| If you were to take a look down any aisle filled | | | | they are generally less expensive anyway. |
| with fasteners at a home improvement store, | | | | Wood fasteners are those with the winding |
| you would no doubt find your range of choices | | | | corkscrew threads. The threads on wood screws |
| overwhelming. Anchors, eye bolts, machine | | | | begin at the very tip. That way, the fasteners will |
| screws, spring nuts, weld screws, and simple | | | | "bore" into the wood and hold the objects |
| wood screws are just a few of the possibilities | | | | together better. Any fasteners that you see with |
| you have to choose from when looking at | | | | the winding corkscrew threads are meant to be |
| fasteners. While it would be impossible to review | | | | used with wood. However, there is an exception. |
| each of the different fasteners and their use, | | | | Known as self-tapping fasteners, some metallic |
| here are some basics. | | | | screws will have hybrid threads that are a blend |
| When it comes to fasteners, there is one basic | | | | of the parallel and corkscrew threads. The |
| starting point: What kind of materials are you | | | | corkscrew is not as pronounced on self-tapping |
| looking to fasten together? If the objects are | | | | screws nor do they extend out as far as those |
| both metal, then you want a fastener with | | | | found on wood screws. Also, most self-tapping |
| machine threads. That basically means that all of | | | | metallic fasteners are coated in a protective |
| the threads on metallic fasteners will be parallel | | | | coating that helps them resist corrosion and rust. |
| with the head of the screw or bolt, whatever. | | | | Self-tapping metallic screws are found all over |
| Now the threads on metallic screws or bolts | | | | your automobile and used primarily to hold body |
| come in two varieties: coarse or fine. | | | | panels together. However, they have other |
| Coarse-threaded fasteners will have a wider gap | | | | applications as well. |
| between each thread. And fine-threaded screws, | | | | So really, a real clue as the use and function of |
| well, have a small or "fine" gap between each | | | | fasteners can be found from their threads. Still, |
| thread. So which should you use? Well, it depends | | | | there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different |
| on the nature of the objects being fastened | | | | fasteners out there on the market to choose |
| together. If a lot of force will be trying to pull the | | | | from. By knowing the differences between the |
| objects apart, then fine threads work better. The | | | | threads, however, you should be able to choose a |
| more threads the fastener has, the greater the | | | | fastener for the job at hand that will work fine |
| force required to sheer the threads. Otherwise, | | | | for you needs. |
| coarse-threaded fasteners should be fine and | | | | |