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.

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!

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!

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.

Give us a guess???

Recently we sold a bunch of these beauties.

What size do you think it is?

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.