New to fasteners? This guide starts from zero and covers everything you need to know. No experience required.
If you've ever put together furniture from a box, hung a picture frame, or fixed something that came loose, you've worked with fasteners. They're the screws, bolts, nails, and clips that hold things together. This guide will teach you everything you need to know, starting from scratch.
A fastener is anything that holds two or more things together. That's it. If you've ever used a screw to attach something, you've used a fastener.
Look around your room right now. Your furniture, the door handle, the light switch cover, picture frames on the wall. All of these use fasteners. Without them, everything would fall apart.
Why you should care about fasteners:
There are hundreds of different fasteners, but these are the ones you'll actually use and see most often. Let's break them down one by one.
These have spiral grooves (threads) that grip and hold.
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These rely on friction, deformation, or mechanical grip.
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These work with other fasteners or solve specific problems.
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Every fastener has specific parts. Knowing these names helps when you're buying fasteners or asking for help at the hardware store.
| Head Type | Description | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Flat/Countersunk | Tapered head sits flush with surface | Furniture, cabinets, anywhere you want a smooth finish |
| Pan Head | Slightly rounded top, low profile | General purpose, electronics, sheet metal |
| Round Head | Dome-shaped, sticks up above surface | Decorative applications, older furniture |
| Hex Head | Six-sided head for wrench or socket | Heavy-duty applications, automotive, machinery |
| Button/Truss | Extra-wide rounded head | Sheet metal, covers large holes |
This determines what tool you need. Get the wrong driver and you'll strip the head.
Threads are the spiral grooves that let fasteners grip. There are two main systems, and they don't mix.
Used in: United States, older equipment
Measured in: Inches and fractions (1/4", 3/8")
Common sizes:
Thread pitch: Threads per inch (TPI). Higher number = finer threads.
Used in: Rest of world, modern equipment
Measured in: Millimeters (M6, M8, M10)
Common sizes:
Thread pitch: Distance between threads in mm. Smaller number = finer threads.
Good for:
Most common: This is what you'll find at the hardware store
Good for:
Special order: Often need to request specifically
Picking the right fastener sounds complicated, but it comes down to answering a few simple questions. Let's walk through it.
| Material | Best Fastener Type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wood to Wood | Wood screws | Self-tapping threads cut into wood fibers |
| Metal to Metal (thin) | Sheet metal screws | Sharp point, fine threads grip thin metal |
| Metal to Metal (thick) | Machine screws or bolts | Pre-drilled and tapped holes, or through-bolts with nuts |
| Plastic | Thread-forming screws | Form threads without cracking plastic |
| Drywall/Hollow Wall | Drywall anchors + screws | Anchor spreads behind wall for grip |
| Concrete/Masonry | Concrete anchors | Special expanding anchors grip in drilled holes |
Use when: You might need to disassemble for repairs, upgrades, or transport
Options:
Use when: It will never be taken apart, or you want tamper-resistance
Options:
This is critical for safety. Using fasteners that are too weak can cause failures and injuries.
| Application | Approximate Load | Fastener Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Picture frame | 5-20 lbs | Small screw with anchor, or picture hanger |
| Shelf bracket | 50-200 lbs | Multiple lag screws into studs, or heavy-duty anchors |
| TV mount | 50-100+ lbs | Lag bolts into studs (never use drywall anchors alone) |
| Deck ledger board | Thousands of lbs | Structural lag screws or through-bolts, must meet code |
Environment matters. Outdoor fasteners need to resist rust and corrosion.
When appearance matters:
When you don't want to see them:
Fastener sizes seem confusing at first, but there's a system. Here's how to read them.
| Gauge # | Diameter (inches) | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| #4 | 0.112" | Small hinges, light fixtures, electronics |
| #6 | 0.138" | Cabinet hardware, light-duty wood joints |
| #8 | 0.164" | General woodworking, most common |
| #10 | 0.190" | Heavy-duty wood joints, decking |
| #12 | 0.216" | Structural applications, thick lumber |
Quick tip: For most home DIY projects, #8 screws are your go-to. They're strong enough for almost everything but not overkill.
Length rule: The fastener should go through all materials and stick out about the diameter of the fastener. So for a 1/4" bolt, you want 1/4" sticking out for the nut.
You don't need a huge toolbox to work with fasteners. Here are the basics that will handle 90% of projects.
Everyone makes mistakes when starting out. Here are the most common ones and how to prevent them.
The best way to learn is by doing. Here are some beginner-friendly projects to practice with.
You've learned a lot. Here's your step-by-step plan to go from beginner to confident with fasteners.
Our team has been working with fasteners for decades. If you're stuck or unsure about something, just ask. No question is too basic.
