Choosing the Right Fasteners for Your Business

Fasteners are one of the most important parts of any successful business, keeping your machinery and fixtures apart as you work on growing and becoming successful. These small devices are all around us and are a vital part of our everyday lives. Despite this, it’s rare that we see or think about them that much.

If you want to be successful, making sure you have the right fasteners to grow your business is important. In this guide, you’ll learn more about different types of fasteners and what they’re used for. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, you need to have the right tools and equipment for the job.

What Are Fasteners?

Fasteners are things that close or secure something. Industrial settings and the construction business typically rely on mechanical fasteners. These are devices such as screws, nuts, and bolts. The way these fasteners are designed means they can be easily applied to a material using a tool and generate a large amount of force.

The perfect fastener is designed for its application, with its size, shape, and material all taken into consideration. There are thousands of different kinds of screws and bolts, many of which can be used for different purposes. It’s important to use the right fastener if you want a safe and secure finished product. You can find a wide range of different options to purchase at RS.

Different Types of Fasteners

Bolts and screws are the most typical mechanical fasteners. They’re generally designed for a specific purpose, and using them in the right way helps prevent damage and safety issues. Here are some of the most common types:

• Machine screws – Machine screws are recognizable thanks to their blunt end, setting them apart from other types of screws, which are pointy and often sharp. These are designed to hold together pieces of metal, which is why they’re often used in machinery. Machine screws are usually fully threaded, although the thread can be either coarse or smooth depending on its purpose. They can be applied using a nut or a tapped hole.
• Wood screws – Wood screws are used in carpentry and woodworking. They’re designed to fasten wooden materials together and apply enough force without causing damage. They’re recognizable thanks to the sharp point and partially threaded shank. In addition, many wood screws have a countersunk head to ensure they fit flush to the surface of the wood.
• Socket screws/bolts – These are typically used in a similar way to machine screws, fixing metal materials together. However, they have a unique head which means they can be fixed in place by an Allen key or socket wrench. This makes them more versatile and also means they’re easier to screw and unscrew while still providing a lot of force.
• Carriage bolts – Originally used for horse-drawn carriages, these unique bolts are capable of fastening sheet metal to wood and are designed to resist a large amount of shearing force. They have smooth, domed heads and a square, unthreaded section which pulls the materials together.

Other Factors to Consider

While the type of fastener and its shape are the most important aspects to consider, you also need to look at its size and the type of material it’s made from. These will affect how the fastener can be used. 

For example, the screw you choose has to be the right length in order to pass through the material and create a strong bond. If it’s too long, it may cause damage, while the joint won’t be strong enough if it’s too short. The material will also have an impact on the strength of the connection and how resistant it is to weather and other conditions. If your business is based outdoors, consider fasteners with a corrosion-resistant finish.