Nuts and bolts are common fasteners used in a variety of household and industrial facets. Though they may appear insignificant, fasteners are no small part of the manufacturing and repair industry. In the United States, the screw, nut and bolt industry employs around 119,000 people. Although the majority of homeowners in the United States consider their skills at fixing things around the house to be average at best, many people are looking to improve their repair skills to become more self-sufficient. Over 60% of women homeowners report to finding home repair projects enjoyable. People looking to increase their skills for basic repairs around the house may want to familiarize themselves with different types of nuts that are used to fasten materials together. Here is a list of some of the types of nuts on the market and some of their uses.
#1. Sleeve Nuts
Stainless steel nuts and bolts are some of the most popular you will find. Sleeve nuts are used in place of turnbuckles–which is often used to adjust the tension of ropes or cables. Sleeve nuts derive their name from their longer length and the way they taper from the middle toward both ends–like the sleeve on a jacket. Sleeve nuts are designed to securely fasten two fasteners of the same diameter. Their typical length of between four and five inches allows sleeve nuts to make length adjustments to attach objects that may need the extra few inches between. Common household applications for the sleeve nut would be a project such as installing bed bolts.
#2. Acorn Nuts
Acorn nuts are also called cap nuts, crown hex nuts or blind nuts. The acorn nut has a domed top which covers up the threads. This works to both protect the thread, but also protect things that may come into contact with an exposed thread. The domed exterior is less likely to scratch or catch on things and is less dangerous for implications where people would be likely to come in contact with it. In the home, acorn nuts are often found in plumbing fixtures. They are probably what is securing your toilet to the bathroom floor. Thus, they are used both for safety and appearance as the domed head comes in a variety of finishes that adds a completed look to a project.
#3. Flange Nuts
Flange nuts such as 12 point flange nuts may also be referred to as collar nuts. Flange nuts have one hexagonal side and another side that looks like a washer. The washer end reduces the chance of damage to the material being attached while the nut distributes the pressure. Swivel flange nuts are popular choices for fastening materials like wood or plastic. Flange nuts are useful when attaching an over-sized or irregularly shaped hole as the washer end covers the hole so it is no longer visible. Not needing to use additional washers also may save time or money on hardware.
#4. Hex Nuts
Both small and large hex nuts are widely used for fastening applications. Large hex nuts are useful for powerful and high-strength fastening when using bolts with large diameters. Large hex nuts may also be called heavy hex nuts which have a superior hold and durability due to a thicker width when compared to regular hex nuts.
