[Douglas]

Gee , Storm , I am just a sailor who did the type of research that you are doing today.

It was explained to me that some of the Asian SS mills would skimp on Chrome or Nickel , if the prices were high that day or their suppliers were in short supply , of those alloys .

So is that the reason we have a "Mil Spec" standard in the US ?

Here in Singapore I purchase my SS fasteners from a reputable shop . One day I saw my salesman putting a drop of liquid on some SS fasteners , right at his desk .

Of course I was interested in what he was doing and asked him . His reply was that this kind of testing was not available to me here , as an end user ,,, and that he was checking a recent SS fastener shipment just received from China . He wouldn't elaborate what test he was checking , and clammed up tight when I asked for more info .

I am aware of "Blue Metals" , manufactured in Korea or elsewhere , with less than the proper amounts of alloying metals , because of a relax in standards , and production levels have to be maintained .

If you believe in structural integrity and value engineering standards , you look to be on the right track , so ,,, "Good On You Mate" ,,, as you won't be a liability to the rest of us boaters out there , enjoying our ,,,, on the water , time !