ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

Hopefully this is a simple question. When assembling the empennage, the AN366F-1032 anchor nuts are fastened to the assembly with wood screws. I have some brass ones that are the proper size, but I'm unsure if they are fit for purpose. I'm cautious to mix metals and want to confirm the brass won't react with the anchor nut metal and also to make sure they are strong enough.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

Brass will react with steel, essentially depending on humidity or other sources of moisture and especially in "salt" air near the water.  Further steel screws will tend to react with the acids in the wood and rust, if it gets started, can expand and split the wood.  I would use stainless steel round head wood screws set in epoxy to protect the wood.  That is probably the least reactive choice.  Another really good option are the anchor nuts available from "Clickbond" clickbond.com and theflightshop.com  These are designed to be glued in place which avoids all these problems and also leaves the wood a little stronger.

Tom

Thanks, Tom.

I believe the anchor nuts I have are cadmium-coated steel. I'll see if I can't locate the stainless screws and try them instead along with epoxy.