Stainless Steel Pegs: A comparison of grades

Which stainless steel pegs will suit me?

Before learning about the different types of stainless steel, it’s important to understand what stainless steel pegs will suit your application. Stainless steel is composed of more than 11% chrome, which makes it naturally resistant to corrosion. It is designed to withstand both ultra violet rays and extreme weather conditions.

Whether using pegs in rain, or in sunny, hot weather, Activated Eco’s Stainless Steel Infinity Pegs will keep items safe and secure. Activated Eco aims to produce quality products with no single use plastic. Our Stainless Steel Infinity Pegs were our first product and are still our most popular.

201 Stainless Steel - The Cheapest

201 stainless steel was created as a budget stainless steel to combat high nickel prices. This means that it is less expensive, but unfortunately contains a much lower nickel content. The lack of nickel in 201 stainless steel means it is not as effective at preventing corrosion compared to 304 and 316.

In our testing, we have seen 201 pegs start corroding within 4 days of outside use. We recommend anyone who has purchased 201 pegs to use them inside only as you will definitely have rust issues. 201 stainless steel is still a great material for strength as it boasts toughness similar to 304 stainless steel at a fraction of the price.

The Verdict On 201 Pegs

Activated Eco’s Recommendation: Not suitable as pegs that are intended for outside use in Australian conditions.

Quality Rating: 3/10
 

304 Stainless Steel - The Most Common

304 stainless steel is the more common and general purpose type of stainless steel. In fact, this type of stainless steel is so common that it’s likely used in your many of your household appliances. 304 stainless steel has significantly more nickel compared to 201 stainless steel, making it much less susceptible to corrosion.

Obviously, 304 stainless steel is a great choice for many products. It looks good, it’s strong and reasonably priced.

While 304 stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion, it is less durable than other types. Each type of stainless steel has its unique benefits and disadvantages which means different types are suited to certain types of situations.

The Verdict On 304 Pegs

Activated Eco’s Recommendation: Not suitable as a long term investment if you’re looking for pegs that are intended for outside use in Australian conditions. Our testing showed corrosion on pegs as early as 4 -6 months.

Quality Rating: 5/10

316 Stainless Steel - The Best 

While 201 has the lowest resistance to corrosion, and 304 is more resistant, 316 has the most resistance to rust and corrosion

316 stainless steel boasts the highest nickel content out of the 3 major alloys.
The main reason industries utilise 316 stainless steel is for it’s exception corrosion resistance, however there are extra costs involved.

Activated Eco’s Stainless Steel Infinity Pegs are ONLY made from 316 stainless steel. Our 316 stainless steel pegs differ from 304 pegs as they have molybdenum in the material, an alloy that fights corrosion. Our 316 stainless steel pegs are ideal for salty environments and day to day outside use.

While type 304 stainless steel seems like a more economical choice, it doesn’t have the same resistance to chloride and salty environments. This will lead it to disintegrating faster, costing you more in the long run when you need to replace it.

For outdoor and coastal applications, most people turn to type 316 stainless steel. Of course, more severe environments will require a higher grade of this type. Higher grades of type 316 stainless steel contain more chromium, making it last longer. 

In addition to molybdenum and chromium, you can find nickel, titanium, aluminium, copper, nitrogen, phosphorous, and selenium alloys. It's these elements that make type 316 one of the best types of stainless steel overall.
Deciding between types of stainless steel is completely dependent on the application. In some cases, it is not cost effective to splurge on type 316 stainless steel. In other cases, the higher price point means that you will save you more money in the long run.

Our advice? Don't be fooled by the way a certain product looks. Ask questions about the stainless steel type or grade used to manufactured the items you are buying. Don’t waste your money, having to replace your new pegs after 6 months. Buy once, buy well!

Make sure when you’re buying stainless steel pegs that you’re not being sold 304 pegs named as marine grade, because they are not!

The Verdict On 316 Pegs

Activated Eco’s Recommendation: The best choice for Australian conditions, including beach side environments. Activated Eco’s Stainless Steel Infinity Pegs are backed by a lifetime replacement guarantee. We are still testing our 316 stainless steel pegs after 6 years with zero corrosion.

Quality Rating: 10/10

 

Learn More

If you’re interested in getting a great deal on Activated Eco’s Stainless Steel Infinity Pegs click here!