Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Chainring Bolts: Steel vs. Alloy?

I thought I remember some thread that talked about this, but I couldn't find it. Anyway, chainring bolts, steel or alloy? What are the thoughts/preferences?

insignificant. i buy whatever the lbs has

Duh, titanium. Those 5 grams you save will be worth it.

not sure if it's the material or my incompetence by i've had more problems with alloy bolts coming loose than steel

I've found stripping alloy bolts is way too easy. When I'm putting chain rings on I am tightening-the-crap out of them.

Steel.

steel is _ _ _ _

awesome.....

I've found stripping alloy bolts is way too easy. When I'm putting chain rings on I am tightening-the-crap out of them.


I've ripped the heads right off the bolts...

I've ripped the heads right off the bolts...

almost sounds dirty haha

I've taken to loctite-ing alloy bolts to keep them from coming loose

rusted steel bolts are difficult to loosen.

I recently had two alloy chainring bolts break on me. They were only a month old. I was riding home and all of a sudden my drivetrain started making all kinds of noise, got home and looked down and there were two semi-empty holes. The heads had sheared off and fallen out, I had to coax the nut out the back of the chainring. Replaced them with some other alloy bolts and yeah, I think I'm gonna start loctiting too, because they seem to require tightening every week or so...

BTW, dolface, if you see this thread, I have the chainring bolts you lent me to get to the shop. Thanks dude.

I was gonna start a thread about this but it seems this ones the place to ask. I've been having problems with bolts coming loose and a few instances where the crank starts to make a poping sound which turns out to be because of a missing bolt. Does this happen to any of you, I'm thinking of putting locktite on the bolts.

Yeah, happens to me weekly, but only if I don't ride weakly. :p :D

Seriously though, I have that same problem (see post above yours), it bothers me to no end. I like a quiet bike, and when, at 6am before the sun is up, and I'm all warmed up and 20 miles deep into my morning commute, my chainring starts making those annoying pinging noises as I'm cranking as hard as I can on one of the long straights, it really ruins my zen-like state of concentration. :D (but really, no joke, it pisses me off)

Busted one alloy bolt taking off a chainring and busted another brand new one installing - you don't have much wiggle room for tightening them down; you'll either strip the head or snap it in half by driving it too far. Loctite did the trick.

I didn't find steel bolts at any shop around here though; alloy only.

Had problems with alloy bolts getting loose - overtightened one and it broke. Put steel chainring bolts on with a little grease on the threads. They have stayed pretty tight and quiet for quite awhile now.

my vote is Steel... marcus @ yojimbos recommended them cuz alloy strips, which i've found to be true as well. i actually stripped some alloys trying to get an old chainring off!

Yeah, happens to me weekly, but only if I don't ride weakly. :p :D

Seriously though, I have that same problem (see post above yours), it bothers me to no end. I like a quiet bike, and when, at 6am before the sun is up, and I'm all warmed up and 20 miles deep into my morning commute, my chainring starts making those annoying pinging noises as I'm cranking as hard as I can on one of the long straights, it really ruins my zen-like state of concentration. :D (but really, no joke, it pisses me off)

loctite loctite loctite loctite