How many types of fasteners are there? Fasteners are small to large pieces of hardware that is used to affix or join objects together. Find out, some of the basic types of fasteners and their uses.

1. Types of fasteners
Explaining 10 different types of fasteners and their uses.

2. Fasteners are everywhere. From our smartphone to Sydney
harbour bride, everything around us is held together with
fasteners and fixings. From rivets, nuts, bolts and screws to
paper clip, split clip and nail are all considered to be
fasteners.

3. Interesting facts about
fasteners

4. Did you know, a Boeing 747 -400 has six million parts, half of
which are fasteners. That is 3 million different types of nuts and
bolts, rivets and screws.

5. World’s Biggest Bolt & Nut
Did you know, the biggest bolts ever made were enormous - 27' 4" long (8.3m), 4' 2"
diameter (1.27m), weighing 12.6 tons.

6. There are 18,038 iron parts and
more than 2,500,000 fasteners
(rivets) used to hold the Eiffel
tower together.

7. #1 – Wood Screws
In this list, the first type of fastener is the wood screw. These screws
generally have a very smooth shank and tapered point for use in wood. You
can find various types within the wooden fasteners’ category.

8. #2 – Machine Screws
Machine screws often referred to as stove bolt is a machine threaded screw
for use with nut or in a tapped hole. Normally used to join sheet metal parts
using a hex or square nut.

9. #3 – Sheet Metal
Screws
Unlike the wood screws, the sheet metal screw’s sharp threads not only
cut into wood but other materials such as sheet metal, plastic and more.
Most commonly used to attach metal hardware to wood. The shank of the
sheet metal screw is usually threaded up to the head.

10. #4 – Self Drilling Sheet Metal
Screws
Type of sheet metal screws, the difference is its ability to
self-drill helping tradesman with speed and ease of
installation. These types of fasteners provide maximum
thread engagement in structural steel and timber
constructions.

11. #5 Hex Bolts
Abbreviated HHMB or HXBT, Hex Bolt is a type of fastener with a hexagonal
head with threads for use with a nut or tapped hole. Feature that make Hex
bolts a choice of handyman, construction and engineering professionals is
washer surface that helps creating a better seal.

12. #6 – Carriage Bolts
Carriage bolts are generally/mainly used for fixing wooden panels to
masonry or to one another. Also known as coach bolt or round head square
neck bolt. The carriage bolts features a smooth mushroom rounded head
with a small square section underneath.

13. #7 – Lag Bolts
Lag bolts or lag screws are a larger and tougher version of wood screws.
These bolts feature a hexagonal head and are considered one of the
toughest fasteners. Lag bolts are generally used to connect heavy lumber or
other heavy materials that are bearing an intense load.

14. #8 – Flange Bolts
Flange bolts are one of the few fasteners with a built-in washer. Specially
designed to provide same holding power as #washer, this bolt’s flange head
distributes the clamping load over a greater area. Flange bolts are machine
thread for use with a nut and are also known as frame bolts. These #bolts
are generally used in the assembly line by #automotive industry.

15. #9 – Socket Screws
A socket screw also known as Allen head screw is the best solution when
space is at premium. These specialised fasteners features a cylindrical
head and hexagonal drive hole. To tighten and remove, you’d require a
hexagonal wrench more commonly known as Allen wrench. Most commonly
used in building of machines, high-performance applications and aircraft.

16. #10 – ?
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