FUN with FASTENERS

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Ice Cold Nuts & Bolts

Summertime needs something to sip on.

Create a cold drink with these!

Buy them on ETSY - Click here.

They are basically ice cubes that never melt - how great is that?!

You throw the bag in the freezer then pull them out when you are ready to make yourself a refreshing drink.

I don't think I will be drinking out of jar though.

This is more like it! They are perfect for people who drink straight whiskey (gag) or vodka because they keep your drink cold without watering down your libation. Pretty clever!

Now you've got the right nuts & bolts when you make yourself a Screwdriver!

Buy them on Etsy - click here!

Monday, July 21, 2014

Fun with Fire Hydrants

How refreshing and fun does this look?

Today we're taking a closer look at fire hydrants.

Fire hydrants can be fun in the sun but they're also super important to protecting our lives and homes. And these important little protectors of fire are held together with our little product, fasteners.

Studs, bolts & nuts holding tight.

A stacked fire hydrant is like a double scoop of water valves.

This one has probably seen a few fires.

And this is the new Sigelock - the latest fire hydrant redesign, and it's still using nuts and bolts!

Assembly drawings show them too.

I found this drawing of a patent on google.

I really do love seeing fasteners in action.

They're everywhere!

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Beat the Heat

July is HOT! I'm not complaining, we're lucky in California to have beautiful weather year round. But I could use a fan. So I was looking up fans and of course this brand popped up.

Then I found an article on Design Milk that talks about their newest fan - the HAIKU

Photo Credit: I think Gregory Han from Design Milk

This fan is special because it is the first fan with SenseME technology; the first smartphone app-enabled smart ceiling fan - TA DA! And I love assembly diagrams (See past post HERE) so when I saw this, with screws included, I got giddy!

Boo-yah! Holding everything together - there they are - Socket Cap Screws!

So in honor of the HAIKU I wrote a haiku:

I also love haiku (See past post HERE)

Fan that keeps me cool

It's true, I think I love you

Please stay on all day

Should I write one with screws in it?

How about...

Screws that hold in place

Most amazing fan ever

Perfect together

Yah, well Haiku is harder than it looks.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Give us a guess???

Recently we sold a bunch of these beauties.

What size do you think it is?

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Nuts & Bolts from 1919

I just love seeing old photos and now I've found one with my beloved nuts & bolts.

Found this one at Shorpy.com

I can see they're using SQUARE nuts & bolts which made me ask myself,

"What are the differences between Square Nuts & Hex Nuts?"

Wikipedia actually states it the best.

"Compared to standard hex nuts, square nuts have a greater surface in contact with the part being fastened, and therefore provide greater resistance to loosening (though also greater resistance to tightening)."

I love info like this!!!!

2 More Points

1) A square bolt requires at least 90° of free space, as that's the least amount you can turn it before moving the wrench. A hex bolt only needs you to have 60° of free space, so it's better in a more enclosed environment.

2) Since a normal wrench only puts force on the edges of the bolt head's sides, increasing the number of sides means increasing the area over which the force is spread, thereby reducing wear. This and the issue about elbow-room that was already addressed are probably the main reasons why six or twelve sided bolt heads are the most common.

Click HERE and you can zoom in and see a close up of the fasteners in the photo from Shorpy.com.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Ultimate Tool Box

Have you see Adam Savage's ultimate toolbox?

Impressive, to say the least.

We found this over at Curbly.com. We were googling the perfect toolbox and this site has an article that lists all the things a tool box (or tool bag these days) should have. Definitely go take a look and see if you've got all of them. Or make sure your Dad does. For Father's Day you can get him whatever he doesn't have on the list.

Stocking the ultimate toolbox: every tool a homeowner will ever need

Also make sure he's got a good bunch of fasteners to work with at home.

This kit looks great!

I'm going to try and break it down.

Mostly it is a combination of Wood Screws, Sheet Metal Screws and Nails.

Then they threw in some grommets, plastic anchors, lag shields, wedge anchors & even some corrugated washers.

What is the difference between SHEET METAL SCREWS and WOOD SCREWS, you ask?

I'm so glad you did! It's simple.

If they are not fully threaded then they are Wood Screws. And if they are fully threaded then guess what - they're Sheet Metal Screws.

This kit pretty much uses the phillips drive exclusively - do you know why?

Because it is just way more efficient than slotted.

But you knew that - everyone knows that!

Click here to read about PHILLIPS VS SLOTTED

Lastly it looks like a whole bunch of sizes and materials so you have some different options.

After you get this, no matter what Dad's going to need to fix, he'll have the supplies.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Make Dad a Little Something

Here are some little ideas for Father's Day.

The Smallest Toolbox

Found this over at Alphamom.com. Turn an old Altoids box into a teeny toolbox - you need some nuts and bolts for that handle. Maybe that's where dad can store his left over fasteners.

The Smallest BBQ

Our favorite website Instructables.com shows you how to make this bite-size bbq (also using an Altoid tin but not the mints, th Altoid Sours.) The perfect bbq for one marshmellow whenever it is time for S'mores. Those legs are sheet metal screws!