When sourcing fasteners, it’s easy to choose price over quality. However, the old saying of “you get what you pay for” summarizes the current conditions of the fastener industry today. Click here to download our guide on sourcing quality fasteners.
Question:
How do I know if the coating or plating I am stocking will meet a specific customer’s requirements?
Answer:
Answer:
Historically, when designers wanted to ensure that an assembly did not come loose, they would require that the bolt be “double-nutted”. Double nutting is an effective way of preventing an assembly from loosening, but it is not the most cost-effective way.
Question: Why is the hardness of a Grade 8 Nut lower than the hardness of a Grade 8 Bolt?
Grade 8 bolts have a specified hardness of Rc 33/39.
Grade 8 nuts (in diameters up to 5/8”) have a specified hardness of Rc 24/32.
Answer:
A rule of thumb for fastener applications is that the strength of the nut should be equal to or stronger than the bolt. Since hardness has a direct correlation to strength, it is logical to assume that since the hardness of the nut is lower than the bolt, then the nut is not as strong.