"For crying out loud, we're just talking about bolts snaps here!"

[captain]

Just today I bought two marine grade bronze snaps at Lowes for $2.98 each. All I have ever used were marine bronze snaps. Stainless steel is overpriced and over rated, just looks pretty.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Many people wonder why I am so stuck on "attention to detail". The small details like this add up to big things later on.

I buy my 3/8" bolt snaps (used on primary regs, backup lights, etc) from Halcyon, and they are all exactly alike in shape and shape. They all work flawlessly. Unfortunately they are expensive, but I think they are worth it in the long run.

For double-enders I get those from Nix. My buddies and I ordered a batch last summer, and they were the smoothest operating double-enders I had ever used.

"Buy it nice, or buy it twice."

That handy "stay open" feature could have cost you how much in gear?

A few months ago someone doing some exploration in Manatee Springs lost a Magnum Gavin ($$$$) due to the gate on his boltsnap staying open, 7,000ft back in the cave as they were towing the scooter. Thankfully they found it on a dive a few days later.

He must use the smack out of those clips. Enough to wear them out
I have 100+ dives on two of my brass clips and they show no wear on the thumb button!

Anyone who dives often enough to actualy wear out a brass thumb button gets my vote for a truly committed diver. (Or he is a professional diver!)

It isn't that the thumb button "wears out", its that the constant action of that button rubbing against the stationary part sharpens those edges enough to slice your thumb wide open. After a long pool session in the rigs at school, my right thumb would come out looking like raw meat due to clipping things off a few times.

 

[Dive Junky]

It's not quite that easy... A savy consumer can save a penny and get the exact product... PLAN AHEAD....

Ya aint saving squat buying junk stuff at Lowes.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Ya aint saving squat buying junk stuff at Lowes.

agreed. But, you are saving "squat" buying quality products. Often the same quality (and even name) products you purchase from marine surplus... Boats US, etc...

 

[Dive Junky]

agreed. But, you are saving "squat" buying quality products. Often the same quality (and even name) products you purchase from marine surplus... Boats US, etc...

I was comparing quality vs. Lowes crap. Again you get what you pay for. If you want to by quality at marine stores then thats great but you wont find quality at Lowes nor will you find it for $1.99.

 

[SkipperJohn]

For many years I tried buying stuff for my boat from Home Depot and Loews... I always ended up regretting it. There is most definitely a difference between marine grade and plain stainless steel. As suggested above, check out the plethora of marine shops that deal in this grade. West Marine (AKA B.O.A.T. US) and stores like it. Also hardware stores that cater to mariners, but I doubt you will be saving any money here.
Quite frankly, for a $2 savings I wouldn't waste my time.
As far as these snaps, what are you using them for? I have never found this type of snap to be dependable on my boat (anything with a spring for that matter). I prefer these for unfailing dependability

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

I was comparing quality vs. Lowes crap. Again you get what you pay for. If you want to by quality at marine stores then thats great but you wont find quality at Lowes nor will you find it for $1.99.

Crap... I wanted to say, "I beg to dffer" with you on that, but I will have to say... You aren't getting the correct product from Lowes. I have 60+ dives on the SS clips I bought from Lowes and not ONE SINGLE ISSUE, but then again, I am anal about washing my gear after every salt water dive...

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

For many years I tried buying stuff for my boat from Home Depot and Loews... I always ended up regretting it. There is most definitely a difference between marine grade and plain stainless steel. As suggested above, check out the plethora of marine shops that deal in this grade. West Marine (AKA B.O.A.T. US) and stores like it. Also hardware stores that cater to mariners, but I doubt you will be saving any money here.
Quite frankly, for a $2 savings I wouldn't waste my time.
As far as these snaps, what are you using them for? I have never found this type of snap to be dependable on my boat (anything with a spring for that matter). I prefer these for unfailing dependability

I agree with you, but I have compared the products... and when the manufacturer are the same, the price was usually lower at Lowes... I have never bought SS from HD...

 

[JeffG]

I prefer these for unfailing dependability

For scuba, these would be called suicide clips.

 

[RJP]

I prefer these for unfailing dependability