As the name suggests, temporary fasteners are devices used to bind two or more components together temporarily. They exist in over fifty types and are used with components like paper, wood, or metal. Examples are; washers, bolts, glue, rivets, and nuts, among others. All these assume different modifications to suit the varying needs of the users.
Temporary fasteners are mostly used as a pre-assembly tool to hold components together before permanently affixing them. It forms a short-term joint that can easily be dismantled and replaced by a more permanent solution using the same measurements. Learn about some of the temporary fasteners in detail below:
Types Of Temporary Fasteners
Bolts
These are threaded devices used to create bolted joints on non-threaded components. They are mostly used on wood to wood or wood to iron joints. Examples include blind bolts and solid bolts.
Screws
These are devices with a helical ridge used to affix two or more objects together. They are used to bind flooring boards, wooden pieces to each other, and iron to wood joints. Examples include drills and jar lids.
Washers
These are devices shaped like thin metal plates used to spread the weight over a large area in threaded fasteners. Examples include fender washers and torque washers.
Nuts
These are devices used together with bolts to join parts. They are used primarily with heavy construction materials like wood and iron. The nuts have a wide range of sizes depending on the width and height required by the user.
How To Choose The Right Fastener
Pick The Fastener That Matches Your Purpose
Before acquiring a fastener, know the exact application you need it for, as it will guide you on the type and quality of clasp to get. You will also understand what size, design, and material the fastener should be made of. Ask yourself: Do I need a fastener for temporary or permanent use? Should I go for special or ordinary fasteners? This helps you to choose the fastener that satisfies your need without doubt or uncertainty.
Greatly Consider The Construction Materials You Are Using
Certain fasteners work best for certain materials, and you, therefore, have to pick what works best with the materials you are using. You must be aware of the compatibility of the materials at hand.
Choose A Vendor Producing The Best Quality Fasteners
Companies use different materials and processes to manufacture their fasteners, hence, the difference in quality. You should, thus, choose the best quality fasteners for effective binding.
Consider The Raw Materials Used To Make The Fastener
Some materials last longer than others in different conditions and should be chosen to suit your specific needs.
Cost Of The Fasteners
Despite wanting great quality, you must consider your budget before set buying fasteners.
Know The Conditions The Fastener Will Be Exposed To
Before purchasing a fastener, it is good to be aware of the physical conditions it will be exposed to. This allows you to pick only the clasps that can survive in certain situations and serve their purpose effectively. You should then purchase fasteners modified or specially made to suit these conditions without damage over time.
What Is A Fastener?
A fastener is any tool or device used to join two or more objects together. The items to be bound may be of the same or different materials. They may also be two or more objects as per your desire. Fasteners are permanent for irreversible binding or temporary for replaceable use depending on the one’s requirements guided by their purpose.
What Is A Permanent Fastener?
A permanent fastener is a device used to completely join two or more components without a chance of the joint being removed. They are mostly made of strong metals that create irreversible bonds that last over long periods regardless of weather conditions or exposure to corrosive substances. Examples are clamps and nails.
What Is A Special Fastener?
This is a device used mainly in industries to hold heavyweight components together even under extreme conditions like high pressure and corrosive substances. Some are temporary, while others are permanent. In this case, the short-term fasteners are used to test and get measurements right, while the permanent fasteners are used afterward to bind the components together completely. They are special since they have extra features to suit industrial conditions depending on the industry at hand. For example, aeronautical industries require lightweight fasteners to stand air resistance in the sky and allow planes to speed up as needed.
What Is A Mechanical Fastener?
A mechanical fastener is a jointing device that requires a machine to affix one component to another or others. They include nuts, bolts, and washers. They require manual effort applied by the user to work. When attaching components, they are driven mechanically and not automatically.
What Is A Threaded Fastener?
A threaded fastener has a left or right pattern on its body for easier application or removal. They are faster and more effective to use. Examples are bolts and screws. These threads come in different designs, for example, cylindrical or hexagonal. The circumference or distance between one thread to another is used to determine the bolts and screws’ size. Threaded fasteners are mainly measured in inches or millimeters and marked for easier identification when users need them.
Types Of Threads In Fasteners
Parallel Thread
In a parallel thread, the diameter of the fastener is equal throughout from top to bottom. The thread is uniform all through the fastener. This thread lasts longer since the uniformity reduces the risk of threaded fastener failure.
Tapered Thread
The diameter decreases downwards in the tapered thread, i.e., it thins out towards the bottom in a certain pattern. The diameter can also increase downwards depending on the design or purpose of the device. This thread is most prone to fastener failure due to the difference in diameters from top to bottom or bottom to top. It is also the most common in constructions.
What Is Threaded Fasteners Failure?
This refers to the inability of threaded fasteners to perform effectively. It is caused by chipping or breaking off the threads, leading to difficulty in tightening or loosening the screws, nuts, and bolts. In this case, the bonds previously formed are weakened and may lead to the dismantling of the components bound together. However, replacing the threaded fasteners can help fix the problem.
Uses Of A Fastener
A fastener is mainly used to affix two or more components together temporarily or permanently, depending on what the user requires. Nails, screws, bolts, and nuts are mostly used on wood to join two pieces of wood, a metal plate to wood, or two metal plates. They hold structures, machines, and components together internally or externally.
What Is Another Name For A Fastener?
Latch, bolt, screw, catch and buckle are some synonyms of fasteners. They can be used to refer to a fastener when acquiring or inquiring about the same. These are important to note to avoid confusion or lack of understanding when something as common as a fastener is mentioned using a synonym and the user or seller cannot tell what is required of them. The Britons and Americans mainly have these differences in language hence the need for vast vocabulary.
What Fastener To Use?
The choice of the fastener is dependent on the materials to be joint. Check the appropriate one that can be used to join different pieces:
Paperclips, Staples, And Glue For Paper
These fasteners are best suited for papers since they are easy to apply portable and it causes no damage on the papers thus prevents altering of data. They are also smoothing to ensure the papers being joined are not crumpled or misaligned to distort their presentation outlook.
Nails, Wood Screws, Clamps, Bolts, And Nuts For Wood Or Plastic
These fasteners are easy to apply and create strong bonds that are hard to dismantle. Compared to paper, wood and plastics are harder to penetrate; hence fasteners made of stronger materials are used.
Metallic Screws, Rivets, And Dzus Fasteners For Metal
Metals are hard components; hence very strong fasteners are used to ensure the joints formed last long. These fasteners are also corrosive tolerant to ensure they last long, even in outdoor conditions.
Expansion Bolts, Anchor Bolts, Concrete Nails, And Toggle Bolts For Concrete And Dry Walls
Concrete and dry walls are very hard to penetrate; hence, the use of fasteners made especially for such materials to effectively serve their purpose.
Types Of Fasteners In Sewing
Garments, too, require fastening during sewing temporarily as well as permanently. They include ribbons, cards, buttons, and buckles. They hold garments together during sewing as well as to bring out certain designs in clothes. These fasteners are lightweight and mostly flat to ensure the comfortability of the wearers of the clothes.
Final Word
The choice of temporary joints is dependent on its purpose. Some are used on paper, wood, metals, or plastics. For example, metallic rivets and screws are temporary fasteners used to join metallic objects. Before buying one, it is good to examine your needs regarding the size, material, and shape to get the best for your pieces.
