A Basic Guide To Common Fastener Types

Fasteners are vital for everything from construction and manufacturing to everyday household repairs, providing a means to securely join materials together. With a vast array of options available on the market, it can be challenging to know which type is best suited for a particular task. Understanding the most important types of fasteners is essential for ensuring successful project outcomes, so read on as we cover all of the basics.

First and foremost, screws are one of the most popular types, being characterized by a helical ridge or thread on a pointy body that allows them to penetrate and hold materials together with significant tension. Typically driven into material with a screwdriver, some variants can be self-threading, meaning there is no need for pre-drilled holes. Machine and wood screws are among the most notable subtypes, with the former being engineered with precise threading for high-strength applications. Wood screws, on the other hand, have a coarse thread and sharp tip for easy penetration into wood. Their smooth shank also reduces friction and allows for deeper insertion without splitting the wood, which is crucial for carpentry projects.

Bolts are another widely utilized type of fastener, most often recognized by a cylindrical body, external threading, and a thick head on one end for tightening. When paired with a nut, they serve as a secure fastening solution that can withstand significant loads and stresses. One popular example is the carriage bolt, which features a rounded head that provides a smooth side surface, along with a square neck that prevents it from turning when a nut is tightened. This design makes carriage bolts suitable for use in wood and metal applications, especially in projects like decking, furniture, and other structures where aesthetics are a priority but a robust connection is still required.

On that note, nuts are smaller fasteners with internal threads that correspond with the external threads of a bolt, forming a secure joint when tightened together. Hex nuts, with their six-sided shape, are the most commonly used and provide a reliable grip for standard fastening tasks. Lock nuts, another common variation, are valuable in situations where vibration or dynamic forces may cause loosening over time, as they feature additional elements like nylon inserts or serrated surfaces to enhance grip. Lastly, wing nuts have two protruding "wings" that allow for easy hand tightening and loosening, making them ideal for applications requiring frequent adjustments.

Moving on to the next fastener, washers are thin, flat discs that are frequently employed in conjunction with bolts and nuts to enhance the reliability of connections. Typically appearing as flat disks with a hole in the middle, their primary function is to distribute loads evenly across a surface area to reduce risk of damage and prevent fasteners from pulling through material. Washers can also sometimes provide a seal against moisture and contaminants, particularly if they are constructed of rubber. Among the various types available on the market, split washers stand out for their unique design. These specific components have a split or gap that creates a spring effect which applies constant force against a nut when tightened, preventing loosening caused by vibration.

Unlike other fasteners that can be easily removed, rivets are a type that are permanently installed by deforming one end to secure them after placement. This means that rivets can withstand substantial loads and stresses, which makes them particularly well-suited for critical structural applications like aircraft construction. One particularly notable variant is the blind rivet, which is designed for use in areas where the back of a joint is inaccessible or hard to reach. They are installed using a rivet gun, which pulls an internal piece called a mandrel through the rivet body, causing it to expand the material to prevent pullout.

Finally, anchors are specialized fasteners designed to secure objects in dense, hard materials like concrete, masonry, and brick. They are also crucial for attaching heavy objects or structural components, ensuring load distribution and stability. Expansion anchors are a variant that are often employed for lighter-duty applications like securing light fixtures or shelves, consisting of a metal sleeve that expands outward into the material when tightened to create friction for a firm grip. Wedge anchors, meanwhile, are meant for more demanding applications where a stronger hold is required, featuring a tapered end that expands as tightened to drive the anchor deeper into the base material.

Here on ASAP Aerospace Bearings, we stock our selection of fasteners from leading manufacturers to maintain an unrivaled selection for customers. We are confident you will meet your needs here, as we carry over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find products that are all offered with the benefit of competitive pricing and rapid lead times. This being said, do not hesitate to explore our database while noting that our online RFQ forms allow you to rapidly receive quotes on any desired items. Get in contact with us by form, phone, or email today to experience our unmatched parts and services for yourself.