Does metal rods creates crack along the sink or .....

[vadimosipov]

Guys,
Will metal rust could create a crack along back side of the sink (u/m sink cut out 33x16) or sink cabinet sank 5/16"
2.5 years later???? Sink cabinet is down by 5/16" on center of 8' level.

Why would granite crack?
Rust or cabinet problem?

[kdnoel]

Yes metal will rust and expand leading to a crack.

[azstoneconsulting]

if it's NOT stainless steel - and regular steel that had moisture get to it - you bet...

THIS is why I recommend that guys use ONLY Stainless Steel for rodding
- but alas...... some guys just... don't.... get it..... until a scenario like this happens

kevin

[Antonio Almonte]

If improperly prepped and useing the wrong procedures, then yes.

I have used metal rods for well over ten years and have yet to have a failure.

[azstoneconsulting]

You stated the KEY WORDS there Antonio -

"If improperly prepped and using the wrong procedures - then yes"

I'm sure that there are guys like you who have never had a failure using non-stainless steel...
but the ones that do are out there too -

those are the ones I was referring to as I get to see their "handywork" on a weekly basis as
a consultant. You would not BELIEVE the crap I see from consumers that had idiots pretending
to be fabricators - doing their work and leaving a mess behind....

Sure - stainless IS more expensive, but in my opinion - it's worth the extra cost - so stuff
like this will not happen

[scott m]

The width of the slot is more important then the type of rod...

Same as antonio here, just over 4 years.....

Is your crack running front to back or left to right exactly over rods????

[topshop]

Most "stainless"steels are only truly rust resistant if heat treated. So using stainless rods are useless if you do not prep the stone(slot) and totally encase the rod in resin. Then the other issue is that some fabricators place the rods in the way of the faucet holes and the resin and rod get cut when the hole is being cored leaving the rod exposed to moisture. Let the rusting begin.

[azstoneconsulting]

Dee -

you said

"using stainless rods are useless if you do not prep the stone(slot) and totally encase the rod in resin."

I agree with you on this.... in fact......

This is what I teach.... proper prep and total encapsulation using epoxy - using Chemical Concepts, Bonstone or Integra flowing epoxy glues. Additonally, I am an advocate of "roughing up" the rod using a coarse grinding tool so that the steel will have more ability to have "rooting" where the epoxy can grab on to the little cuts and scratches in the rod.

IMHO - Proper prep of the rod and the slot - prior to setting - is paramount in having a long term successful application - I still believe that stainless give a guy more advantage for no problems down the road....

As far as the heat treating statement - I have never heard of this before - most stainless steel alloys have a percentage of nickel in them - thus - the higher the nickel content - the higher the corrosion resistant quality... Have you ever tried to stick a magnet to something that was truly stainless? A magnet won't stick to stainless steel - true stainless that is...

hth

kevin

[Jeff Martin]

If the sink cabinet has "sunk" 5/16" I'd say that's your problem. A sink rail will crack if it is not supported -- rod or no rod. Rods just keep it in place so that a repair is easier.

We don't rod, but we handle very carefully and pay very close attention to proper support. Knock on wood -- no problems in a long time...

[daustin49]

seriously.....when i first started 17 years ago we didnt rod. But after going to stone expo and attending a function on rod or not to rod i became a believer.I saw test that proved granite became 4 times stronger when properly rodded.Yes steel should be fully encased in epoxy.You know we were carefull installing and i can only remember one disaster in several years. But if theres one thing ive learned is that some customers arent as fourth coming as others about things that bug them.A company could have a cracked sink or stove area, bad seam, bad polish our a birth mark that bugs them every day but dont have the cahonas to complain to there granite company, but may find more satifaction in complaining to there friends about a disatifction.Personally i sleep 4 times better knowing after we have rodded that we are 4 time less likely to have cracked edges,Just Saying Dale @Austins Romancing the Stone

[kevinp]

Stainless steel is not rust or corrosion proof. Different types of stainless will have diferent levels of corrosion resistance.
The secret is to keep the stainless clean and uncontaminated.
Clean the rods thoroughly prior to install and fully encapsulate in epoxy is very important.
If moisture or contamination gets to the rods there could be a problem, especially if stainless is not being used.

Stainless has pretty much the same corrosion resistance heat treated or not.

If regular steel is used and the steel is clean and free of contaminants as well as fully encapsulated in epoxy it should be fine. But if there is a bubble or any fracture in the epoxy, then the steel can become contaminated, then big problems arise. Stainless is much more resistant to these problems.

[topshop]

Most of the people buying stainless do not know the grade of stainless or the properties they are buying so many are wasting their money by buying something called stainless. I used to work with many stainless steels in plastic extrusion and injection molding processes. Too long ago for me to remember what s.s is for what applications but I am sure the info is in my Machinery's handbook somewhere. The rust resistant thing is something the metallurgists have told me when they were specifying what stainless to use for what applications. Not all stainless steels are heat treatable. I am sure that s.s is better to use than mild steel for rust resistance but some of the s.s. are not as strong as some grades of steel either. Too much nickel content makes the ss have less tensile strength. Every steel has its use just like not all stones are for every home owner. It is very difficult to know what grade you are buying some times. Not all distributers of rods tell the truth knowing that stone guys are not metallurgist.

[daustin49]

steel is far less likely to rust if encapsulate it with epoxy. seal your stone.properly insall your sink with plenty of caulk creating a water tight seal and leave a note for the plumber to make sure he has a good seal around his fixtures.Have we beaten this one to death or what, Dale @austins Romancing the Stone

[stone seal]

304ss is the stainless we are all used to but is expensive to manufacture
manufacturers are starting to use 430ss instead of 304ss to cut costs 430ss is magnetic and will rust.
so procedure is the most important factor when rodding.

[canipejc]

I went for 15 years and never saw this problem. Then my guy starts cutting the rod slot with just one blade width, where the rod went in tight and than the rod will expand and crack the stone. Once this happens, now water can get to it and the problem literally expands from there.

[scott m]

There are more kinds of stainless steel then quartz choices.....Generally the stuff that sinks are made of is 304 which has a high nickel content and is unlikely to rust.....It is doubtful that what you are buying at your local metal place is 304, but possibly. Most of that stuff is for use in situations that require extreme strength. My cones are all stainless, but some have areas of rust. Of course stainless rods are way less likely to rust.

Magnetic has nothing to do with being stainless.......Any brushed stainless will become magnetic. We went through that argument a few years back.

I believe hot rolled steel is way less likely to rust then cold rolled due to the outer layer or slag....It is also way cheaper. I just found out that if I buy it by the 20 foot length uncut, it is $2.38 per 20 foot length or like 50 cents per 4 foot rod delivered to your door. I was paying $3 per 4 foot rod buying it from the same company at the retail outlet cut. A large pair of bolt cutters is the best way to cut it. Kinda sucks when you realize you wasted thousands of the last 4 years buying wrong.

Again it is more the method then the material.....buy the best stainless in the world and cut the rod slot too narrow and you will get a crack.