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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFasteners are the hardware used to join materials or help make a joint. The right choice depends on what you are joining, whether the joint must come apart, the dimensions and properties the design calls for, and the conditions the fastener will face. This guide covers common fastener families and a practical way to narrow the options without treating any one type as right for every job.
What is a fastener?
A fastener is a product designed to mechanically join parts or contribute essentially to that function. The family includes bolts, screws, nuts, washers, pins, and rivets, among other products, as described by ISO’s fastener committee. Fasteners are not limited to threaded hardware: standards also cover products such as nails and anchor bolts, as shown in ASTM’s fastener standards catalog.
Common fastener types and what they do
These are useful introductory distinctions, not universal engineering definitions. Product design and the terminology in its applicable standard take precedence when precision matters.
| Type | Typical joining method | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Screw | Threads engage a material or a threaded hole. | Often selected for a joint that may need to be removed. Designs and uses vary. |
| Bolt | Commonly used with a nut or a threaded part. | The word alone does not establish that a nut is required; use depends on the product and joint. |
| Nut and washer | A nut mates with a threaded fastener; a washer may sit under a head or nut. | They are components of an assembly, and their dimensions and properties must suit the mating parts. |
| Nail | Driven into a suitable material. | A distinct, non-threaded fastener family used for appropriate driven applications. |
| Rivet | Installed to form a joint, often permanent. | Consider when the connection is not intended to be routinely disassembled. |
| Anchor | Transfers a connection into a substrate such as masonry. | Choose for the substrate and specified application; an anchor is not interchangeable with a general screw or bolt. |
How to choose a fastener
- Define the joint. Identify the materials being joined and whether the connection needs to be removable, permanent, driven, or anchored. This helps narrow the fastener family.
- Match the dimensions and thread system. Check diameter, length, thread pitch or system, and the geometry of the head and drive. A fastener that looks close may not match the mating parts or the specified product standard. A thread pitch gauge can help compare thread geometry on an existing threaded fastener, but it cannot identify the part’s grade, material, load capacity, or suitability for reuse.
- Check material and required mechanical properties. Use the grade or property class and mechanical requirements specified for the application. A category name or appearance does not establish strength or load capacity.
- Consider exposure and compatibility. Account for corrosion exposure, compatibility with adjoining materials, and required finish. Stainless steel is not automatically stronger or appropriate in every environment: ISO notes that corrosion behavior depends on composition, while mechanical properties are tied to manufacturing. See ISO’s fastener information.
- Confirm installation requirements. Check available tool access, whether both sides of the joint can be reached, and the product’s installation procedure. For a specified or safety-sensitive application, follow the applicable design, product, and installation requirements rather than substituting an unverified generic fastener.
Why standards matter
Fastener standards do not all cover the same things. ASTM’s catalog describes standards used to specify, test, and evaluate material, dimensional, mechanical, and metallurgical properties, with separate standards for different product types. ASME’s B18 series addresses dimensional, physical, and performance requirements for products including bolts, nuts, rivets, screws, and washers. A fastener’s family name is not proof that it meets the requirements for a particular joint.
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What ISO 898-1 does—and does not—establish
ISO 898-1:2013 covers specified mechanical properties for certain property classes of carbon- and alloy-steel bolts, screws, and studs with metric threads. Its scope does not specify corrosion resistance, shear resistance, torque/clamp-force performance, or fatigue resistance. Therefore, compliance with that standard alone does not establish that a fastener resists corrosion or is suitable for a particular joint. Verify the current edition and full applicable requirements before engineering use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When a generic fastener is not enough
For structural, pressure, lifting, vehicle, or other safety-sensitive work, use the fastener and installation method called for by the applicable design, product specification, and code. Do not rely on a generic assortment, visual similarity, or a broad “strongest fastener” ranking to make that decision. Where load, torque, or corrosion-life requirements matter, use qualified guidance and product-specific documentation; there is no universal value that applies to every fastener and joint.
Quick Recap
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