Help identifying this sort of metal

[Crinan12]

Hi
Can someone please tell me what sort of metal this is?
The reason i ask is because I've been wanting to get my rotten companionway hatch frame replaced and was thinking of using something like what is in the photo rather than wood for the new one.

I just need to know what i am searching for.

Thanks

 

[PCUK]

Stainless steel strip. 304 grade will be fine for your needs. Find the size you want on Ebay.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Stainless steel polished.

 

[Crinan12]

Thank you

 

[ean_p]

If your taking the whole frame out then you may think about using a channel as opposed to a flat bar...it should make life a bit easier .....
Stainless Steel U Channel for 10mm Glass Shower Screens

 

[Crinan12]

Yeah that's a good idea actually thanks, i could possibly just do away with the frame on the front completely - although i might still need something to conceal the fibreglass behind the old timber frame, possibly full of screw holes etc

 

[mogmog2]

Personally I'd only go for 316 stainless. AIUI 304 performs poorly in high chloride environments ( ie salt water).

 

[vyv_cox]

They look quite shiny, so are quite likely to be stainless. Personally I think insisting on 316 is OTT for the duty but there may not be a huge price markup over 304. My very similar slides are aluminium, for both horizontal and vertical. 40 years old now and still perfectly OK.

 

[ean_p]

They look quite shiny, so are quite likely to be stainless. Personally I think insisting on 316 is OTT for the duty but there may not be a huge price markup over 304. My very similar slides are aluminium, for both horizontal and vertical. 40 years old now and still perfectly OK.

Yes and so are mine........

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Mine look like this! I guess they were shiny 50 years ago. Does the team think I could get them chromed or something?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

View attachment 156219
Mine look like this! I guess they were shiny 50 years ago. Does the team think I could get them chromed or something?

What are they if they are stainless they will buff up with the right abrasive compounds, if aluminium no they can't be plated.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

What are they if they are stainless they will buff up with the right abrasive compounds, if aluminium no they can't be plated.

I was hoping you might tell me! They are not aluminium that's for sure. Some kind of non ferrous steel or possible bronze is my guess

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I was hoping you might tell me! They are not aluminium that's for sure. Some kind of non ferrous steel or possible bronze is my guess

At a guess it's raw stainless

 

[vyv_cox]

I was hoping you might tell me! They are not aluminium that's for sure. Some kind of non ferrous steel or possible bronze is my guess

The colour suggests a copper alloy. Brass, copper-nickel? Unlikely to be bronze as it rarely comes in sheet form. Might well polish up nicely.

 

[Concerto]

View attachment 156219
Mine look like this! I guess they were shiny 50 years ago. Does the team think I could get them chromed or something?

Try using some Brasso. It should remove all the corrosion and leave a polished shiny surface.

 

[PCUK]

Personally I'd only go for 316 stainless. AIUI 304 performs poorly in high chloride environments ( ie salt water).

Feel free to waste the OPs money.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Feel free to waste the OPs money.

There’s not a huge difference in price IIRC.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Try using some Brasso. It should remove all the corrosion and leave a polished shiny surface.

Er.. been there, tried that. It's not corrosion so much as tarnish of the now unfinished stock as the finish has been worn away (probably by brasso) over their lifetime.
It's the same colour and patina as my 50 year old winches. I may take a wire wheel to them but I'd rather just have them chrome plated if it's doable as I've got some shiny stainless Andersen Winches on the way to replace the lewmars and I would like everything to match if possible.

 

[penfold]

View attachment 156219
Mine look like this! I guess they were shiny 50 years ago. Does the team think I could get them chromed or something?

If they are chromed brass or similar then rechroming would be straightforward.

 

[Crinan12]

Would aluminium be a bad choice for this sort of thing?