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Bettesworth Construction
bolts

How to Choose the Right Fasteners for Your Project

Choose fasteners by the joint they must make: check materials, loads, access, dimensions, thread, head, property class, and finish—and follow the project specification for critical work.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 4 min read

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Choose a fastener for the joint it must make—not just by its name or appearance. Start with the materials, load, environment, access, and whether the joint needs to come apart; then match the thread, dimensions, head, material, and finish to the project’s specifications. For structural, lifting, automotive, or other safety-critical work, follow the applicable design and installation requirements rather than a general DIY guide.

What fasteners do

A fastener is a mechanical joining product. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) includes bolts, screws, nuts, washers, pins, and rivets in this broad category. Standards for fasteners can address dimensions and tolerances as well as materials, mechanical properties, coatings, testing, joint design, and assembly methods. See ISO/TC 2 – Fasteners.

Bolts and screws are both threaded fasteners, and naming conventions vary across products and applications. A bolt may engage a threaded hole rather than a separate nut. Nuts and washers are common parts of many joints, but they are not required in every fastening arrangement. Choose by how the joint works, not by a rigid rule about what a bolt or screw must include.

Choose a fastener by working through the joint

  1. Identify the materials and joint

    Note what is being joined, how thick each piece is, and whether it is soft, brittle, thin, or already threaded. Decide whether the joint needs to be removable. Check whether you can reach the back of the joint to install a nut, or whether the fastener must engage directly with one of the parts.

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  2. Consider load and exposure

    Think about the forces the joint must withstand and the conditions around it, including moisture, temperature, and contact with other materials. A fastener’s appearance or basic shape does not establish that it is suitable for every load or environment. Standards from organizations such as ASME and ASTM International cover multiple dimensions of fastener selection and performance; the applicable specification depends on the product and use.

  3. Match dimensions and thread

    Use the dimensions and thread system specified for the mating parts or project. Check diameter, length, and thread compatibility rather than assuming a fastener that looks close will fit or perform as intended. If a drawing, product manual, building code, or engineered specification names a fastener, use that specification.

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  4. Check head, drive, and tool access

    Select a head and drive that can be reached with the tools available and that suit the joint’s installation requirements. Make sure the tool fits the drive properly; limited clearance or an inaccessible back side can determine which joint method is practical.

  5. Match material, property class, and finish

    Confirm that the fastener’s material, stated mechanical property class, and finish meet the project specification and environment. A standards designation can describe particular properties without proving suitability for every performance need. For example, ISO 898-1:2013 covers specified mechanical properties for certain fasteners but does not cover every relevant dimension, including corrosion resistance, shear resistance, torque/clamp-force performance, or fatigue resistance.

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  6. Follow the specified tightening method

    If the maker, drawing, or engineer specifies a tightening procedure or torque, follow it. Do not substitute a generic torque chart for a procedure intended for the application.

Bolts, screws, nuts, and washers: how they fit into a joint

Component Role in a joint What to check
Bolt A threaded fastener that may be used with a nut or engage a threaded hole. Thread compatibility, diameter, length, head and drive, material, property class, and finish.
Screw A threaded fastener used in a range of joining arrangements; naming and use vary. Compatibility with the parts and joint method, as well as dimensions, head and drive, material, and finish.
Nut A component that can mate with a threaded fastener in joints designed to use one. Matching thread and the specification required for the joint. ISO’s ISO 16224:2026 addresses calculation methods for nuts and identifies failure modes within its scope.
Washer A component used in some joints alongside a fastener and, often, a nut. Whether the specified joint calls for one and whether its dimensions and material match the application.

These are practical descriptions, not universal naming rules. Standards and product specifications may define particular fastener types and requirements more narrowly; follow the terminology and callouts in the project documentation.

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Why a torque number cannot be applied universally

Torque is not a universal recipe for a particular clamp force. The relationship between tightening torque and tension depends on factors including friction, materials, temperature, humidity, finishes, mating surfaces, and the tool used. SAE International’s J1701_202508 is advisory torque-tension guidance for ISO-metric and UN series threads; SAE lists it as revised August 22, 2025. Its scope does not make a general chart a substitute for an application-specific procedure.

For a critical joint, use the specified assembly method and qualified design. An arbitrary online torque value may not reflect the fastener, surfaces, environment, or joint being assembled.

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When ordinary DIY guidance is not enough

Structural, lifting, automotive, and other safety-critical joints require application-specific specifications and standards. A fastener that fits physically—or meets one stated property requirement—may not satisfy all the joint’s needs. Confirm the applicable standards and edition for the work, and follow the governing drawing, manual, code, or engineered procedure. ISO 898-1:2013, for example, has explicit exclusions that matter when evaluating a fastener beyond its covered mechanical properties.

For routine household projects, a general-purpose assortment of screws, bolts, nuts, and washers can be useful if you check the dimensions and stated specifications of each piece. Do not treat an assorted kit as a solution for every wood or metal joint, or as an engineered fastener set for structural or safety-critical work.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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