Thumb Nuts

Fastener Nuts That Are Driven By Hand

Designed to be used without tools, thumb nuts are some of the easiest to use fasteners. Available as either knurled nuts or wing nuts, they are made for easy installation and removal, requiring only your hands to tighten or loosen them.

Wing Nuts

Wing Nuts feature two protruding wings on either side of the nut to tighten or loosen by hand. Wing Nuts are commonly seen on assemblies that require adjustment or are not permanent. They are also used when convenience is a driving factor.

Flange Wing Nuts

Flange wing nuts, or washer base wing nuts, are variations of traditional wing nuts. These wing nuts feature an additional integrated smooth washer, effectively combining a flat washer with a wing nut. The flange portion helps to distribute pressure from the fastener assembly over a wider surface area. This allows for an even more straightforward installation and removal by removing the need for a washer.

Knurled Nuts

A knurled thumb nut is a nut with a knurled outside surface, rather than hex. This makes it easy to tighten by hand, as well as adding a decorative finish. Knurled thumb nuts are used mostly on finished products, such as light fixtures, antique cars, and motorcycles.

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FAQs

What is a thumb nut?

A thumb nut is any fastener nut that doesn't require tools to tighten or loosen. These kinds of nuts are typically driven by hand. The most common types of thumb nuts are wing nuts and knurled nuts.

Are there tools for installing thumb nuts?

While they are designed to be driven by hand, there are tools for fastening wing nuts specifically. These tools are intended for use in power tools and are ideal if a large number of wing nuts are to be installed.

What are thumb nuts for?

Thumb nuts are for applications where something only has to be fastened temporarily or needs to be frequently adjusted, changed, or removed. Since you only need your hands to drive these nuts, they are also useful for situations where you need to fasten something quickly.