- Do I need to find a stud if I’m hanging something on my wall?
If possible, its a good idea. But with hollow wall anchors, you can place most wall hangings anywhere you want, between...
- What type of stud finder should I buy?
There are two different types, including electronic and magnetic stud finders. Electronic stud finders measure the capacitance in the wall, which is...
- I want to hang a picture without a stud support. What type of anchor should I use?
The different types of hollow wall anchors are rated to hold different weights. In general, expanding plastic sleeve anchors can usually only hold...
- What do the marks on the head of a bolt mean?
No marks is the least hard. Three marks is a medium hardness. Six marks is the hardest...
- I need to replace this bolt on my car engine, what bolt do I use?
Automotive bolts are usually a fine...
- Do you have a screw for an electrical outlet cover?
In most cases they are a 6 ...
- I have looked for a specific size screw everywhere, but I can’t find one that is the right size. Can you help?
Lets look to see if its a metric...
- What do I use to hang a plant?
For small to medium size hangings, there are kits that include a toggle and a decorative hook. These often have screws so that you do not have to...
- I’ve broken the head off a bolt. Is there some way I can get it out?
You should use a bolt extractor kit. It has a tap and an insert with a left-hand thread so that it can be turned to remove the...
- What does a lock washer do?
It helps to tighten the grip of the nut. If the screw needs to maintain lots of torque or if its going to vibrate, you should consider using a...
- I have a bolt that is not threading in properly. Can I fix this?
Yes, a thread repair kit allows you to retap it, put in an insert and rebuild...
- What is a lag bolt?
It is basically a large wood screw with a pointed tip and a hex...
- What is the meaning of USS and SAE as it pertains to bolts?
USS are coarse threads, while SAE refers to fine...
- Even with a lock washer, I continue losing the nut off my mower.
Use a lock nut with a nylon insert. This arrangement will not vibrate loose as...
- What are the advantages of a carriage bolt?
The square shoulder, sunk into wood, prevents the bolt from turning and the round head gives a smoother...
- What do the marks on the head of a bolt mean?
They represent the hardness of the bolt. No marks indicates the least hard, three marks is medium hardness and bolts with six marks are the...
- Why would I use brass screws?
Brass is softer than and not as strong as stainless, and its main use is when you want the decorative look of...
- Why would I use aluminum?
It is less expensive than stainless, but they are softer and not as strong. They are used for some specific applications. For example, they are good...
- Are there screws that will not rust?
Brass, aluminum and stainless steal screws should meet your...
- What do the numbers—such as 8-32—mean on a machine screw?
The first number is the diameter. The bigger the number the bigger the screw. The second number is the number of threads per...
- Should I use a sheet metal screw or a wood screw?
The main difference is that a sheet metal screw has threads along its entire length. A wood screw has threads along about two-thirds of its length...