What kind of finish nails for inside a sauna (galvanized? stainless?)

[Dan Friedrichs]

I'm building an indoor sauna next week. I've heard that I should use galvanized finish nails. Are all 16- and 15-ga finish/brad nails galvanized, or do I need to go find galvanized ones? Would galvanized nails hold up in high heat and steam, or should I spend big money on stainless steel?

[Lee Schierer]

I've never built a sauna and have only been in one a couple of times. I would used stainless nails. The act of driving in a galvanized nail can break the zinc coating and give rust a place to start. What ever you decide to use, be sure you sink the nail heads below the surface, because sitting on a hot nail hurts. DAMHIKT.

[David Helm]

What kind of wood are you using? If it is Western Red Cedar (the most common sauna wood) you should know that there is a chemical reaction between the resins in the wood, the water and the zinc that causes staining at each nail. My choice would be stainless for this application.

[Marty Paulus]

Another vote for stainless. The zinc is sacrificial and may cause staining of the wood as it does its job.

[Matthew Sherman]

Another vote for Stainless also. Cleaners used in the future will probably cause havoc with the galvanized. Also galvanized is usually rated for exposure depending on the thickness of the dip. So at some point any galvanized nail will rust unlike stainless, which is the same metal alloy all the way through (not a dip).

[Dan Friedrichs]

Yes, using red cedar, David, so I guess stainless is the way to go. Thanks, guys!

[Josiah Bartlett]

I vote for silicon bronze boat nails.

[Russ Filtz]

or screws!

http://www.mcfeelys.com/search.aspx?q=silicon+bronze&src=M8GLSCW&s_kwcid=TC|4266|bronze%20screws||S||5352034765

[David Helm]

Silicon bronze is an excellent choice but considerably more expensive.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Having repaired damage in some saunas, my vote goes for stainless steel fasteners. Remember that saunas come in both dry and steam (wet). The peroxide cleaning compounds really do a number even on stainless steel.

[Van Huskey]

I vote for silicon bronze boat nails.

That was my first inclination but man they are expensive but they are probably overkill anyway since it isn't a salt water environment. I would say get 316 SS over 304 SS since it is less likely for the heads to discolor. The 316 will be about 33% more than 304 but silicon bronze is over twice the price of 304.