Fastener Type Chart

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Fastener Categories

Wood Screws Screws with a smooth shank and tapered point for use in wood. Abbreviated WS	Machine Screws Screws with threads for use with a nut or tapped hole. Abbreviated MS	Thread Cutting Machine Screws Machine screws with a thread cutting (self tapping) point.	Sheet Metal Screws Fully threaded screws with a point for use in sheet metal. Abbreviated SMS

Self Drilling SMS A Sheet metal screw with a self drilling point.	Hex Bolts Bolts with a hexagonal head with threads for use with a nut or tapped hole. Abbreviated HHMB or HXBT	Carriage Bolts Bolts with a smooth rounded head that has a small square section underneath.	Lag Bolts Bolts with a wood thread and pointed tip. Abbreviated Lag

Flange Bolts Flange bolts have a flange on the bottom of the head that distributes the load like a washer.	Socket Screws Socket screws, also known as Allen head are fastened with a hex Allen wrench.	Eye Bolts A bolt with a circular ring on the head end. Used for attaching rope or chain.	Eye Lags Similar to an eye bolt but with wood threads instead of machine thread.

U-Bolts Bolts in U shape for attaching to pipe or other round surfaces. Also available with a square bend.	J-Bolts J shaped bolts are used for tie-downs or as an open eye bolt.	Shoulder Bolts Shoulder bolts (also known as stripper bolts) are used to create a pivot point.	Elevator Bolts Elevator bolts are often used in conveyor systems. They have a large, flat head.

Sex Bolts Sex bolts (a.k.a. barrel nuts or Chicago bolts) have a female thread and are used for through bolting applications where a head is desired on both sides of the joint.	Mating Screws Mating screws have a shoulder that matches the diameter of the sex bolts they are used with.	Hanger Bolts Hanger bolts have wood thread on one end and machine thread on the other end.	Set Screws Machine screws with no head for screwing all the way into threaded holes.

Head Styles

Flat A countersunk head with a flat top. Abbreviated FH	Oval A countersunk head with a rounded top. Abbreviated OH or OV	Pan A slightly rounded head with short vertical sides. Abbreviated PN	Truss An extra wide head with a rounded top.

Round A domed head. Abbreviated RH	Hex A hexagonal Head. Abbreviated HH or HX	Hex Washer A hex head with built in washer.	Slotted Hex Washer A hex head with built in washer and a slot.

Socket Cap A small cylindrical head using a socket drive.	Button A low profile rounded head using a socket drive.

Drive Types

Phillips The standard drive type for most screws. Abbreviated PH	Frearson Similar to Phillips. Requires a Frearson driver for installation.	Slotted A slot in the head. Abbreviated SL	Combination A combination of slotted and Phillips drives. Abbreviated Combo

Socket, Hex or Allen A hexagonal hole for use with an Allen wrench.	One Way Installs with a normal slotted driver but can not be removed without special tools.	Square Also known as Robertson drive. Abbreviated SQ or SD.	Star Also known as Torx®. A six-pointed star pattern, specifically designed to prevent cam-out and stripped heads.

Nut Types

Hex A six sided nut. Also referred to as a finished hex nut.	Nylon Insert Lock A nut with a nylon insert to prevent backing off. Also referred to as a Nylock	Jam A hex nut with a reduced height.	Nylon Insert Jam Lock A nylock nut with a reduced height.

Wing A nut with 'wings' for hand tightening.	Cap A nut with a domed top over the end of the fastener.	Acorn Acorn nuts are a high crown type of cap nut, used for appearance.	Flange A nut with a built in washer like flange.

Tee A nut designed to be driven into wood to create a threaded hole.	Square A four sided nut.	Prevailing torque lock A non-reversible lock nut used for high temperature applications	K-Lock or Kep A nut with an attached free-spinning external tooth lockwasher.

2-Way Reversible Lock A lock nut that can be installed either side up. Often used in high temperature applications.	Coupling Coupling nuts are long nuts used to connect pieces of threaded rod or other male threaded fasteners.	Slotted Slotted nuts are used in conjunction with a cotter pin on drilled shank fasteners to prevent loosening.	Castle Castle nuts are similar to slotted nuts but with the slots in a rounded section above the main nut.

Washer Types

Flat A flat washer used to distribute load. Available in SAE, USS, and other patterns.	Fender An oversize flat washer used to further distribute load especially on soft materials.	Finishing A washer used to obtain a 'finished' look. Usually used with oval head screws.	Split Lock The most common style of washer used to prevent nuts and bolts from backing out.

External Tooth Lock A washer with external 'teeth' Used to prevent nuts and bolts from backing out.	Internal Tooth Lock A washer with internal 'teeth' Used to prevent nuts and bolts from backing out.	Square A square shaped washer.	Dock Dock washers have a larger outside diameter and are thicker than standard.

Ogee Thick, large diameter, cast iron washers with a curved or sculpted appearance. Typically used in dock and wood construction	Sealing A neoprene washer bonded to a metal backing. Used to seal out air/water or dampen noise and vibration.