Bolts,screws,andnailsarecommonfastenersusedinconstructionandwoodworkingprojects.Whiletheymayseemsimilaratfirstglance,theyeachhavedistinctcharacteristicsthatdifferentiatethemfromeachother.Inthisarticle,wewilldiscussthedifferencesbetweenbolts,screws,andnails.
DefinitionandPurpose:Bolts:Boltsarethreadedfastenersthatareusedwithamatchingnuttoholdtwoormorematerialstogether.Theyaretypicallyusedinapplicationswhereastrongandsecureconnectionisrequired.Boltsareavailableinvarioussizes,lengths,andmaterialstosuitdifferentneeds.
Screws:Screwsaresimilartoboltsinthattheyarethreadedfasteners,buttheydonotrequireaseparatenuttosecuretheminplace.Screwsareusuallyusedtofastenmaterialstogetherbybeingdrivenintothematerialwithascrewdriverordrill.Theycomeinawiderangeofsizesandtypes,includingwoodscrews,machinescrews,andself-tappingscrews.
Nails:Nailsarenon-threadedfastenersthataredrivenintomaterialsusingahammerornailgun.Theyaretypicallyusedinapplicationswhereatemporaryorlesssecureconnectionisacceptable,suchasframing,trimwork,orhangingpictures.Nailscomeindifferentlengths,gauges,andmaterialstosuitvariousneeds.
MaterialandFinish:Bolts:Boltsarecommonlymadeofsteelorstainlesssteel,althoughtheycanalsobemadeofbrass,aluminum,orothermaterials.Theyareoftencoatedwithaprotectivefinish,suchaszincplatingorgalvanization,topreventcorrosionandincreasedurability.
Screws:Screwsarealsotypicallymadeofsteelorstainlesssteel,buttheycanbemadeofothermaterialsaswell,suchasbrass,bronze,orplastic.Likebolts,screwsareoftentreatedwithaprotectivecoatingtoimprovetheirresistancetocorrosionandwear.