Fastener

A fastener (US English) or fastening (UK English) is a <a href="/facts/Household_hardware/24baP5J1">hardware</a> device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. In general, fasteners are used to create non-permanent <a href="/facts/Joint_(building)/ej042dN8">joints</a>; that is, joints that can be removed or dismantled without damaging the joining components. Steel fasteners are usually made of <a href="/facts/Stainless_steel/IDdo8bEx">stainless steel</a>, <a href="/facts/Carbon_steel/QGYURvFA">carbon steel</a>, or <a href="/facts/Alloy_steel/DR2tGHEH">alloy steel</a>.
Other methods of joining materials, some of which may create permanent joints, include: <a href="/facts/Crimp_(joining)/kA8DrJPv">crimping</a>, <a href="/facts/Welding/6EJ62mYV">welding</a>, <a href="/facts/Soldering/fod6dLHD">soldering</a>, <a href="/facts/Brazing/JBgswMLw">brazing</a>, <a href="/facts/Adhesive_tape/cnkIVCrd">taping</a>, <a href="/facts/Adhesive/shTfIJ0E">gluing</a>, <a href="/facts/Cement/VfDMkk12">cement</a>, or the use of other adhesives. <a href="/facts/Force/533Q1uzq">Force</a> may also be used, such as with <a href="/facts/Magnet/vvrg6VSk">magnets</a>, <a href="/facts/Vacuum/BTk3goyV">vacuum</a> (like <a href="/facts/Suction_cups/hQnKNev0">suction cups</a>), or even <a href="/facts/Friction/d0108Rpu">friction</a> (like <a href="/facts/Sticky_pad/DoFf6SeT">sticky pads</a>). Some types of <a href="/facts/Woodworking_joints/7gnWtUoA">woodworking joints</a> make use of separate internal reinforcements, such as <a href="/facts/Dowel/3QzE6W6M">dowels</a> or <a href="/facts/Biscuit_joiner/4UvrkPkt">biscuits</a>, which in a sense can be considered fasteners within the scope of the joint system, although on their own they are not general-purpose fasteners.
Furniture supplied in <a href="/facts/Flat-pack/ylLbFkyY">flat-pack</a> form often uses <a href="/facts/Dowel/3QzE6W6M">cam dowels</a> locked by <a href="/facts/Cam_lock_(latch)/mGsvAQ5E">cam locks</a>, also known as conformat fasteners. Fasteners can also be used to close a container such as a bag, a box, or an envelope; or they may involve keeping together the sides of an opening of flexible material, attaching a <a href="/facts/Lid_(container)/u1sTj04T">lid</a> to a container, etc. There are also special-purpose closing devices, e.g., a <a href="/facts/Bread_clip/G9WeUG34">bread clip</a>.
Items like a <a href="/facts/Rope/heTalcCM">rope</a>, string, <a href="/facts/Wire/yyy05H1S">wire</a>, <a href="/facts/Wire_rope/9z4b9SYB">cable</a>, <a href="/facts/Chain/KlYIprGC">chain</a>, or <a href="/facts/Plastic_wrap/qAkwamYj">plastic wrap</a> may be used to mechanically join objects; however, because they have additional common uses, they are not generally categorized as fasteners. Likewise, <a href="/facts/Hinge/rjgLmMKr">hinges</a> and <a href="/facts/Spring_(device)/jknGXzTq">springs</a> may join objects together, but they are ordinarily not considered fasteners because their primary purpose is to allow articulation rather than rigid affixment.

Fastener open-in-new

Fastener