Fasteners might be small, but they play an extremely important role in our lives. Most people are vaguely aware of fasteners but may not quite understand how vital they are. Put simply, fasteners are small devices that are engineered to hold two materials together. This includes things like screws, nuts, and bolts.
Throughout your home, fasteners are used to apply force to joints and prevent things from falling apart. They provide a high level of force despite their size and are useful for many different applications and purposes depending on their design. What’s more, it’s incredibly easy to use these fasteners, as their heads are constructed to allow you to tighten and loosen them with the right tools. In this article, you’ll learn more about different types of fasteners and what they’re used for.
Hex Bolts
Hex bolts are extremely versatile and useful fasteners that are suitable for a wide range of heavy-duty applications. They’re typically used when a lot of strength is required, as their design means they’re capable of supporting significant loads without any issues.
What sets bolts apart from screws is that they’re normally used together with nuts and can be applied to unthreaded holes. This means you can use them on untreated materials, helping to save time and costs while still providing excellent strength.
Hex bolts are also recognizable thanks to the hexagonal-shaped head with six sides. This allows them to be fixed in place with a variety of tools. The Allen key bolt from RS also has a small drive on top which means it can be tightened and loosened using an Allen key. Thanks to this, you can apply a large amount of force with this fastener, even if it’s situated in a hard-to-reach spot.
The properties and design of the hex bolt make it extremely versatile, but it tends to be used for machinery and engineering. You can find these bolts used in large-scale construction projects such as bridges and skyscrapers. Still, they may also be used in your home and car.
Wood Screws
When it comes to screws, few are as commonly used as wood screws. If you have any wooden furniture in your home, there’s a good chance the joints are fastened together using these devices. They’re designed to apply enough force without damaging the wooden material, which is typically more fragile than metal.
Screws can be applied without the need for a nut, although the majority of them require a threaded hole to be made first. When constructing a project using wood, you should make sure you use the right fastener for the job if you don’t want to waste materials.
One of the main features of wood screws is that the shank is only partially threaded. The smooth portion of the shank allows the fastener to resist shearing movements and align correctly within the joint. Aside from that, they often have a countersunk head, which means it rests just under the surface of the wood for a cleaner and safer look.
Self-Tapping Screws
While the majority of screws require a hole to be threaded before they can be applied, it’s not always the case. Self-tapping screws are designed with a special point and shank that allows them to be inserted directly into the material.
The nature of self-tapping screws makes them extremely useful, as they can save time and lower project costs. This is helpful when you’re trying to work on a budget, and they still provide a high level of force when applied correctly. There’s a good chance your home has self-tapping screws used somewhere, and they’re generally used in woodworking.