What Are Fasteners?

 

 

What Are Fasteners?

 

We've all heard the term fasteners before, we use it to reference all sorts of things but what exactly constitutes a fastener and what exactly are they?

A fastener is any type of mechanical item that joins or affixes two or more objects together

Fasteners are used to create non-permanent joins that can be dis-assembled without damaging the fixed items.

For instance, glues and welds technically affix two objects together but because they are permanent and cannot be dis-assembled without effecting or damaging the fixed items, they are not considered to be fasteners. 

The dictionary definition of Fasteners is: "a device that closes or secures something."

 

 

 

 

Nails

 

I think we all know what a nail is. Super commonly used all around the globe. 

Generally used to fasten timber together, but with new manufacturing process's the prevalence of gunpowder charged nails that can shoot directly into masonry and steel, nails are being used for a huge variety of applications.

Interesting fact: The invention of the nail dates back to ancient Egypt as far back as 3,400BC!

 

 

 

 

 

Nuts and Bolts

 

Again, super common. Pretty much everyone has used a nut and a bolt before.

Used extensively in the construction and engineering industries.

Pretty much every big structure everywhere in the world is held together with nuts and bolts.

Did you know - the largest bolt ever created was made in 1967 by a Scottish engineering company who'd been asked to create bolt that would hold 2 oil tankers together.

The bolts they made were 8.3m long and 1.25m wide. Each weighed 12 tonne, and they made 60 of them!

 

 

 

Anchors

 

Anchors is a little bit of a tricky one because the term 'anchors' encapsulates so many different types of fasteners.

The easiest and best way to categorise them is so:

Mechanical anchors - this incorporates essentially every type of expansion anchor, that's any type of anchor that works by way of expansion (sleeve anchors, through bolts, nylon plugs etc etc) and also screw anchors, that's any type of anchor than screws directly into the substrate. ie screw bolt anchors 

Chemical anchors - this includes any type of chemical anchoring product, whether it be polyester chem, vinylester, glass tubes or any other type of chemical.

This would be then further broken down into each individual sub category but for the sake of not making this article the longest in the world mechanical anchors and chemical anchors incorporates pretty much everything.

 

 

 

 

Rivets

 

Rivets is lucky last on our list.

Sort of a weird fastener in a sense that they dont really meet the requirements of being a fastener being that some types are not removeable without damaged the fixed items but, not everything has to make sense. A rivet is most definitely a fastener.

Rivets come in all different shapes, sizes and types and a bit like anchors we'd be hear a while running through each one with you

The most popular of all would be the good old 'pop' rivet.

Used in nearly everything, construction, aerospace, engineering applications. Rivets are exceptionally versatile and have become more and more common as power tools have developed attachments making installing rivets quicker and quicker.

 

 

 

So there you have it, what is fasteners, what are the common types. I'm more than sure we left some out so let us know in the comments down below and we'll add to this list if anyone has any other ideas

To see every typeof fasteners check out our fastener range here: Fasteners

 

Thanks for reading our latest blog entry 

Best Regards,

The Scrooz Fasteners Team 

www.scrooz.com.au