Hardware fasteners serve a simple purpose – to hold two or more objects together, ensuring stability, durability, and safety. While they’re crucial in the construction, engineering, and electronics industries, they can also come in handy around the house. If you’re used to taking on DIY projects at home, you’ve probably had to rely on hardware fasteners at some point. They come in different types with varying uses, and this article will shed more light on the types.
What Is A Fastener?
A fastener is a hardware device used to mechanically join or affix two or more objects together. The term covers various tools anyone can use to fasten or hold objects together, including bolts, nuts, and screws. Here, the word ‘mechanical’ rules out things like glue and paper tape. While such objects also hold things together, they’re not used mechanically. Generally, people use fasteners to create temporary joints, easily removable or dismantlable without damaging the joining components. But that in no way suggests that the joints created are weak. Quite the contrary, you can use fasteners to hold together objects that take on a lot of stress or pressure. So, you can use them for permanent joints also.
Types Of Fasteners
There are different hardware fasteners, each serving a different purpose.
Screws
For many, screws are the first things that come to mind when they hear fasteners. And why not? These are the most common and arguably versatile fasteners you’ll find. Per their design, screw fasteners have a threaded shank you can drive by turning. The thread holds the screw, preventing it from pulling out.
You’ll notice the head of the screw has a recessed area to receive a tool like a screwdriver or drill to turn it in place. Also, most screws are made of metal to keep them durable. Screws come in different types, including:
- wood screws
- exterior screws
- deck screws
- drywall screws
- sheet metal screws
- machine screws
- masonry screws
- board screws
When working with screws, always choose one long enough to penetrate the objects to connect or hold them in place. If your screw is too long, you may damage the connected material. A screw that is too short may be unable to fasten and secure the objects together.
Also, because screws have different heads, pick the best type for you. For example, you’ll find screws with flat, rounded, square, and fanged heads. The different types also mean you can choose between different drives fit for the purpose. Some common drives include hexagonal, square, and other less common drives.
Nails
Nails are probably more common than screws, but not many think of them as fasteners, especially because they’re everyday items. You can easily distinguish between a nail and a screw, as the former does not have a threading on its shaft.
Nails are excellent for certain applications thanks to their greater shear strength, even though they may lack the holding power screws have. They also come in various types, including:
- common nails
- roofing nails
- box nails
- brad nails
- finishing nails
- framing nails
- flooring nails
- drywall nails
Bolts, nuts, and washers
Bolts and nuts mostly work together to hold objects in place and are common in many homes. The bolt is considered the ‘male’ of the pair, while the nut plays the ‘female’ role. A bolt has a head and a cylindrically shaped body with screw threads running along a portion of its length.
A nut also has threads running internally and matching those of the bolt. A washer is the group’s third member, designed to prevent loosening and crushing. It’s a flat disc with an opening in the middle that evenly distributes the fastener’s load across the material’s surface. The most common bolts you’ll find include:
- carriage bolts
- flange bolts
- plow bolts
- hex-head bolts
- square head bolts
- Allen bolts
Nuts are also available in different types. The popular ones are:
- coupling nuts
- flange nuts
- hex nuts
- lock nuts
- Slutted nuts
- square nuts
- wheel nuts
Some types of washers include beveled, flat, lock, and structural washers.
Anchors
As the name suggests, anchor fasteners play a role similar to a boat anchor – preventing movement and holding the vessel (in this case, the object) in place. Generally, people use anchors to connect structural and nonstructural elements to concrete or drywall. Their design allows them to be embedded in the material and hold the affixing object in place.
Of course, you can still use conventional bolts alone to fasten an object to concrete surfaces. But with concrete being pretty brittle, you need anchor fasteners to ensure the connected objects remain in place. They transfer different types of load tension forces and shear forces. Some common types of anchors include:
- internally threaded anchors
- drive anchors
- sleeve anchors
- hollow wall anchors
- screw anchors
- masonry anchors
- pin anchors
- externally threaded anchors
Rivets
A rivet is a short metal pin for holding two objects together, usually metal plates. It’s composed of a head on one end and a stem in the shape of a cylinder (called the tail) at the other end. It creates a permanent joint between the objects, ensuring stability and sturdiness.
It would help to have a unique tool to expand the rivet’s tail to keep it in place, and you can press it down or beat it. Rivets are known for their durability and can outperform the other fasteners in this regard. But unlike other fasteners, you don’t need to tighten down a rivet to secure it. Instead, you have to permanently install it using force. Some of the most common types of rivets include drive rivets, split, solid, semi-tubular, and blind rivets.
Different Uses For Fasteners
You can use fasteners for different DIY projects in your home that require attaching two or more components. For example, you can use them to hang pictures, assemble furniture, install a cabinet, or apply to various woodwork. They’re also great for vehicle assembly projects, roofing, flooring, and wall installation. They also work well when fixing some kitchen appliances.
Conclusion
There are different types of hardware fasteners; you can use them all around the house for reformations and different DIY projects. Regardless of what type of fastener your project requires, purchasing only high-quality from trusted experts is the most important thing. Don’t hesitate to contact us for the best options guaranteed to add value to your projects.
