Common Fasteners And What They’re Used For

As if trying to build a piece of IKEA furniture using the brand’s directions is hard enough, it becomes nearly impossible when you don’t know what any of the materials are. Sure, you know what a wooden dowel is, but which little baggy has the hex bolts? Do you need nuts for that? All these questions add unnecessary stress to an already complicated situation. That confusion ends now. Below is a breakdown of the  most common types of screws and bolts that every homeowner will run into at some point in his or her life.

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Hex Bolts

Hex bolts, or hex cap screws, are large bolts with a six-sided head (hexagonal) used to fasten wood to wood, or metal to wood.Hex bolts have small threads and a smooth shank, and may be plain steel for interior projects or stainless steel or galvanized for exterior use.

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Wood Screws

Wood screws have a threaded shaft and are used to attach wood to wood. These screws can have a few different times of thread. According to Roy, wood screws that have fewer threads per inch of length are best used when fastening soft woods, such as pine and spruce. On the other hand, fine-thread wood screws should be used when connecting hard woods. Wood screws have many different types of heads, but the most common are round heads and flat heads.

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Machine Screws

Machine screws are a hybrid between a small bolt and a screw, used to fasten metal to metal, or metal to plastic. In a home, they’re used to fasten electrical components, such as attaching a light fixture to an electrical box. In an application like that, machine screws are turned into a hole in which matching threads are cut, or “tapped.”

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Socket Screws

Socket screws are a type of machine screw that have a cylindrical head to receive an Allen wrench. In most cases these screws are used to attach metal to metal, and need to be installed tightly to ensure a safe connection. They’re typically used when it’s likely that the item will be disassembled and reassembled over time.

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Carriage Bolts

Carriage bolts, which could be considered the lag screw’s cousin, are large bolts used with washer and nuts to secure thick pieces of wood together. Below the bolt’s round head is a cube-shaped extension, which cuts into the wood and prevents the bolt from turning as the nut is tightened. This makes turning the nut easier (you dont have to hold the head of the bolt with a wrench) and prevents tampering.


Post time: Nov-06-2020