Click on the various Links “BELOW” for Detailed Examination of Fastener Categories and Their Uses
A Bolt is a type of fastener consisting of a threaded pin or rod with a head at one end, designed to be inserted through holes in assembled parts and secured by a mated nut that is tightened by applying torque.
Nuts:
A Nut is a type of fastener with a threaded hole. Nuts are almost always used in conjunction with a mating bolt to fasten multiple parts together. The two partners are kept together by a combination of their threads’ friction (with slight elastic deformation), a slight stretching of the bolt, and compression of the parts to be held together.
Screws:
A Screw is a type of fastener consisting of a narrow, pointed metal shaft that has a wide flat or rounded top and a ridge (called a thread) that goes around it in a spiral A screw is used to hold things together or to attach things. It is inserted into wood, metal, plastic, etc., by being turned which tighten the screw.
Anchors:
An Anchor is a type of fastener that utilizes friction to form a secure hold in a pre-drilled hole. This friction is most commonly achieved via an expansion mechanism. After installation in a pre-drilled hole, the anchor is designed to expand in diameter, forming a tight wedge against the inside of the base material. Wedge anchors, wall plugs, hollow wall anchors, drop-in anchors, shield and expansion anchors all make use of this expansion method. A key benefit of this type of anchor is that it can bear a load immediately upon installation, as opposed to chemical anchors which need to cure, making them ideal for speed-critical applications. There are many varieties of anchors to be used in specific applications.
Washers:
A Washer is type of fastener consisting of a thin plate (usually disk-shaped) with a hole in the center and used in conjunction with a bolt, screw and/or nut and is used to distribute the load of a threaded fastener so as to not crush soft materials or pull through then materials during tightening. Washers are most typically made of brass, nylon, steel, stainless steel, thermoplastic, or rubber, and come in a wide variety of styles and sizes.
Threaded Rods & Studs:
A Threaded Rod or Stud is a type of fastener that is cylindrical in shape (like a shaft) that screw into place to mount, brace, hang, support, and reinforce components in assemblies and structures. They are commonly used in construction applications, metal fabrication, and machinery repairs to fasten parts together that require extended reach or lengths.
Bulk Nails & Spikes:
A Nail is a type of fastener used for general fastening projects, including construction work like framing and structural assemblies, as well as woodworking projects. There are many types of nails;
Common Nails, Framing Nails, Box Nails, Sinker Nails, Deck Nails, Roofing Nails, Masonry Nails
and Siding Nails as the most utilized.A Spike is a heavy duty nail-like fastener, 3 to 12 inches long and proportionately thicker than a common nail, for fastening together heavy timbers, railroad track or heavy-duty construction type materials.
Zip Ties / Cable Ties:
A Zip or Cable Tie is a type of fastener consisting of a plastic strip with serrations on one end that lock inside an opening on the other end, used to bind things together, especially wires and small diameter tubes.
A Pin is a type of fastener consisting of a small, slender, piece of metal wire, with a point at one end and a head at the other, used to fasten, support, or attach things together.
A Rivet is a type of fastener consisting of a headed pin or shank of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then upsetting or pressing down the plain end so as to make a secondary head. There are multiple types of rivets, the most common ones being; Blind Rivets, Drive Rivets, Semi-Tubular Rivets and Solid Rivets. Each one has specific mechanical properties that lend themselves to specific applications.
Threaded Inserts:
An Threaded Insert is a type of fastener consisting of The exterior will have special features enabling it to lock into the ID of a workpiece and form a strong internal thread.
Staples:
A Staple is a type of fastener consisting a piece of thin wire with a long center portion and two short end pieces that are driven by a “Tool” (Stapler) through thin metal sheets, wood or paper, to fasten them together.
Velcro Fasteners:
Velcro is a type of fastener unlike any of the others on this list, yet should be mentioned. It is a fastener for clothe items such as clothing, tents, tarps or other similar items. Velcro consists of two strips of thin plastic sheet, one covered with tiny loops and the other with tiny flexible hooks, which adhere when pressed together and can be separated when pulled apart deliberately.