Where do Fasteners get used? – Matt

As stated in my previous article I’m new to the fastener world. I couldn’t even imagine all the different uses fasteners have. I used to think, very naively, that nuts and bolts weren’t used that frequently. Now, I understand nuts and bolts are everywhere. Thinking back about my previous job, I’ve realized how many nuts and bolts we used to use without even thinking about it, and that was working in retail. So, if you’re interested in the weird and wonderful areas our fasteners get used you’ve come to the right place.

Construction

Right let’s get the obvious out of the way. Fasteners are used in construction. Here at Thomas Smith Fasteners in Hindley Green our outside wall is lined with steel attached by Fasteners. It’s taken me three weeks to notice it but once you start seeing Fasteners you see them everywhere. It’s the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, once you see or hear something for the first time you see it everywhere. Now when I’m out and about I feel like all I see is fasteners. Walking down the street and see a road sign, how’s it secured? With a fastener, above it there’s a team working on scaffolding, how’s it held together? Fasteners. I’ve started to realize how much work our products do and it’s amazing.

Classic Cars

Okay, we’ve spoken about construction now lets have some fun. Be it a Bentley or Beamer, a Rolls Royce or a Rover, they’re absolutely filled to the brim with Fasteners. All the fancy upholstery is held together with fasteners, the engine is held together by fasteners, fly wheel bolts without them you’re in trouble and yet again they’re made with fasteners. Using fasteners from Thomas Smith Fasteners, our director Tim restored a Classic Ferrari 365-GTC4 and plenty of other Classic Car enthusiasts continue do the same. To illustrate this point I have linked a YouTube video below by Powernation whereby they built a car with a drill, pop rivets and black spray paint. Fasteners helping Lewis Hamilton to 7 formula one titles and helping me to pass my MOT.

Powernation – Drill, Pop Rivets and Paint
Ferrari Restoration

Heritage Rail

So as a child my favourite toys were part of my train set, probably until being around 4 years old. I was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine as a little kid and Thomas used to fly round those tracks but how did he do it?

You guessed it, Fasteners. Fasteners are a key component in Heritage Rail keeping our steam engines going in the modern day. Each summer a massive tourist attraction for the family can be found on Britain’s railways. And here at Thomas Smith Fasteners we provide the specials that keep those trains going. Whether their used to reattach a buffer or a smokebox, fasteners hold them together. Thomas gets his restoration from Thomas Smith Fasteners, I suppose that’s how he looks younger in 2023 than he did in the 80’s.

Thomas’s New Look

Aerospace

Do you feel the need, the need for speed? Well your going to need plenty of fasteners if you want to beat Goose in a race. Yes, fasteners yet again help get your aircrafts into the sky. Next time you get a flight have a look down the wing of the plane it’s fasteners galore. They basically hold the entire aircraft together, from doors to wings, without your fasteners your flight to Alicante won’t be going very far. Without the fasteners holding everything together it’d all just be parts, like a guitar without strings. You’ve got your bolts, nuts, screws and rivets that are responsible for your safety and also to make sure you can enjoy your holidays. What’s the alternative take a boat?

Highway to the Fastener Zone

Maritime

You think you don’t need fasteners on a boat, think again. Boats are held together by Fasteners as well. From the port to the starboard, your fasteners keep you afloat as you sail the seven seas. You tend to find a lot of stainless steel fasteners are use in the Maritime industry due to their corrosion resistance. As seen previously on our blog we recently helped to renovate the anti-aircraft mount on the HMS Belfast, using 1/2 BSW x 3/4 Slot Raised. Now permanently docked on the Thames as part of the Imperial War Museum, our fasteners have given the HMS Belfast a new lease of life, and stopped it’s anti-aircraft mount from falling off. This also only scratches the surface of the fasteners that can be found on all 9 floors of the HMS Belfast.

HMS Belfast Restoration

Conclusion

So what have we learned today? Well, fasteners are absolutely everywhere and I’ve not even scratched the surface here. We’ve covered almost every mode of transport aside from Shanks’s pony and found they all use fasteners in some way, shape or form. And the best bit of all, here at Thomas Smith Fasteners we have the capability to make specials meaning if you’re struggling to find an imperial bolt we’ve more chance of finding it than most high-street options. So if you’re looking to give your classic car a new lease of life or going away on a long-haul flight, you can thank your fasteners and shop at Thomas Smith Fasteners.

Thanks for reading,

Matt

New Assorted Kits added to Online Shop – Stainless Socket Screws

mixed kits of stainless steel socket cap screws

Due to popular demand, we have now introduced mixed kits of stainless steel socket cap screws, nuts and washers to our range, which are now listed on our online shop.

stainless socket cap screws mixed packs

Socket screws are also commonly known as allen bolts – a hexagon driving bit or allen key is used to tighten the screw.

A2 stainless steel offers commercial level corrosion resistance and a decorative appearance. Stainless steel socket cap screws are used in many sectors, from food and beverage industries to automotive. Our mixed packs are perfect for vehicle enthusiasts, as stainless socket cap screws are found in many popular cars and motorcycles.

The kits start from 105 pcs to 540 pcs and are packed in a durable case.

We offer a huge range of mixed fastener packs. If you can’t find what you need, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

New Assorted Kits added to Online Shop – Screws, Circlips & Fibre Washers

mixed kit of pozi csk self tapping screws

Due to popular demand, we have expanded our range of mixed fastener kits, which are a great value way of keeping a useful assortment of fasteners to hand.

The latest additions to our ever-increasing range are Machine Screws, Self Tapping Screws, Woodscrews, Circlips and Red Fibre Washers.

Further kits will be added in the coming weeks.

If you have a requirement or suggestion for what you’d like to see in our assorted fastener packs, simply contact us and we’ll be happy to help!

 

1.7/16-8UN HT Allthread for Gas Turbines

Our Glasgow branch recently received an order for 1.7/16-8UN x 24″ High Tensile 8.8 Threaded Bar, which will be used for manufacturing bolting for Gas Turbines.

As well as stocking Allthread, we can manufacture special orders to your size and material specifications.

Contact us with any requirements and we’ll be happy to help. Telephone our Glasgow branch on 01698 826464 or Wigan on 01942 520260.

Large Diameter Fasteners for Subsea Installation

A grateful customer of our Glasgow branch kindly provided us with these recent photographs,  showing a subsea project incorporating our bolts being prepared and then submerged for installation into the seabed.

We supply a huge range of standard fasteners and can manufacture specials to your exact specification in most materials – steel, stainless steel, super duplex, non-ferrous and exotics.

Contact us with any requirements and we’ll be happy to assist. Telephone our Glasgow branch on 01698 826464 or Wigan on 01942 520260.

 

Another satisfied customer – rapid delivery of M39 x 150 8.8 Bolts

m39 x 150 ht bolts glasgow scotland

Thomas Smith Fasteners Scotland recently helped out a customer who had an urgent requirement for these large diameter M39 x 150 Gr 8.8 Din 931 HT Bolts.

The bolts were manufactured and delivered to our customer within 3 days.

Whether standard or special, large or small, we can supply the right fasteners quickly at a competitive price.

Contact us with any requirements and we’ll be happy to help. Telephone our Glasgow branch on 01698 826464 or Wigan on 01942 520260.

M20 x 60 14.9 Bolts for pressure-critical equipment

14.9 bolts valves pressure equipment tested with full certification

A major utilities company recently contacted us with an urgent requirement for M20 x 60 14.9 bolts for use on pressure critical equipment.

The bolts were manufactured in our onsite workshop to the customer’s specification, with the required chemical & mechanical quality tests being carried out in our fully-equipped Quality department.

The bolts were manufactured, tested and delivered in less than a week, along with full certification.

As well as our extensive stock range of finished bolts and fasteners, we can manufacture non-standard metric and imperial bolts to the customer’s specifications quickly from ex-stock blanks, and can also forge and machine specials in most materials and grades. We can help with any aspect of your fastener requirements. Contact our Technical Sales team with any enquiries.

Oil & Gas Project – M20 x 6 Metre Tie Bars Galvanised

M20 x 6 metre tie bars galv oil & gas fasteners

Recently we had a request to help a customer out on some M20 x 6 Metre Tie Bars Galvanised for an oil and gas project in the North Sea. The rods were needed very quickly to hold buoys together on a platform.

It is challenging to locate EN19T bar in 6 metre lengths. We purchased oversize bar in the heat treated condition and had it turned down and reeled to ensure straightness. We managed to get the bars into our machine shop and threading to M20 x 2.5 pitch.

Once the threads were finished, we spray galvanised the threads in a controlled enviroment and delivered to the customer within 7 days.

Another satisfied customer!