In daily life, during renovations, during mechanical installation, and even when installing furniture, we often encounter various screws, nuts, expansion bolts, and so on-collectively, these are called "fasteners."
So, how do you choose fasteners? Don't worry, I'll explain it to you in the simplest way possible.
1. Understand Your Purpose
Before choosing fasteners, it's crucial to understand what you plan to use them for.
If you're fastening wood or building furniture, wood screws or self-tapping screws will suffice.
If you're securing metal plates or metal fittings, self-drilling screws are more suitable.
If you want to hang heavy objects on the wall, such as water heaters or air conditioners, you should use expansion bolts.
If you're working with large machinery or structural components in construction, you should use high-strength bolts and nuts.
2. Consider the environment in which they will be used.
The material of the fasteners is also very important, and different materials should be selected for different environments:
For dry indoor locations, ordinary iron will work; it's inexpensive and easy to use.
If you're using them outdoors, in humid areas near water, such as balconies or bathrooms, stainless steel is essential for rust resistance. For high-temperature or corrosive environments, such as factory equipment, specialized high-strength materials are required.
3. How to Choose Size?
The size of screws and bolts depends primarily on two factors: thickness and length.
For example, if you're using screws that are 6mm thick and 30mm long, look for an "M6×30" model.
Not sure how long or thick the screws should be? You can compare them with old screws at a hardware store, or simply measure them.
4. Do I need washers and nuts?
If you need extra security and firmness in the tightening, adding a washer is recommended, especially in areas subject to high vibration.
Bolts generally come with nuts; don't buy just half.
Some screws are self-tapping and can be screwed in by themselves, eliminating the need for nuts.
We are Zeyao Hardware Factory, with 19 years of experience in fastener R&D and production. If you have any other questions about fasteners, please feel free to contact us.
