audit you.

The fact you can get that traceable lot number - and actually get the material certifications for this part means... Well, it just doesn't get better than that.... View attachment 238564

dj
Thank you for the thorough explanation. I'm familiar with many manufacturing and QA processes. I was surprised when I received a certificate with my order info. It makes sense though.

McMaster has thoroughly impressed me. They have a deal with UPS where they charge ground rates, and ship overnight. Instead of making money off of that, they pass the savings on to the customer. I paid $10 to have parts shipped from two different warehouses.
 
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dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
5,095
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Thank you for the thorough explanation. I'm familiar with many manufacturing and QA processes. I was surprised when I received a certificate with my order info. It makes sense though.

McMaster has thoroughly impressed me. They have a deal with UPS where they charge ground rates, and ship overnight. Instead of making money off of that, they pass the savings on to the customer. I paid $10 to have parts shipped from two different warehouses.
McMaster really is top-shelf. Sometimes their prices also reflect that, although sometimes I'm surprised at how reasonable their prices are... The ability to have something shipped to you, often by the next day, is impressive.

Hey, if you want to post that certificate, I'd be happy to look at it and give you more input - up to you...

dj
 
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Mar 26, 2011
3,968
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
^^^

In general, I would be MORE confident re. McMaster Carr than West Marine and so forth. If you need technical specs, they have them. They have a solid industrial reputation, maintained over many years. Chandlers carry stuff McMaster Carr would be ashamed to carry.