Know Your Fasteners: 3 Different Types Explained

The fastener industry is massive, and understandably so. Employing around 131,949 people, it is responsible for ensuring that anything we construct — buildings, machines, even simple structures like shelving units — stays firmly and reliably together. Owing to the fact that the industry is so large, there are a lot of different options when it comes to choosing a fastener for whatever you’re manufacturing. Here’s an overview of three different types of fasteners you may encounter if you’re looking to build a custom fastener.

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• Screws: The most easily recognizable, these fasteners are defined by their threads. They can vary in a seemingly infinite number of ways, from thread and head diameter to overall length. If you’re looking for micro screws, you may need to employ the use of a miniature screw manufacturer as they can be much more difficult to find. Screws are used in nearly every facet of life — furniture, walls, even orthodontics, all employ the use of screws.
• Nuts and Bolts: Bolts also possess threads, but they have an accompanying component (the nut) to ensure the fastener doesn’t come loose and fall out. Bolts come in a wide array of sizes and lengths as well, and their nuts are commonly hexagonal. This allows for easy tightening in uncomfortable spots, such as in a crowded car engine, through the use of a wrench. Nuts and bolts can be found in the industrial manufacturing industry, from vehicles to naval ships, as they provide a more secure and solid fastening.
• Rivets: Rivets don’t really look like they’d be any good at holding two things together, but looks can be deceiving. They’re made up of three parts: a body, a head, and a mandrel. Pop rivets employ the use of a “gun” that tightens the rivet, forcing it deeper inside whatever it’s fastening, until it snaps and creates a clean edge. They are used to fasten fittings to metal surfaces.

There are many different fastener types out there beyond these three; in fact, many of them have a vast subset of specific types and styles underneath these three base forms. Additionally, there are pieces that go with fasteners, such as washers that increase the hold and bearing surface a fastener has. No matter what your business or personal project requires, you’ll be able to find and build a custom fastener — the right custom fastener — to get the job done.