Brass or stainless steel screws for cistern

[Yanni]

I’m wondering what you usually go for securing cistern onto tiled wall. Brass screws or stainless steel. These are screws are virtually inside the cistern tank

 

[Nige F]

Brass for me

 

[Wayners]

Stainless is a very brittle metal so any effort to tighten or remove those type off screws can cause the screw head to round off.
Also a blob of silicone on screw head will help keep it in good condition

I'd go with brass but stainless will also work

 

[robinbanks]

Stainless is a very brittle metal

Not sure I agree with this

 

[Wayners]

Not sure I agree with this

I guess it's down to the metal quality but I've had stainless steel screws like cheese. Very frustrating.
Maybe my opinion is wrong based on the problems I've had. I've got some spax stainless hinges screws that are ok.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Stainless is a very brittle metal so any effort to tighten or remove those type off screws can cause the screw head to round off.

A lot depends upon the grade of SS.

 

[Yanni]

This Fischer pack came with brass screws that’s why I asked. The stainless steel screws I buy from Accu screws are getting rounded if you push them and are not as strong as steel as I had some of them snapping when I installed curtain poles. You can get marine grade ones but this only improve the anti rust properties not their strength.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

This Fischer pack came with brass screws that’s why I asked. The stainless steel screws I buy from Accu screws are getting rounded if you push them and are not as strong as steel as I had some of them snapping when I installed curtain poles. You can get marine grade ones but this only improve the anti rust properties not their strength.

Screw a steel screw in first, remove, then fit the softer brass or SS one.

 

[Exedon]

Probably not screwed a cistern back to tiles in over 30 years.
Nozzle of silicone gun through screw holes blob of silicone job done,
If cistern ever needs removal sharp scraper.

 

[ericmark]

I did not really look as the screws used in the cistern but it has been there for some time, I think when the Romans controlled Turkey.

However as to stainless steel, for them to remain stainless, the tools used with them must also be of a type which will not leave normal steel on the surface or they will still rust.

The biggest problem I find is to find a screwdriver bit that matches the screw there seem to be so many, and Philips is not the same as Pozidriv even if designed by the Phillips Screw Company.

Stainless steel is fine, so is brass, but the Torx screws do seem to be gathering favour. But the whole idea of having to have a selection of screwdriver bits goes against the grain, I agree the Pozidriv are easier to use to a flat bit, but where is it going to stop?

I blame in the main the impact screwdriver, I watch them driving in screws at work, and think I will never remove them with a standard screwdriver and you need the special bits seems the yellow band means can be used with an impact driver. Anyone remember these

 

[robinbanks]

Anyone remember these

Pry bars? Yeh

Philips is not the same as Pozidriv

Different intentions; pozi are supposed to resist cam out as they're driven by humans, Philips to promote cam out as they're driven by machines

 

[JohnD]

A lot depends upon the grade of SS.

A lot of cheap Chinese steel contains 0% nickel. Because nickel is expensive.

So it has very poor strength and corrosion resistance.

People get what they pay for.

The nickel mining and refining trades have been waiting for years for customers to demand reasonable quality, and demand will rocket

Hasn't happened yet.

 

[Madrab]

Neither will rust but I'd always use brass - it's softer so will give a little against the harder ceramic so less liable to cause damage, SS being much harder won't give as much and could cause damage - chipping even cracking.

I never use a power tool to drive anything into ceramics.