Learning About Screws, Nuts and Bolts

Knowing how to fix things in your home on your own can not only give you a feeling of accomplishment, but can be a great way for you to save money. One of the most crucial elements to mastering home repair projects is learning how to properly work with screws, nuts and bolts.

In the United States, the screw, nut, and bolt industry generates approximately $27 billion in revenue. Clearly, many people invest in making sure they have a good screw, bolt and nut supply. Employing an estimated 118,988 individuals across roughly 4,031 manufacturers, the U.S. screw, nut and bolt industry is filled with trained employees with years working with these kinds of objects.

It’s a good idea to not only check out local screws, nuts and bolts suppliers for their products, but to ask questions. Be sure to compare prices and goods from different suppliers, and definitely check out the Internet where prices are often lower than those in retail stores.

Screws, Nuts and Bolts for Beginners:

• One of the most basic things to remember when dealing with screws is the fact that screw sizes are indicated by numbers. The higher the number on the screw, the wider and thicker the screw will be.
• The pitch of a screw is referred to in numbers as well. The pitch refers to the degree of the inclined plane –or thread– on the screw.
• Nuts are generally used opposite a mating bolt in order to fasten a stack of parts together.
• Bolts are very similar to screws. A bolt is a threaded fastener with an external thread.

After you become familiar with the basic kinds of tools, you can move on to learning about specialty bolts, nuts and screws such as stainless steel hex bolts. Stainless steel hex bolts are extremely popular in do it yourself projects for their durability. Talk to your local manufacturer to see if stainless steel hex bolts –or nuts or screws– could be useful in your home project.

And just for fun, here are some interesting facts you probably did not know about screws:

Fun Facts About the History of Screws:

• The earliest screws were not made of medal, but wood. They were used in both wine and olive oil presses, as well as for pressing clothes.
• During the 15th century, the first metal screws originated in order to properly fasten objects.
• In 1908, the Canadian P.L. Robertson invented the first kind of square-drive screws

Have you had any experiences learning how to work with screws, nuts and bolts? Let us know in the comments below!