Smith: “So where does the production for a new racing fastener begin?”

GH: The design process begins with the customer’s requirements the operating conditions and loads to be expected, the packaging constraints and the weight and cost targets. This allows us to select the optimum material for the part, and to do the initial mechanical design.

There is more to material selection than simply choosing the best alloy. It means using only the cleanest and purest steel available, which, in turn, means researching to identify the best and most modern steel mills. It means working closely with the mills both to insure consistent quality and to develop new and better alloys.

There are not only a myriad of alloys to choose from; but for each alloy there are several grades of “aircraft specification” steel wire from which fasteners can be made. We believe that only the top (and most expensive) grade – shaved-seamless, guaranteed defect-free – is suitable for racing engine applications.

We also believe that samples from each batch should be subjected to complete metallurgical inspection.

Smith: “How many alloys do you work with?”

GH: We are currently producing fasteners from at least 6 different steel alloys from 8740 chrome moly to the very high strength chromium-cobalt-nickel alloys such as Custom Age 625+. We also use stainless steel and titanium. With UTSs (Ultimate Tensile Strength) from 180,000 to 270,000 psi, we can suit the material to the job and the customer’s cost restraints. We are continually researching and experimenting with new alloys and manufacturing processes – some with all around better strength and fatigue properties.