Set Screws

Grub Screws with an Internal Hex Allen Drive

Set Screws are blind (headless) fasteners with an internal hex drive. It is this drive style that classifies stainless steel screws in this selection as set screws, which are driven by a hex bit or Allen wrench. Grub Screws are used in a tapped hole and tightened to hold an exterior object in place within or against another object, via friction between the point or end of the screw and the material that is being fastened.

Set Screws are also often used in applications where a flush installation and the look of the final assembly are important, such as furniture assembly. Socket Set Screws will run flush with the installation surface. They are often plugged after installation for a hidden fastener look. These qualities are what make set screws commonly used in applications where a flat surface is important, such as handles, grips, surfboard fins, and furniture or machine assembly. Because a flush surface is important on complex machines, Set Screws are also commonly used in gears, pulleys, and wheel in machines with moving parts.

A stainless steel set screw is a type of screw generally used to secure an object within or against another object. The most common examples are securing a pulley or gear to a shaft. A blind set screw (known in the UK as a grub screw, quite possibly from its figurative resemblance to a soil-dwelling grub) is almost always driven with an internal-wrenching drive, such as a hex socket (Allen) socket. The set screw passes through a threaded hole in the outer object and is tightened against the inner object to prevent it from moving relative to the outer object. It exerts compression or clamping force through the bottom tip that projects through the hole.

---

Set Screw Point Types

Knurled Cup Point

The Knurled Cup Point has serrations to increase holding power. Serrations in the cup point help to prevent accidental loosening due to vibrations. They can resist screw loosening even in poorly tapped holes.

Half Dog Point

The Half Dog Point extends beyond the threading of the fastener to act as a guide for the set screw. This allows the shaft to rotate without dislodging the part. Half Dog Set Screws feature a point that is half of a standard dog point set screw's in length.

Cone Point

Cone point set screws have a sharp, cone-shaped point that wedges into the contact material thus delivering the strongest torsional and axial holding power of all the set screw styles. They are most often utilized in permanent settings, though they can also be used as a pivot or hanger.

---

How To Install & Use Set Screws

Set Screw Installation & Uses Transcript Scroll Down To Continue Reading Bob: Welcome back to Albany County Fasteners - Fasteners 101. I'm Bob and today I'm going to show you how to install a set screw properly. So let's get started. I have here a block of stainless. I already pre-drilled and tapped this hole for the set screw, to install and show you the proper installation of a set screw. I have an Allen key to install it. Most set screws have Allen (Hex) keys for a driver. I'm going to start the set screw in the hole and then I'm going to use my Allen (Hex) key and turn it. Typically a set screw is used because it's in a tight area. Could be in an armature, could be on an alternator, on a car that holds the pulley wheel on. Many different applications where a set screws are used. It's in a tight area and where you do not want that head sticking out because if you could have a head then it'd be fine to use a regular bolt and that's why set screws are used in these type of applications. I'm tightening it up and when I tighten it you can see that it's either flush, with the "head" with the top of the material, or it's a little bit countersunk from the top of the material so nothing can hit it. So if it's on a wheel turning, it doesn't interfere with the operation of the application. Thanks for watching!

---

*Note: Stainless steel has a high chance of galling (cold fusing) while being installed. To prevent this, we recommend using an MRO Anti-Seize Solution whenever installing stainless steel fasteners.

Albany County Fasteners set screws are offered in both 304 and 316 stainless steel to provide the best fit for your application. Socket Set Screws are driven with Allen Wrenches.