Category: Screws

Although Ikea Screws are quite popular in the hardware industry, the company is not a full-fledged fastener manufacturing company. Instead, it focuses mostly in home décor and furnishing items.

Recently news was doing round the corner that this company is planning to spread its wings, so much so that it can build an entire mini town. The company is planning to set-up its ‘Ikeaville’ in Hamburg over a sprawling 150,000 sq. ft. of area to establish homes, shops, restaurants, offices and much more.

The fasteners may be humdrum products for this company, but their market positions are quite strong and have become a household name. Because of their variety and superior quality, these rivets are counted among the most popular screws available in the market under the name of their manufacturers.

Not only the Ikea screws are used extensively in hardware industries and furniture world, but these are highly searched for domestic purposes also. For instance, somebody trying to organize the garage cabinets will surely look for such fasteners. Since cabinets always help us go for more and better storage options, so these containers are always necessary to keep the garage organized and neat.

Choice is vast; you may go for a wooden type, metal or resin type. The screws are also available in various patterns to subtly fit with any kind of cabinet you choose.

Sometimes, you would be just trying to install a kitchen cabinet or a mirror in your bathroom. For all such installations, you will always require a screw to hold them against walls. These supplies are now readily available online.

The Ikea screws are available in all the leading web stores, dealing with fasteners and other hardware supplies. Online is always the best way to fetch such items, as you cannot only get them at the best buys, but also you can also take the help of experts to understand which design best suits your requirement.

Even for common mass, jargons like wrenches, hammers, bolts and brass socket are no more different. Gone are the days, when people used to only know them by their names. Today, with the advent of various cutting-edge amenities, people have become smarter and confident in volunteering for any task. Earlier, we used to rely upon any professional mechanic or craftsman to get our household jobs done. These days, with everything getting expensive, people have become more cautious in spending their every single penny.

With recent advancements in technology, a significant number of industries are now producing user-friendly appliances and the hardware industries is not left behind. These days, the market is flooded with various types of tools and fasteners, suitable for every task and even for a beginner’s hand.

Like in the case of the socket head cap screw, which is widely available online and also can be even used by a common man, who may or may not have adequate industrial knowledge. Instead of spending money on professionals, people are now seen taking such jobs in their hands. The petty household tasks can be fixed by us, provided we have proper amenities and little training. With online shopping, fetching any item has become handy, plus we can also rely upon any training video or manual to learn about its functionality.

The brass socket is a type of head cap screw, which features a hexagonal raised drive and is specially designed to measure the certain amount of tensile stress of any object, which can withstand any kind of wear and tear. It is made up a stronger alloy component of steel as compared to regular screws. But these fasteners vary the composition, as they are available in various grades in various companies. These are usually fastened by using a slot wrench and feature various types of heads.

While some feature cylindrical head, others feature a button or flat head. The flat head types are specially designed to fi into the countersunk holes. These cap screws are most commonly used among all other fasteners in industrial sectors, because of their economical, durable and safety features.

Particle board is a composite wood, made up of a combination of wood chips, such as sawmill shavings, synthetic resin, any suitable binder, wooden chips and saw dust. It is also known as ‘clip board’ and is the engineered wood, as it is not naturally extracted from trees. For such kind of furniture, special kinds of fastener known as particle board screws are used.

Considering various requirements, the hardware supply industry offers different types of screws. So, it’s always crucial to know what the exact type of screw, which best suits your requirement. As in the case of the clipboard – if you use any other screw then you may easily end up damaging the surface of the board. After considering the type, it is now required to know the exact size.

The adhesive present in the chipboard is usually a kind of resin that is adhered together with wooden chips to create boards of different density. Although chip board’s high density factor is quite strong, still it is known as ‘soft wood’ and is less permeable to moisture. This kind of artificial wood is lot cheaper than the natural furniture and this is the major reason for its popularity. While natural wood’s price is soaring high these days, you can easily fetch the engineered wood at quite cheaper rates, plus it has distinct advantages as compared to the normal one.

These days it is also used for flooring in kitchen and cabinets and it is easily deceived because of the coating of the melamine. And for the installation process, the particle board screws are definitely required. Such types of fasteners are thus heavily used in the interior works and are now most frequently bought on bulk amounts.

If you go online, you would be bombarded with an array of web stores dealing with such items. You may get confused, so let’s help you with this. The Mutual Screw and Supply is a well-known fastener company, who can help you fetch your desired stuff at quite affordable rates.

The self-tapping or thread-rolling screws are those types of fasteners, which feature threads, specially designed to tap in their own holes. Such types of rivets are ideal for fastening objects in softer materials such as plastic and wood, but do not suit at all for harder materials such as metal.

Thread rolling is a type of fastening procedure, which involves penetrating bolts threads into the raw stock instead of cutting them. This procedure requires a sturdy steel tool to be formed in the shape of the necessary thread. The raw and uneven stock is spun at a definite rate; simultaneously the tool bit is pressed against it with high pressure. Thus, the shape of the screw thread is efficiently placed upon the stock base.

The tool bit is constantly put under pressure and is moved towards the stock, till the full-depth threads are created. The thread forming process is bit cheaper as compared to the thread cutting, thereby yielding durable and safer end results.   Fasteners, such as screws, nuts and bolts are the most commonly used rivets in the world, with ample quantities produced across the world every year. These rivets are generally yielded from raw metal stock, which is created prior to the introduction of threads. Basically, there are two steps involved in forming the threads; thread rolling and thread cutting.

The thread cutting procedure involves a cutting die, which is moved up the length of the rotating stock, thereby cutting away the metal surface to create the threads. Although this process is effective, it is always time-consuming.

The thread rolling screws on the other hand is a better application in various aspects. In this method, a sturdy tool bit is used to insert the threads into the stock surface. The tool bit is formed in the shape of the threads and with great pressure; it is then forced against the stock.

Fasteners such as screws are extensively used in hardware industries and they are available in huge varieties and patterns, so as to meet various industry requirements. Many people carry a notion that screws are all the same. But if you visit any online hardware supply store, such as Mutual Screw and Supply, you would learn that these fasteners are available in various designs and each one of them features distinct functionality.

You can only settle down for a particular hardware item, which meets your requirement, provided you understand the basic difference between various screws, say metal screws vs wood screws. Many people would assume that the basic difference lies in their materials. But this is not entirely true, as the metal rivets can also be used in wooden and fiber glass surfaces and the wood fasteners can also be used in surfaces other than furniture. However, their main difference lies in their features and designs.

Threads

You can site a major difference in their threading pattern. These two rivets are threaded differently. While the sheet metal fasteners are benumbed and are threaded on the entire body, the wooden rivets are comparatively soft and feature a tapered shank. The threading on metal ones is available up to 3 inches and the wooden ones feature threading up to 1 inch. The sheet metal screws flaunt a straight shank along-with a finer threading pattern other than the wooden rivets, which are threaded only two-thirds of the way up.

Pitches

Pitch refers to the number of threads per inch. The metal rivets feature number of pitches than the wooden ones, which indicates that they feature a coarser pitch. In case of the wooden screws, the top portion is often not threaded, thereby enabling the rivet to be popped up from the surface.

Uses

The metal fasteners can also be used in furniture pieces, whereas wooden screws are not ideal to be used in metal surfaces. The metal screws are ideal for self-tapping. (Self-tapping means that the fastener can create its own threading as it advances through the material). These self-tapped rivets are used in plastics, fiber-glass and plywood, whereas in wooden screws, self-tapping is not possible. These fasteners are used in outdoor building structures such as decks and fences.

A sex screw, which is also known as barrel nut or barrel bolt and even Chicago screw at times, is a type of fastener that features a barrel shaped nozzle and a protruding boss, which is threaded internally (a boss is basically an extended feature on a work piece).

This protruding feature is placed within the components, which need to be fastened, while the rivet’s flange enables the bearing surface.

The barrel nut and its accompanying machine screw enables flush on both sides of the surface, which are tightened. Such kinds of bolts are much in demand, most probably because of their low profile as compared to other bolts.

The Chicago screw usually possesses a built-in feature, like a slot, which helps in securing any fastener.

Sex screws are used in bolting applications, mostly in situation which demand to have a head on both sides of the joint. The sex bolt is enabled with a female thread, thereby enabling it to meet with the bottom of a standard bolt and connect.

There are some sex bolts, which are also known as architectural bolts and feature knurled cylindrical containers. Knurling is commonly a manufacturing terminology, used when a process is typically carried out on a lathe and a diamond shape pattern is cut into metal.

Such kind of rivets are also used in binding posts, which are quite similar to architectural bolts, because of their special designs, which are fashioned to be assembled from one side. in addition to, they have also got teeth on the flanged base, which are helpful in fastening.

These metal pieces were originally produced for the printing industry, so as to bind huge catalogs together. But now, with their multi-faceted features, they are also used in numerous other ways.

The stainless steel sex screws usually feature combo truss head, which are usually broad with a low profile rounded cap. These are a combination of rivets, which feature both slot as well as X shaped cells for use and can be easily used by a Phillips head or flat bladed screw driver.

The Chicago screws can be easily fetched online. The Mutual Screw and Supply is an ideal destination to look for all sorts of fasteners. Browse through the product page to find more!

A thumb screw a kind of fastener, which features an over-sized head with a diamond-shaped or knurled anchor finish along-with large wing like blades, thereby enabling the screw to be used as per the requirement.

Such kind of rivet is used in applications, where any object may need frequent re-installations, as it is in the case of the safety cover or in case of various electronic devices. In such cases, such kind of fastener makes it possible for you to easily remove it by just twisting it with your thumb and forefinger.

In most of the application, the thumb screw is used as a bolt. While a screw by nature is usually pointed in shape and is used to develop its own threads when inserted into sheet metal or wood, the thumb screw features a blunt-nosed bolt, which is tightened into any threaded hole. The basic advantage is that it renders easy installation and removal processes without any help of tools, as it is with the case of other screws.

The battery cover and other certain electronic devices use such kind of rivet. You would have often heard that the thumb screw is captured – it means that bolt of this rivet once loosened, it won’t fall out of the cover. This particular rivet uses a washer, which is set in place to sustain the metal piece in the cover. This is a handy hardware supply, thereby preventing the locking screw from getting lost.

It is available in various designs, which incorporate a Phillips or flat screwdriver into the fastener. This helps the rivet to be easily fastened by a wrench even and if not then it can be still tightened by finger. In heavy-duty applications, such as in boats and off-road vehicles, it is highly recommended because of its tendency to get loosened over time. In case of the fasteners, featuring knurled heads, it is possible to attach the screw with a pair of pilers, so as to ensure accurate torque implementation.

Before elaborating the different types of screws available today in the market, let us first of all have a quick review on its definition.

So what is a screw?

A screw/bolt is a type of fastener distinguished by a circular ridge, known as threads which are wrapped around a cylinder.

While some screw threads are designed to get along with an internal thread, also known as complementary thread, there are some threads, which are fashioned to cut a helical groove in a softer material, say wood or plywood, when the fastener is inserted. The major function of a screw is to hold two objects together.

These kinds of fasteners are astonishingly versatile and powerful enough to be hold two different surfaces intact. The basic concept behind such metal objects’ functionality is their threaded cylindrical parts, which are designed to get inserted into any kind of material, be it a plastic, wood, metal or plywood. However, there are various types of screws available suitable for distinct surfaces.

These types can be distinguished depending upon the driving methods, job requirement, head shape, type of threads and material used to make such metal pieces. Have a look!

Driving Methods

Slotted: The heads of such fasteners are most probably the most ancient and commonly used variety. The linear slot in the screw’s head is easily gets along-with any standard screw driver, such as the flat-head screwdriver.

Phillips: These are the enhanced forms of slotted ones. Their cross-shaped laps, which are not continuous up to the edge, will certainly require a Phillips-head screwdriver. The heads of such rivets, featuring a circular shape, enables a larger mating surface, thereby reducing the chances of wear and tear. Plus, they also prevent the chances of slipping. A cross head usually features 2 full-length slots, which can only work with a flat-head screwdriver.

Square: This type is also known as Robertson screw head and features a square dent to reduce the chances of slipping. It requires a special kind of driver for its usage.

Hex: This is again available in two designs. Such types of fasteners either feature a hexagonal recession in the head or do not have grooves at all. The hex socket screw/Allen screw requires an Allen wrench, featuring a hexagonal shaft and the other type of hex screw’s head is completely hexagonal in shape. A socket wrench is required to tighten or loosen it.

Apart from being available in above mentioned types, the screws are also available in various materials. While some are made up of steel and stainless steel, there are fasteners, which are made up of brass, nylon, aluminium and are also available with zinc and black-oxide coating.

Coach screws are heavy duty fasteners specially designed for fastening metal pieces with timber and also to fasten heavy timbers. These types of rivets are also known as ‘lag bolts’ or ‘lag screws’.

These rivets feature a square or hexagonal-shaped head, specifically engineered to be easily used with any plier, wrench or spanner. These metal pieces are available in a huge range of sizes, ranging from the very small ones ideal for furniture and easily assembled by the consumer to extremely huge ones, which are used in large scale construction projects.

These specially designed fasteners comprise of an outwardly threaded cylindrical shaft, which is tapered at one end and its head protruding out at the other end.

When such screws are inserted into timber, the threads dig in into the wood and their heads prevent the rivets from slipping all the way through, due to the compression which is simultaneously created.

Did you know?

This kind of essential form of the fastener has been in existence for over 2,000 years, although metal rivets used for construction and woodworking have only been in use since 19th century and that was made possible due to the initiation of the mass-manufacture.

It was only during the Second World War that the size of these hardware supplies became standardized, so that they could be manufactured and shared between Allied forces at much ease.

Features

• Coach screws are fastened into wood with a spanner or socket
• These rivets are ideal for fastening into wood and are also used with wall plug in all masonry work
• Made up of galvanized carbon steel
• Features coarse thread and hexagon head
• Features sharp gimlet point for easy penetration
• Length ranges from 40 mm to 110 mm
• Thickness varies from 5 mm to 12 mm
• Most of these fasteners feature smooth shank

Their uses

The coach screws are widely used at critical joins in construction projects, due to their highly sturdy nature. These fasteners are often more advanced than nails for construction projects, as they can be easily removed and reused later.

These rivets are preferred for joints because of their heavy duty characteristic and they even render additional support through the use of metal flanges, whenever needed.

These fasteners are also used for fixing into timber, as their sharp points enable easy and quick installation, however pre-drilling is required in some cases.

When using such screws, it is always important to make sure that you’re using the correct wrench or spanner so as to prevent the head of the screw from getting damaged during installation. You should check-out the size of a wrench or spanner whichever you’re using, plus, you should also measure the flat ends.

And if you’re using these fasteners in fastening wooden pieces or in other cases where the rivet has to pass through the surface then you should use a washer with the screw so that the head won’t be sucked into the surface.

Hints & Tips

• Use with a wall plug in masonry work
• Extremely sturdy and reliable

Advantages

• Easy to install
• Extremely sturdy and reliable
• These rivets are ideal for fastening into wood and are also used with wall plug in all masonry work
• Available in bulk for better prices