Benefits of a Local Fastener Distributor

Everyday our world seems to be shrinking. With global media coverage and communications that allow us to reach people anywhere on the planet almost instantly, borders are fading fast. But what does that mean for your business? Does it always make sense to import materials or order them from the supplier with the lowest possible price, no matter how far away they are? When it comes to fasteners, you may need to rethink your supply philosophy. Consider why a local fastener distributor makes more sense.

Cost

Let’s deal with this right off the bat, since it is often the main reason companies order from elsewhere. The cost of products manufactured overseas or down south may be cheaper in some instances, but buying from a fastener distributor that is over the border may be another story entirely.

There are two main reasons that the price of non-local distributors could be a problem – exchange rate and shipping.

When the dollar fluctuates it affects the price of everything brought in and out of the country. When you buy from a local distribution company they will absorb that cost difference. You might see an increase in the price for the next order, but there will be no last minute surprises when you go to pay your bill or any duties that are associated with it.

Shipping costs can also take a big chunk off of a manufacturer’s bottom line (or a contractor’s). As fuel prices continue to rise, so does the price to ship. Those figures need to be tacked onto the overall cost of the fasteners for accurate reporting. Again, local distributors absorb this cost for you, often at a much lower rate since they ship in bulk amounts that far surpass those of the average customer.

Service

More controlled costs are not the number one reason to buy from a local fastener distributor though. Better, more personalized service is the best reason. A local distributor knows your business, the economic climate and your specific industry better than any overseas company.

They can also offer quick delivery (even of small orders) and customized orders that are available fast. In the ever-changing worlds of manufacturing and contracting those two offers are worth much more than a lower ticketed price.

Buying from a local fastener distributor makes sense from a price perspective, but it is also has major advantages from a service perspective as well.

Why Are Phillips Heads So Often Used For Building Fasteners?

You will find a huge variety of building fasteners in the hardware stores today. Different coatings, materials and sizes are easy to spot and simple to choose from. But you’ll also find different fastener heads including square (or Robertson, a close relative), slot, torx and Phillips. Each of these driving methods has benefits, but you’ll find that some are more common than others.

                                                                                                        

Where Did These Different Types Come From?

Robertson or square head screws and hardware have been around for over a century and had the run of the market until around 1930. It was then that the automobile industry was expanding and assembly line fasteners were being introduced for their speed and strength under pressure. Henry Phillips stepped into the scene with his cross-shaped design that turned the fastener world upside down.

Suddenly fasteners equipped with this head could handle greater torque and be more tightly fastened. This fit the bill with assembly lines and soon the Phillips head fasteners were showing up more and more in many different places.

What About For Building Fasteners?

Phillips head fasteners are great for automobile plants and assembly lines, but will they add value to the construction site? Contractors soon found out the fasteners were perfect for framing, drywall and a myriad of other applications. It all had to do with the benefits that the cross grooved-shape delivered.

With a cross the driver or tool used to tighten the screw is contacting the fastener in more places. That means the pressure from that driver is disbursed and wear on the screw itself is less (as is wear of the tools). The chance of a stripped screw is also drastically reduced with Phillips screws are used.

Not only is wear less of an issue, but Phillips head fasteners do not slip as much as slots or squares do. Torx heads go even further by offering a six-pointed groove, but the tools are less commonly found for that type. Cutting down on slipping during installation means that Phillips screws go in faster. And when you can work faster the profits are higher and the customers are happier.

Phillips heads are so often used on building fasteners because they cut down on wear and are installed easily with speed and using common tools. Three good reasons to use a good fastener head on your jobsite.

Typical Length Measurements for Building Fasteners

Just as buildings come in all shapes and sizes, building fasteners are also manufactured in many different shapes and sizes. There are standard measurements used in common applications as well as the ability to create customized fasteners for almost any application.

How Is Fastener Length Calculated?

The length of a fastener is measured from the tip to the where the surface material is assumed to be. That means that a building fastener that is meant to be countersunk will be measured from the top (which will be flush with the surface) to the tip.

In contrast, the length of screws with a head that will sit above the surface are measured from the bottom of the head to the tip of the screw or bolt. Some common building fasteners measured in this way are:

·       pan head screws

·       round head screws

·       carriage bolts

·       lag bolts

·       truss head sheet metal screws

·       hex head bolts

·       socket head caps

How Do You Know Which Length to Order?

The length and design of the fastener ordered will depend largely on the material being ordered and the application. When building wood framing for a structure or flooring the screws and bolts needed will probably be specified by the building codes. A good rule of thumb is to be sure the fastener will penetrate the wood at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches (assuming that this length won’t penetrate through the wood).

If the fastener is too long it could result in split wood and if they are too short the project will not hold together.

When dealing with steel the length of the fastener will often be determined by the thickness of the steel and the nut required to complete the attachment. In many applications a good rule of thumb is to ensure that only one thread touches the steel. There also needs to be enough thread extending past the steel to hold on the nut and possibly a washer.

If you are in doubt about the length required and the applicable building codes don’t help, contact a fastener distributor or manufacturer for some guidance. Remember that the total length is based on where the surface of the material is and be sure to account for a nut and washer when working with steel.

Tightening a Square Head Bolt Using the Bolt Head or the Nut

It's a common, and often relevant, question. When you are tightening a square head bolt (or any bolt for that matter) is it better to use the bolt head or tighten using the nut?

Although we could get into torsion and torque, there are a few general rules to remember. The answer to this question depends a lot on the materials being joined together. If the two materials being joined are the same and the bolt is running through holes drilled in the same diameter (for example two pieces of wood being joined together to form a laminated beam or two pieces of overlapping metal being bolted together to form a sheet), it will not matter what you use to tighten the fastener. Tighten from the bolt head or tighten from the nut, either way you will not affect the materials or the fastener strength.

If however, you are bolting together two different materials (aluminum to steel, steel to wood, or even galvanized to non-galvanized steel), it's important to note that the friction coefficient will be different for each. In that case you will need to calculate whether it is a good idea to tighten from the nut face or the head face. Choose the one that demonstrates the lowest friction coefficient. Otherwise you run the risk of increasing the preload or creating such a major difference that bolt breakage is a possibility. 

Another commonly seen case is when the bolt hole in each piece of material has a different radius. Generally, in these cases, it's best to tighten the bolt from whichever side has the larger radius. This is because the preload created will be less than if the tighter fitting side was used.

When a washer is used, remember to try and keep the overall diameters of each (bolt head and nut/washer combination) the same, if possible. The closer in size they are, the better the fit.

In short, there are times when it matters whether a square head bolt is tightened using the bolt head or the nut. Depending on the type of material and the diameter of the bolt, it may produce a more solid fit to tighten one way. Generally this is only an issue when you are using torque control and often the difference is a minimal one.

How to Use a Jam Nut to Stop Self Loosening on Heavy Hex Bolts

Even strong fasteners like heavy hex bolts can come loose with frequent vibration. In many cases the use of two nuts will help to lessen or completely stop this phenomenon. For the tightest, most secure fit you need to opt for a jam nut and place it properly.

What is a Jam Nut?          

                        

A heavy hex jam nut is basically a thinner than normal heavy hex nut that, when attached in a certain way, will result in a bolt that is locked tight and resistant to even the heaviest vibrations.

How Does the Locking Work

Here's where it can get complicated.  Using two nuts to achieve a locking effect is something that has been done for over a century. But simply putting two nuts onto the bolt is not the key - it is the specific process used that creates the locking mechanism.

First of all, the order is important. You always want to put the thin (or jam) nut on first against the joist. Tighten it to between 25 and 50 percent of the total tightening torque and only that amount, otherwise you will negate the locking.

While holding the jam nut still so that it will not rotate, tighten the standard heavy hex bolt to its full torque. What will happen is this - when the thick nut comes in contact with the jam nut and begins to tighten, the pressure on the jam nut will be relieved. The bolt threads that were touching the bottom flanks of the jam nut will slowly move until they are touching the top of the flanks.

So you have a fully tightened nut on the outside (thick) with the threads engaged against the bottom flanks of that nut. Then, between the joint and the thick nut is the jam, where the bolt threads are touching the top flanks. As the bolt vibrates and the threads turn slightly, those two will jam against each other and the bolt will not be able to move.

It's important to follow the process exactly in order to achieve the lock. Just placing two nuts on is not enough to hold heavy hex bolts in tightly. But with a heavy hex jam nut tightened just so and a standard heavy hex nut tightened on top, the locking mechanism will work and your fastener will be held tightly no matter what.