Fasteners, sometimes referred to as fixings, are, essentially, things used to join and hold things together, either permanently or temporarily. They are the unsung heroes of the construction world and can be found almost everywhere you look, in everything from planes and cars to cupboards and doors, as well as in machinery and infrastructure across countless industries.
There are several different types of fasteners, each designed to cater to slightly different requirements. The main categories of fasteners are permanent and non-permanent.
Permanent fasteners
Permanent fasteners are designed to be single use as they can’t easily be removed once used in a construction project. Often the removal of a permanent fastener would cause damage to the materials being joined.
Some common examples of permanent fasteners are:
Nails
Perhaps the most commonly known of all fasteners, nails are perfect for construction and DIY jobs where the strength of the bond is more important than the aesthetics. Nails are usually easily knocked in using a hammer, or sometimes a nail gun.
Common nails
The most widely used type of nail, relied upon for its sturdiness and reliability in construction and woodwork projects. The head of the nail tends to be visible, so it’s a good choice for projects that require substance over style.
Box nails
Box nails are slightly slimmer than the common nail, which make them a bit less sturdy but less prone to splitting wood when hammered in. They are a good option for woodworking projects that don’t need to be quite as heavy duty.
Brad nails
Brad nails are great for when you need a more clean and polished look for your project, as they are slim and have smaller heads which can sit flush with the surface of your wood. These nails are often used in nail guns.
Rivets
Rivets are some of the strongest fasteners available, and are found in things like submarines and helicopters. They are made up of a cylindrical metal shaft and a head, similar to a nail. When rivets are inserted the end of the shaft expands which gives an extremely firm hold and grip.
Solid rivets
The most common rivet is known as a solid rivet. It is widely considered to be the strongest fastener around and is extremely reliable and durable.
Semi tubular rivets
Semi tubular rivets are similar to solid rivets but have a hole through the shaft, which makes them much easier to use as they don’t need as much force to knock in.
Split rivets
Split rivets have a pronged shaft, like a normal solid rivet with its shaft split into two. These are great for fastening materials that are softer, such as plastic, leather or most types of wood.
Studs
Studs have no head to them, so are usually used to join objects internally through premade holes. They are often welded as an additional layer of stability to the fastening.
Fully threaded stud bolts
Fully threaded stud bolts have threading all the way down the bolt, similar in look to a screw without a head. These are the most multi-purpose of all the studs and a solid, reliable choice for a fastener.
Double ended stud bolts
Double ended stud bolts have threading from both ends of the bolt with a smooth section in the middle of the shaft.
Clinch studs
Clinch studs have teeth on the underside of the head which make them perfectly designed to permanently attach to sheet metal.
Non-permanent fasteners
Non-permanent fasteners can usually be removed and reused if needed without damaging the surrounding materials or the fastener itself.
Some examples of non-permanent fasteners are:
Screws
Screws are one of the most common fasteners out there, and one of the most widely recognised, probably because they are so often used in DIY and household projects. They are extremely versatile and easy to use and install.
The threading on a screw cuts into the material that you are using it on and creates a perfect seal, making it very strong and reliable. The head of a screw will have a particular shape of indent to be matched with the corresponding screwdriver. Some types of screw head include the hex head, six-pointed star head, cross head and flat head.
Wood screws
Wood screws are the most common type of screw and, as the name suggests, are designed to be used with wood. The sharply pointed tip of these screws mean they are able to easily cut into the surface of wood for simple insertion.
Twinfast screws
Twinfast screws have double the threading so can be screwed into materials with double the speed. They are used on wood and also often on drywall.
Security screws
Security screws don’t have any indent in the head which means they can’t be simply removed with a screwdriver and instead need more specialised equipment. This makes them much harder to take out and a safe bet for any project which needs that extra bit of security.
Bolts
Bolts are often, but not always, used alongside nuts. If a hole is cut very precisely for a bolt then a nut won’t be necessary, but otherwise a nut or a washer is very useful in anchoring a bolt in place.
Carriage bolts
Carriage bolts have a domed head with a square undercut which forms a tight bond to the metal or wood being fastened, holding it securely in place.
Flange bolts
Flange bolts are sometimes also referred to as frame bolts. These bolts are great for distributing a load evenly across a surface by using a washer or circular underside to the head of the bolt.
Clearly there are a lot of different fasteners to choose from! The options may seem overwhelming, but at Confast we have over 30 years of experience in supplying fasteners for an extremely wide range of projects. To put our experience and expertise to use, get in touch with our team today and we can help you find the perfect fasteners for your job.