Fasteners
Just as finishing work cannot be imagined without primers, paints, and putties, so any construction or repair work, even small household work, cannot be imagined without fasteners. Fasteners are the basis of any work, and the importance of quality products can hardly be overestimated. Modern manufacturers of fasteners have significantly expanded their assortment line, and now, in addition to traditional nails, dowels, and anchors, on the counter, you can find products designed for a variety of tasks – from mounting a board using a regular construction nail to installing a material using an anchor, which will provide the ability to withstand an increased load.
Most popular fasteners:
- anchor technology
- metric fasteners
- dowels
- self-tapping screws
- screws
- rivets and others
There are a lot of subspecies of fasteners, however, we will analyze the main well-known products in more detail.
Self-tapping screws. This type of fastener does not have a variety and their varieties depend primarily on the material on which they will be used. The following characteristics are fastener size and functionality. In particular, a fastener such as a self-tapping screw is designed for use on:
- metal
- wood
- drywall
Roofing screws are designed specifically for working with roofing materials. All types of self-tapping screws, regardless of the materials for which they are intended, have different indicators of length, width, diameter, thread pitch. A single indicator is a fact that self-tapping screws for metal usually differ in a smaller thread pitch compared to wood – this is due to the peculiarity of the structure of the material.
Self-tapping screws with a press washer are used for drilling thin sheet metal to metal structural elements. Fasteners of this type have a sharp tip or drill to simplify work and eliminate the possibility of material damage. Fasteners for metal can also be self-tapping, that is, they do not require additional pre-drilling in the metal, and those that do. The first type of fastener has a special drill – its size indicates the thickness of the metal structure or sheet into which it can be screwed.
Anchor. Fasteners are used for fixing and mounting structures and materials. By design, shape, and purpose, they can be classified as follows:
- Driven anchor
- Wedge anchor
- Ceiling anchor
- Wedge anchor
- anchor bolt
- L-hook anchor bolt
- Anchor bolt with nut
- Anchor bolt with ring
Anchors of any type are united by the fastening function. One way or another, this fastening element provides reliable fixation of the structural element. For example, hammer-in fasteners are used to secure products or materials to a concrete structure or base. At the same time, it is quite simple to use an anchor as a fastening technique – you just need to mount the element into a previously prepared hole, taking into account a given radius.
The wedge fastener is designed for fastening strips, profiles in the concrete base, with its help, the installation of suspended ceilings is carried out, heavy equipment is fixed. Like other anchor fasteners, it is located directly in a pre-prepared hole in the base, after which a product or structure is installed (hammered) into the element and tightened with nuts.
Ceiling elements can be metal – most often metal – and are used to fix structural elements on a solid foundation without the possibility of cracking. They are also used in the installation of railings, gratings, facades, and other structural elements.
Using the fastener as intended is the key to success.
Of course, fasteners are subject to a very extensive classification and it can be very difficult for a beginner to remember it, but knowing what surfaces and materials the fasteners are used for is enough. Otherwise, it can lead not only to the fact that you waste a large amount in some cases. And to the loss of reliability of the structure, since the element will crack or simply will not fit. Therefore, the quality and the correct selection of fasteners must be taken very seriously, and not based on cost, but primarily on the functional purpose.