AMDtrucking, pay no attention to the metallurgist in the group. (They're absolutely right on all accounts), but you're right, those cheapass screws aren't Stainless! The idea of stainless in Vape hardware is to reduce the risk of contaminants in your juice and vapor. Those screws and washers obviously aren't doing that.
Even my Mad Murdock's Radiator Pluid (the coil killer of all fluids) hasn't rusted or discolored any of my "stainless" hardware
I don't. I don't have a spectrum analyzer to be able to correctly identify this questionable metal from China. I just use a low-tech non scientific, century old method of metal workers and machinists of all Countries: That is to take it to the grinder and look at the spark.
My 84 year old father was a tool and die maker back in USSR and he taught me this method, and it never failed.
When I grinded those screws, the spark was Bright Yellow Snow flake like spark. Let's ask those metallurgist what does that mean?
But regardless, if I even suspect a part of my vaping device is not made out of SS - I don't want to use it. I would rather replace it with the one I know, for sure is made out of 304 Stainless Steel, just for my own piece of mind. Call me "...." if you will, but that's the way I am.
And Binigo, if you are reading this: The screws I installed in your Fogger's top cap are 100% Food Grade 304 Stainless Steel. And I did use machine oil while tapping those threads, but I then removed it using lemon/lime dishwasher soap and a lot of running hot water. I really would like to know how did you like it?