Screwccessories...yah, it's a word

This is my friend Greg.

He makes really cool things. For example, he welded rings on to the gate behind him and put pots of succulents in them to make the coolest gate ever. That's the thing about Greg - everything he makes is cool. 

Like this cool table. He made it.

A few days ago I ran into him while he was working on this...

I saw him with a tool in one hand and a handy tool on the other!

Do you see what I see on his wrist?! 

He wears a velcro, dare I say, bracelet, that is magnetic and holds on to spare screws for him. That way he doesn't have to set them down or look for them when he needs them. 

How come I've never seen that before?! Greg is so clever... and well accessorized.

And that wall he was working on, here is the finished product...pretty cool.

Click here to check out Greg's Instagram page.

Must We Wave Good-bye?

Look how sad... this washer is bent...

I guess I have to throw it away, right?

WRONG!

Allow me to introduce the Wave Washer!

These washers are purposely shaped this way. 

The wave washer is a spring washer like Bellevilles, which look conical. Wave washers, all spring washers actually, are disks of metal that form an irregular shape, so that when the washer is loaded it acts like a spring and deflects, providing a preload between the two surfaces. Who invented this?!  Whoever came up with this idea is so clever. In fact, everytime I learn about fasteners I am reminded about how much potential we humans have. 

Although my very favorite washers are the Nord-lock washers - they're super smart! I'll do a post on those one day. Where the wave washer is simple, the Nord-lock is complex. But both equally brilliant!

Where can I get fasteners?!

Hahaha - they need a fastener, fast!

This funny photo can be found all over the internet but we got ours from Buzzfeed.com. They did an article on the Most Ironic Things That Have Ever Happened.

Stamping with Nuts & Bolts

Here's a fun thing to try...

Found a website called Picklebums that teaches a tutorial about 

printing with nuts & bolts, although I would call it stamping.

(All of the photos and info are from Picklebums.)

She has lots of these tutorials that show how to make easy art for kids.

You can use your old fasteners or grab one of something.

This little guy is doing a fabulous job!

Not a hex shape?!

Still not a hex shape?!

At least the drives show up.

So pretty!

I think this looks so messy and fun.

Thanks Picklebums!

The Pink Eye

A customer dropped by to ask for our help - he brought this to show us:

A VRS Starpoint Rotating Eye Bolt. Ever seen one of these before?

They are commonly used for lifting.

Would you believe that the pink is standard? It is!

It's a pink powder coating. It can change color too, to indicate temperature.

Anyways, our customer needed more of the bolts that go through the center - no problem.

Here is another photo showing the head of the bolt and it's entrance.*

*We want give a special thanks to the super models who posed with our beauty...so pretty in pink.