Hercules Fasteners

Holding It All Together: The Rise of the Threaded Fastener

2016-12-06T08:19:00.002-05:00

The threaded fastener was invented in approximately 400 BCE, by a Greek philosopher named Archytas Tarentum. Fast forward a few thousand years, and fasteners are a part of nearly all of our daily functions. So, what exactly are these fasteners holding our world together, and how did they rise to hold this position

It’s pretty simple! Fasteners are any devices or tool that hold two or more parts together. The screw principle, which addresses this function, was created by Archimedes, who used it to invent a wooden screw that raised water for irrigation and ship maintenance. If you like olive oil, you owe some thanks to the screw principle as well. In the first century BCE, screws were used in presses to extract oil from olives and juice from grapes.

While the screw in general was making traction in Europe, before the 1400’s, the use of metal screws was not. It was during the fifteenth century that Johann Gutenberg utilized them to fasten his printing presses. After this, the frequency of their use grew gradually, incorporated into such endeavors as the construction of clocks and armor. Around this same time, Leonardo da Vinci was in Italy, sketching designs for screw-cutting machines in his notebooks.

The screw kept moving forward in 1568 when Jacques Besson developed a screw making machine and again when he released a screw-cutting lathe attachment plate.

The screw machine became official in 1760 when the Wyatt brothers of Staffordshire, England registered its first patent. By 1786, in the thick of the Industrial Revolution, they were producing screws in mass. Other notable eighteenth century milestones for the fastener included the 1777 invention of a working screw-cutting lathe and the fine-tuning and popularization of screw-cutting lathes between 1797 and 1800.

After these advancements, only one major industry hurdle remained: standardization. Standardization would increase compatibility, allowing for a greater and faster rate of exchange between screw manufacturers and their customers. Such standards were put into practice in the UK in the 1860s, and in the United States followed suit in a decade later, with the implementation of the U.S. Standard Thread, followed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard. Unfortunately, to this day, UK and U.S. standards don’t quite line up, making exchange a challenge.

So there you have it! From rare to so prevalent that you don’t even notice it, thread screw technology has made quite the journey. Today, fasteners serve automobiles, airplanes, aerospace technology, electronics and even your coffee machine. Where would we be without the fastener? Take a moment to thank Archytas, and be glad we don’t have to find out.

A Few Advantages of Using Stainless Steel Fasteners

2016-11-17T13:01:00.001-05:00

Fasteners, like screws and bolts, are simply defined as tools that securely bind parts, and for any construction project, you need them. By far, the best kind you can use are stainless steel. Stainless steel fasteners offer a myriad of advantages; today, we have listed those by subject, below. Enjoy!

Affordability: Stainless steel fasteners are massed produced using relatively simple manufacturing processes, and have low input costs. While still somewhat more expensive than other fasteners, the quality of stainless steel fasteners make them a worthwhile investment.

Recyclability: Stainless steel is 100% recyclable! This is a wildly appealing statistic, both in terms of economics and the environment. When the time comes for your fasteners to retire, you can recycle them and recover their valuable alloying elements like nickel, chromium and molybdenum. In addition to monetary gain, this practice creates notable energy savings and reduces CO2 emissions.

Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel is a champion corrosion fighter. Its coating makes it strong and durable, resistant to blackening, rusting and tarnishing. Its also holds up against a variety of environments, gracefully withstanding anything from extremely high heat to extremely cold temperatures. This flexibility lends stainless steel fasteners a unique universality.

Ductility and Strength: Stainless steel fasteners are extremely strong. Because stainless steel alloy is so much tougher than regular steel, stainless steel fasteners have a much higher tensile strength and durability. In addition, as they are immune to fatigue brought on by cyclic loading, they are the perfect candidates for tension load design.

Lifecycle Costs: Thanks to the extreme durability of stainless steel fasteners, they are unlikely to require expensive maintenance or repairs. You can safely predict that they will have very low lifecycle costs. Furthermore, as alloy technology advances, manufacturers will see their fasteners’ service life and cost-effectiveness increase.

Assembly and Disassembly: You can assemble and disassemble stainless steel fasteners quickly and easily. Fasteners like nuts, bolts and screws are especially easy to install; rotate your screwdriver or twist your wrench a few times, and the job is done.

Aesthetic Appeal: Stainless steel is has a natural shine, and stainless steel fasteners aren’t easily scratched. They can be coated with a variety of finishes, allowing for design choices and creative expression. What’s more, they’re easy to clean.

Star Washers from Hercules Fasteners

2016-10-06T08:53:00.003-04:00

Are you looking for a company that you can trust to supply you with all of the fastening products that you need for your business? Hercules Fasteners can help you hold it together! We’re an ISO certified fastener supplier, with a huge inventory of everything from self-tapping screws to drill bits and washers. If you need adhesive products too, Hercules is also an official 3M authorized dealer of industrial parts. All of our products can be finished in one of several coatings for added durability and functionality for your application, including copper, chrome and teflon. Our central location in Ohio makes it easy to ship our fastening products to customers across the country and even internationally. We will quickly fill your order, large or small, so that you have the fasteners you need to get the job done in your business.

Washers are a very important part of many assemblies, which is why we sell many different types of washers to our customers. A fastener may hold things together, but it does an even better job when it’s used with the right washer. A washer improves performance and helps an assembly to hold together longer by increasing the surface are that the fastener exerts its force upon. One specific type of washer that you will find at Hercules Fasteners is a star washer. A star washer is a ring with a series of tabs on the inside or the outside all of the way around. These tabs increase the locking force of any fastener by resisting any torque applied to the nut. They resist the force because they are pointed out slightly. Over the long term, this added feature will prevent an assembly from unscrewing or separating. Household appliances, devices with electric motors, and other related applications all use star washers to add extra locking power to all of the joints and improve durability.

At Hercules Fasteners, our star washers come in a variety of sizes and styles to meet your needs. You can choose from one of the standard sizes in our large inventory, or request a custom order if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for.

Quality Stainless Bolts and Fasteners

2016-09-23T12:00:00.000-04:00

In many different industries, stainless steel is the material of choice because of its durable finish and anti-corrosive properties. Here at Hercules Fasteners, we sell stainless bolts and fasteners because we know that many applications require fasteners that will remain strong in the elements and stand the test of time. If you think that a durable fastener shouldn’t be too much to ask for, we agree with you. If you need stainless bolts and fasteners for your job, then you should be able to get them from someone you trust. As an ISO certified fastener supplier, Hercules is definitely a company that you can trust for all of your fastener needs.

Stainless bolts and fasteners from Hercules are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles to suit your company’s needs. From hex bolts to screw and hex top fasteners, we make everything available in stainless steel to meet the demands of our diverse lineup of commercial customers. We even have stainless fasteners in metric sizes in case you need them. Whatever your needs, we’re committed to provide you with the right fastening solutions that are made using only the best materials.

At Hercules Fasteners, we’re proud of the fact that we’re a truly American company with a global reach. From our headquarters in Ohio, we are able to serve customers across the country and around the world. Our affordability, exceptional customer service and hassle-free delivery make it hard not to choose Hercules as your trusted supplier of fasteners and related products. We can make fasteners with other finishes besides stainless steel, including teflon, nickel and chrome - to name just a few. If one of our many standard products doesn’t match your specifications, we can manufacture fasteners in custom sizes just for you. We’re even an authorized distributor of 3M adhesives!

Contacting us is easy if you’d like to place an order or consult with one of our expert representatives. Just call us toll free at (800) 332-7320. We’ll answer your questions, give you a quote for a custom project and help come up with the right fastening solution for your application!

Socket Cap Screws Blend In

2016-09-07T14:03:00.003-04:00

Among the many products that we offer at Hercules Fasteners are socket cap screws. They come in many different sizes and styles, but essentially a socket cap screw is a screw that is capped with an end that fits into a socket area and rests flush with a surface once it is secure. One tool that may be used with a socket cap screw, for example, is a hex key. The key can be inserted into the corresponding shape at the top of the screw and then turned to loosen or tighten it as necessary. For unique applications, we can create customized shapes and sizes of socket cap screws.

Socket cap screws are used in many different assemblies. You’ve probably seen them all over the place without realizing it. They are used to bolt furniture together, secure objects to a wall, plug pipes and more. Because they rest flush with the surface that they are screwed into, socket cap screws are a great way to hold things in place without adding elements that might get in the way of the design. You can make them blend right into something without compromising its strength.

Besides socket cap screws, we manufacture many other fastening parts at Hercules Fasteners. From machine screws to lock nuts and stainless fasteners, we have everything that you need to assemble your products or complete your construction project. We’re both a certified ISO-distributor and an official 3M authorized dealer. From our facility in Brook Park, Ohio, we are proud to serve the entire country and fulfill orders quickly with our quality products. Our experienced team is capable of providing you with the right fastening solution, even if you need us to come up with a custom screw for your project. We can take a set of specifications and provide you with superior solutions that will work perfectly in your application.

Call Hercules Fasteners today at (216) 267-7320 to request a quote or learn more about our capabilities. We’ll do whatever we can to get the right fasteners or adhesives to you in a short amount of time. Remember: Hercules can help hold it together!

Premium Washers at Hercules Fasteners

2016-08-15T11:19:00.001-04:00

We are proud to be an ISO-certified fastener supplier that meets the needs of a number of different clients across a wide range of industries. Because fasteners are involved in a number of applications, we here at Hercules Fasteners provide high quality fastener products you can count on from set screws to top of the line washers for a variety of applications. With a company history dating back to 1985, we have the experience and knowledge that you can rely on in order to get the right part for your unique application. In fact, we have some of the best selection when it comes to star washers, washers, and other washer varieties in the industry.

A washer may seem like an insignificant part of an overall project at first, it may even appear to be not as important as say a bolt or a nut. But the right washer can make your final application, and the wrong washer could break it. Overall, selecting the right washer can increase not only the longevity of your assembly, but a good fitting wash can actually increase the performance of the assembly. This is why our extensive history and knowledge comes into play when we work with our clients. We pay close attention to the details of your application in order to determine if a flat washer or a wave washer would function better within your application. Or perhaps you’ll find you need the right sized interior tooth washer in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Whatever your fastener need may be Hercules Fasteners has the solution.

While we offer standard sizes of our washers, we do offer washers that are of a made-to-print configuration. When work with us, our expert staff will be able to help you select the right fastener for your application. Contact us today by phone at (216) 267-7320 or fill out our Request for Quote form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We can’t wait to hear from you today!

Drill Bits for the Application You Need

2016-08-01T09:27:00.000-04:00

Hercules Fasteners is your one stop shop for all things fastener and screw related. We offer a wide range of products from machine screws and lock nuts to bolts and stainless fasteners. Because Hercules Fasteners is an ISO-certified distributor, we are able to supply you with a number of solutions for your application whether it’s a metric or standard fastener. As a company we have been in this industry since 1985 and we continue to cement ourselves as leaders of it. Our number one goal is supplying the products that you need, which is why we carry such a range of products.

One of these products that we would like to feature are our drill bits. We are proud to say that here at Hercules Fasteners we offer the highest quality drill bits and tap drills that you can find on the market. We understand that a tap must be done right the first time and that tap drill needs to remain consistent. This is why we pride ourselves on the overall quality of our tap drills and drill bits. As we’ve said earlier, we offer a range of products, and this is no different with our drill bits. You can find tap drills, reamers, assortments kits, dies and more here at Hercules Fasteners. We do this because we know that not every application is the same and there are a lot of unique applications out there.

We would be happy to listen to the ins and outs of your application in order to understand your work environment and provide a solution that will work with your unique situation. Here at Hercules Fasteners we are ready to help you find the right tools to get the job done, and get the job done right. Reach us through our Request for Quote tool or shoot us an email at info@herculesfastenersinc.com. Or feel free to give us a call and we’ll answer any questions you may have on our Drill bits or any of our other products!

Set Screws from Hercules Fasteners

2016-07-11T09:23:00.001-04:00

Here at Hercules Fasteners we have a wide range of fasteners and screw products that you will love! You will appreciate the high quality and the value that these screws offer. Because our world revolves around fasteners we understand the importance that the performance of a fastener has on just about any application they are involved in. This is why Hercules Fasteners is proud to be an ISO-certified fastener supplier and distributor, this means that you can count on us to deliver high quality products that will add value and stability to your application. We have been leaders in this industry since 1985 and we continue to push the industry forward through high quality products and excellent customer service!

Because of our many years in the industry, we understand how each fastener or screw should function, if you’re dealing with set screws than we know that they should remain out of sight in your application. When you get your set screws through Hercules Fasteners not only will they stay out of sight, but they will be out of mind! You can trust the set screws you get from us that they won’t fail, set them and forget them. We offer a number of different point styles ranging from cup and flat to cone, oval and even nylon tipped. Hercules Fasteners is able to accommodate certain made to print items in both metric and custom United States sizes.

No matter your type of order, Hercules Fasteners can providing you with a high quality product, exceptional customer service along with competitive pricing. Check out our request for quote page to get an accurate timely quote from Hercules Fasteners. We are proud to say that each member of our team has over 25 years of individual fastener industry experience, whatever your need may be – Hercules can help hold it together!

Socket Cap Screws

2016-05-23T09:46:00.000-04:00

We provide some of the best products in the industry, and as a certified ISO distributor we have been supplying both standard and metric fasteners and other products since 1985. We are proud to use our expertise and experience to continue to provide the top of line products our customers have grown to depend on us for. From metric fasteners and hex nuts, to stainless fasteners and flat washers, you can find just about anything here at Hercules Fasteners. On top of a wide range of products to choose from we also offer a number of finish options to really add value to your final product choice.

One product line that we would like to highlight is our extensive collection of socket cap screws. We know that quality and precision are key in any socket fastener. This is why we carry only the best and finest socket cap screws on the market. We offer both stock and custom socket cap screw options that range from socket head cap screws and flat socket head screws to hex keys and pipe plugs. In addition to this selection we also offer a number of metric fasteners such as stainless fasteners and machine screws if your application calls for them.

If you desire any further information on our socket cap screws, or any of our other products please contact us today toll free at (800) 332-7320 or if you desire a quote use our handy request a quote tool which will help you find the right products for your unique application. We have the solution you’re looking for!

Stainless Steel Fasteners That Meet Your Needs

2016-04-09T13:53:00.001-04:00

Here at Hercules we understand that our customers have a variety of needs we do our best to meet each and every one of those needs. We are proud to offer a wide range of fastener solutions from stainless bolts to stainless hex nuts, you can be sure to find something that you need for your application. Whatever your application, we take a great deal of pride in offering a high quality product, competitive pricing, premium customer service, hassle-free, and prompt delivery. Because we are based in Ohio we have a number of clients in this area as well as a number of clients across the United States.

Our products are offered in metric, and US customary sizes in RoHS compliant plating, plain finishes, and a wide range of other finishes in order to meet your needs. Just a few of these examples include: Zinc Clear, Black, Blue, or Yellow, Cad Yellow Dichromate, Nickel, Teflon, Copper, Chrome. Each and every one of our dedicated sales team has over twenty five years of fastener industry experience. This means that we are ready to take care of your request for quote today. No matter your order, Hercules can help hold it together whether it’s standard or custom and made to print. We encourage you to take a moment to fill out our request a quote form today and one of our service specialists will give you and call and you’ll soon discover just how committed we are to keeping your operation together.

From stainless fasteners to set screws, you can be sure to find a solution to your fastener need here at Hercules Fasteners. We are a ISO-certified fastener supplier which means that just about any solution you need there is a great opportunity that we have it in stock or can supply it custom made for your application.

Finding the Right Manufacturing Techniques

2015-12-11T16:00:00.000-05:00

There are a number of different fastener manufacturers out there and each one is working to separate themselves from one another. Here at Hercules Fasteners we are no different, and that goes beyond just offering top of the line, high quality fastener products. We are proud to offer some of the best customer service in the industry; we work with each one of our customers in order to ensure that the product they receive is the best possible match for their application.

In addition to our customer service and high quality product we also provide our customers with fast delivery and quick turnaround times. Our manufacturing techniques are on the cutting edge of the industry, we keep our machines in peak performance conditions to make sure that all of our products are in the best possible quality.

By providing the best possible products we are able to separate ourselves with a lot of our competitors, and perhaps one of the most important factors that we provide is the wide variety of products. We supply a complete inventory of fasteners for just about every application and industry. By working with Hercules Fasteners you can be sure to find a fastener product that will fit your application and unique specifications.

Captive Fasteners and Your Industry

2015-11-13T13:11:00.002-05:00

Fasteners revolutionized how pretty much all things are manufactured from household appliances and furniture to automobiles and toys. Fasteners have been around a long time, they aren’t some new invention that is changing the way we do things. They have been holding different parts together for a long time and captive fasteners are no different. For these screws, the fastener is embedded into one part of the product and then the other part of the product is anchored inside the fastener.

Captive fasteners are often used by aerospace fastener manufacturers as they eliminate the need for extra materials. This means that it keeps the overall weight of an aircraft to a minimum without sacrificing the structural integrity of the machine. In addition to removing the need for excess materials, captive fasteners also provide the opportunity to use them without the need of a screwdriver. Often times, these fasteners are used in areas where the use of a screwdriver is not only impractical but also impossible. There are so many advantages of captive fasteners as they play an important part in keeping the intricate parts of space shuttles, supersonic airplanes, and even satellites safely anchored and structurally sound.

And because these fasteners are both efficient and cost effective, this allows aerospace manufacturers more time and money to devote to other aspects of the industry from exploring unknown frontiers in space to designing better and safer aircrafts. It all comes down to fasteners and the advantages that they offer, so while you may not be a part of the aerospace industry there is a good chance that the fasteners you use in your everyday life offer similar advantages.

The Many Types of Bolts

2015-10-29T14:14:00.000-04:00

Industrial bolts are used in a wide range of applications, as they are a great tool for holding products together properly. Bolts come in a variety of shapes, sizes and material from stainless bolts to iron bolts in order to fit their exact application. Bolts are commonly used by the building and construction industries and they use just about every kind of bolt when constructing a building.

There are a lot of different types of bolts such as shoulder bolts, hex bolts, U bolts, eye bolts, lag bolts, stud bolts, anchor bolts, carriage bolts, step bolts, metric bolts and so many more. We have more than 25 years of experience in the fastener business so you can be sure that we know the right bolt for your application. Each bolt serves a unique purpose and some might be a great fit for your application while others not so much. Take eye bolts for example, they have a loop on the end of the bolt rather than a standard head so that rope or wire can be attached to wherever the bolt is placed. This is advantageous to some application and can be detrimental to others who do not need the loop and instead require a stud bolt. These bolts pass through material and have no head, quite the opposite from eye bolts. So whatever you bolt need may be you can count on us to supply it.

A Brief History of Threaded Fasteners

2015-10-09T14:34:00.001-04:00

Plain and simple, fasteners are used to hold to objects together. The screw is the most common fastener, and they are used in a variety of applications to hold just about everything together. From your bed frame to the house you live in, screws play an important part in the structural integrity of things. They are pretty similar to nails, but have one big difference, the threading. The spirals on these fasteners are essential in keeping a screw in place.

The first screw dates back to the early 1500s where a German clockmaker handmade the first screw fastener, most likely out of brass and probably used a metal file to create the threading. Over the next couple years the standardization of screws stalled as it was difficult to get manufacturers to create a uniform screw, each one would make their own style. This caused a lot of problems as consumers had a lot of issues getting replacement screws. It wasn’t until the industrial revolution that fastener manufacturing took a giant step forward. Standardized methods of manufacturing and mass production, and overall better manufacturing of fasteners lead to their popularity rising greatly.

With fasteners being so important in keeping our world functioning properly, knowing a good fastener manufacturing is just as important. The threaded fastener has come a long way in the last 500 years, from handmade screws taking a long to make each individual fastener, to production processes that can now make mass quantities of fasteners that are all uniform.

Learning the Language of Industrial Fasteners

2015-09-28T08:37:00.002-04:00

Screws and industrial fasteners have a lot in common, however industrial fasteners serve a number of different purposes and a slight design change can alter how they perform in certain applications. It is important to know thread terminology in order to know which type of fasteners is the right fastener for your application. In this article we will go over some of the basic terminology that is thrown around in regards to threaded fasteners.

Shank: The shank is the part of the fastener that is connected to the head of the fastener. Undersized and full sized are the two types of shanks; undersized shanks are equal to the pitch diameter of the thread. Undersized shank design is often used in many machine screws. Full sized shanks are equal to the main diameter of the screw; this type of shank is found in cap screws and machine bolts.

Pitch: The pitch is the distance from one point on the screw thread to the same point on the next thread. This measures the thread gap.

Lead: This term is used to describe how much distance the threads travel in one turn of the screw.

Threads: Cut threads and rolled threads are the two categories in which threads are divided. Rolled threads are formed typically through cold forming; this increases the major diameter of the thread across the diameter of the shank. Cut threads are cut so that the unthreaded portion of the shank is equal to the diameter of the thread. Further classification finds that rolled threads can be separated into screws that are designed for internal use and those designed for external use. Class A threads are for external use while class B threads are for internal use.

Being familiar with these thread features can benefit you greatly when you are looking for a screw or fastener for your application. It is important to get the best possible design for your requirements.

Fasteners: Breaking Down the Nuts and Bolts

2015-09-11T15:31:00.003-04:00

Fasteners are all around us, holding the buildings we live and work in together. But they also take place in the medical field. For example, imagine someone gets in a serious car wreck and shatters the bones in their leg. A lot of times the leg might not heal or the bone might not heal correctly resulting in a lot of pain for the patient.

Fasteners are often used to when metal rods are utilized to replace broken bones. These fasteners are used to hold the newly constructed leg together. So you can see that these fasteners are a crucial part of everyday life, whether you are reconstructing a house or putting together a new leg in the human body there needs to be a way to hold everything together and the best way to do that is through the use of fasteners.

From metal to plastic, threaded to unthreaded, unmetric to metric, fasteners can be used in a number of different applications and contexts. From the medical industry to construction, furniture, electronic, commercial, industrial, and automotive industries require fasteners for a number of applications and products. Stainless steel fasteners happen to be the most common across the industries but plastic fasteners are used when fasteners need to be light-weight for smaller appliances and similar products. Depending on your application, fasteners can come in all shapes and sizes depending on customers’ requirements and specifications.

So when you look around think of all the fasteners that are around you, from the desk you are sitting out to the phone in your pocket to maybe even the medical device in your body. Fasteners are often taken for granted but they are a vital part to everyday life.

The Many Types of Industrial Fasteners

2015-09-03T18:34:00.001-04:00

Ever since the industrial revolution the world has been changing in a number of different ways, especially when looking at job creation and the current state of the manufacturing industry today. Today, the United States is made up of a variety of industries, all with a wide range of equipment, machines, tools, and parts. Among these parts are nuts and bolts, or to put it simply fasteners.

Industrial Fasteners are the tools used to hold, attach and secure materials and machinery together. These fasteners come in a number of shapes and styles and sizes. The type of fastener required all depends on your application. Some fasteners are threaded, while others are smooth, the type of material they are made from varies for copper to stainless steel and almost everything in between. Generally, fasteners are made differently based on the industry they are being made for. So an aerospace fastener would look differently than a fastener used for construction because of the environment they are being place in.

Stainless steel fasteners tend to be the preferred type for a majority of industries thanks to their natural resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosive materials along with their strength and resistance to wear and tear. For example, some of the industries that utilize stainless steel fasteners are automotive, construction, furniture and commercial industries.

Industrial fasteners are used in just about every industrial industry thanks to their strength and tolerance to tough environments. Be sure to understand which fastener might be right for your application before you purchase.

Why Choose Hercules Fasteners?

2015-07-10T14:00:00.000-04:00

Industrial fasteners are exactly what they sound like. These fasteners hold industrial equipment together with screws, rivets, nails, clamps, and other fastening mechanisms. Many industrial fastener manufactures create fasteners either for a specific industry, such as the automotive industry, or create a wide variety of fasteners for a large number of industries. Both types of industrial fastener manufacturers can provide the prefect fit for your business, but it is important to ensure each company aligns with the following criteria before you decide to work with that company on a permanent basis.

Ethical business: Not all companies provide ethical business support to customers. Ensure the company you choose to work with has high ethical values before working with the company. Companies that put the customer first and always strive to provide the lowest prices are often some of the most ethical.
Hassle-free orders: When you need an order fast, the last thing you want to do is spend hours ordering the new goods. Look for a company that makes it easy to complete orders online or by phone. Companies that save past order information for future orders are even better.
Industry experience: Choose a company that has experience creating fasteners for your industry. If you need automotive fasteners, a company that only has experience making machine fasteners may not be a good fit.
Cost-effective business: The manufacturer you choose to work with should strive to provide the most cost-effective strategies to help you out, such as by offering delivery on certain orders, or by eliminating shipping fees. The more cost-effective the business, the lower prices you will receive.
High quality items: Quality is important no matter what industry you are in. Look for a manufacturer that uses the highest quality materials and manufacturing processes to create their fasteners. You may have to pay a little more, but the products will last much longer and provide greater reliability.

3 of the Latest Roofing Fasteners

2015-06-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

The roofing construction industry uses a variety of different fastener types. These fastener types protect against a variety of different weather elements. Some of the possible elements that need to be defended against are wind, rain, snow, and hail. These fasteners are made to be resistant to that.Over the years, a variety of fasteners have been used, including nails, clamps, and even glue. Recently, there are three new fasteners for roofing that are more effective and easier to use.

First, the newest fastener is an oval membrane plane. This helps to hold roofing membranes steady and in place. The fastener is made of metal and has a narrow oval shape. This is also an effective tool because the design helps reduce lap spacing by up to 17 feet per roll. This type of fastener is more functional in everyday usage.

Second, there are vent pipe fasteners. Frequently, when building a new roof, existing vent pipes must be expanded to be safe and in compliance with building codes. This also helps with the thickness of the roof. Vent pipe extensions are easy to attach to existing vent pipes. There is a simple click into place with existing pipes.

Finally, non-penetrating anchors are designed to bolt rail framing roofing systems in place. The bolts have a coated steel plate attached to a steel bolt with a membrane skirt for additional water protection. Typically, we see these fasteners attached to rails, racks, and photovoltaic systems on roofs. Heat welding has been a long-standing tradition to fasten these bolts in place. This maximizes effectiveness with using the tool.

Having a wide variety of different fasteners when installing roofs makes a contractor’s life easier and their work better. This also helps the roof face the different weather elements that may arise. By using the three systems, contractors are building fail safe systems to keep the roof firmly in place.

A Variety of Fastener Options

2015-05-31T15:00:00.000-04:00

There is a wide variety of parts when it comes to securing two parts together. U bolts, J bolts, eye bolts, hex bolts, anchor bolts, lag bolts and countless more are all available parts for workers to use. One they finally have the type of bolt down, this can be broken up into different sizes, threads, materials, etc. This can be overwhelming because it can seem endless. Lucky for us, many manufacturers work closely with workers when picking out the correct model for a designated application.

An example of this is when it comes to putting two pieces of adjacent wood together. Usually, lab bolts are often the best option for this application. These are built to be used for industrial purposes primarily, but can fit other applications. You can see these used for concrete. But wood is where they are more seen from fastening beams, posts, decking, bridges, etc. The bolts are created with a large head which is followed by a short smooth cylinder that turns into a long threaded cylinder with a pointed end. The head is then able to assist with the placement and removal of the bolt from applying pressure.

When you are looking for specific lag bolts, there are several options. In addition to size and threads, the material it is made of must be carefully considered. It is important to consider some of the more popular options. These include zinc-plated, galvanized steel, stainless steel and silicone bronze. Zinc-plated and galvanized steel tend to be slightly lower in price and are able to provide slight rust resistance. Stainless steel and silicone bronze may be slightly more costly, but they are able to provide high levels of corrosion and rust resistance, making them the ideal choice for applications that might be more exposed to the elements and harsh situations.

The Basics of Expansion Bolts

2015-04-05T16:03:00.002-04:00

Expansion bolts, although complicated looking, are actually quite useful, as well as reliable and dependable. Expansion bolts are a type of anchor bolt, comprised of a bolt, nut and lead sleeve assembly that is able to expand when tightened. Unlike most bolts that need to break into the surface they are placed into, expansion bolts fill the deformities. This bolt will not only improve the overall look of the structure, but it will also strengthen the connection creating a firm bond that offers load bearing capabilities. Expansion bolts can be used in vibratory environments because they will help reduce the risk of cracks in the structure, providing an additional advantage. Some industries that make use of expansion bolts include construction, masonry walls, turbines, motor couplings, gears, mining, seating and sign installation.

Hercules Fasteners offers many styles of expansion bolts to include the bold-lead sleeve-tapered nut, the bolt-lead sleeve-metal-cone-nut and the tapered bolt-lead sleeve-metal cone-nut. Although there are various styles of expansion bolts, the parts remain the same. For example, the nut and cone are made of steel alloys that are able to offer both strength and corrosion resistance. Finishing the bolt with cadmium and zinc plating will provide additional protection from water or other environmental elements. The lead sleeve is essential to the expansion bolt. It is malleable and when compressed, it is able to fill the drilled spaces along with any surrounding cracks or pores. This allows it to attach in multiple points without needing to worry about the product cracking or shattering the material it is anchored in.

Aerospace Fasteners

2015-02-10T01:02:00.000-05:00

As you can imagine, the aerospace industry uses hundreds if not thousands of different types of fasteners for a variety of tasks from keeping passengers safely buckled in a seat belt to keeping the wings soaring through the air without falling apart. These types of fasteners come in screws and rivets to bolts and more made from a variety of metals. The composition of a metal fastener is very important when mechanics and designers produce and compile aeronautic parts.

Metal	Pros:	Cons:	Notes:
Steel	Hard High Strength	Heavy Low Melting Point	Most common forms: C300 corrosion resistant steel, CRES series 400 steel, and precipitation-hardened (PH) stainless steel
Aluminum	Lightweight	Heat Sensitive above 250 degrees Corrodes Easily	Aluminum is frequently used for earthbound planes and aircraft
Super Alloys	High Strength Heat Resistant Lightweight		Ideal to use on earth or in space
Titanium	Perfect Metal Mixture Lightweight High Strength Heat Resistant up to 800 degrees

Popular Automotive Fasteners

2015-01-05T09:51:00.004-05:00

From a car engine, to the interior of the car, and even to the license plate, there are hundreds of nuts, bolts, washers, rivets, and other fasteners holding the pieces together. Without the use of automotive fasteners, it would be almost impossible to assembly a car. Some of the most common automotive fastener types include:

Retainers: A mix between a screw and a rivet with a sharp body like a screw, but with a large flat head like a rivet. Retainers are often made from plastic and are used to hold small pieces together like the instruments on the dashboard or the headliner on the car.

Bolts: An extremely important component of any vehicle, bolts hold the engine in place and help keep the transmission, axle, and other components of the vehicle in place. Bolts have a screw-like body with a flat bottom and a large wrench-shaped head.

Screws: Like bolts, screws are essential for many components of a vehicle. You will often see screws used inside the vehicle, such as to hold the seats in place, to anchor components of the vehicle itself, or to hold the car body together. A screw has a pointed tip and a smaller head with a flat or Phillips style head.

Rivets: Rivets hold things together permanently. A rivet starts off as a longer piece of metal with a large head, but after riveting the rivet into place, the rivet pieces fuse together and will not come apart unless they break. Rivets are used to hold the body pieces together, the license plate in place, and other permanent structural pieces.

Simple Tips to Help You Select the Right Fastener

2014-12-11T13:25:00.004-05:00

For manufacturers, deciding on a fastener for their products is an important task. Fasteners can have a profound impact on the success and reliability of a product, so special consideration should be given to this decision. Without the right fastener, products may not function properly, may not last as long, and may introduce significant unforeseen costs.

There are so many different kinds of fasteners that the job of choosing the best fastener for your product might be a little overwhelming. However, we have a few simple things to keep in mind that will help narrow down your search. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect fastener for your products and equipment:

Analyze cost. Fasteners hold everything together. You really do not wan this component to fail, so the cheapest fasteners may not be the best for your product. In fact, if the cheap fasteners fail, it will probably end up costing you more in the end. It is often better to invest in higher quality fasteners to ensure the reliability of your product.

Be flexible. While it is not a great idea to choose the cheapest fasteners, insisting on specially designed, unique fasteners may also be a mistake. Unique fasteners will require custom manufacturing which ultimately leads to a higher price. With flexible product design, you can find a more cost-effective, high quality fastener that will serve your applications just as well as a special fastener.

Consider how your product will be used. This is fairly obvious but very important. If your product will be utilized in a harsh environment or will be used very frequently, it may be best to use a more durable, metal fastener. However, a more economical solution like adhesives may be a better option for products that will not be exposed to such frequent usage or harsh environments.

Research new technologies. Fasteners are constantly evolving to meet the new demands of diverse industries, so check out the latest fastening options. If you’re having trouble finding a traditional fastener to fit your applications, this is a great way to discover the perfect fastener for your product.

The Joys of Fastener Measurements

2014-11-19T08:47:00.002-05:00

When it comes time to choose metric or US standard measurements, it can be difficult to understand which bolt, screw or fastener is measured in. Some fasteners use the metric system of measuring, while others use the UNC or UNF style of measuring, which is based on measuring fasteners in inches. Manufacturers do not make both metric and inch-based fasteners to mess with your mind, but simply to supply the demand and suit all customer needs.

Every industry uses fasteners of some kind to fit different materials and parts together. Anything that fastens one object to another is a fastener, including screws, nails, hinges, snaps, and rivets. A metric only fastener manufacturer will provide a large variety of fastener sizes and types in the metric system. Most metric manufacturers will use some of the following common DIN numbers:

Fastener Type	Specs.	DIN #
Hex Cap Screws	Hex cap screws can either have a coarse thread pitch or a fine thread pitch.	Coarse: 931, 933 Fine: 930, 961

Threaded Rods	Threaded rods have a variety of uses and are usually used to hold heavy machine parts or other heavy materials together. Custom Pitch & Grade.	971

Nuts	Nuts are an important part of many fastening mechanisms. Common nut types include hex nuts and nylon lock nuts.	934, 985, 980V

Washers	Washers help hold a screw and nut in place without stripping the metal or damaging the material where the screw attaches to the base material.	Flat: 125 Lock: 127

Sockets	Sockets can include socket head cap screws, flat head socket cap screws, and socket set screws.	912, 7991, 916

Machine Screws	Machine screws can have a pan head Phillips head or a flat head Phillips screw head.	Pan: 7985 Flat: 965