Self-tapping screws are a type of screw that are designed to create threads in a material as they are driven in. This allows them to be used in materials that do not have threads already, such as metal, plastic or wood. Self-tapping screws are typically… read more »
Tech Articles
Self-Piercing Rivets for Aluminum Body Fastening
Self-piercing rivets (SPR) join two or more pieces of material using a rivet without a pre-drilled hole. Self-piercing rivets are a semi-tubular rivet driven at high force through the material layers to be joined, into a die which causes the tail of the rivet to… read more »
Comparison Chart for Screw Size, Inch Fractions, Decimals and Millimeters
When looking at body bolts, sheet metal screws and related U-clips, and even automotive fasteners, such as push pins or Christmas trees, the nomenclature used by each manufacturer to describe the size of the fastener, or the hole size that it goes into, can sometimes… read more »
The Primary Types of Heat Shrink Tubing Explained
Heat shrink tubing is used to help protect an electrical connection from vibration and moisture. Depending on the type of heat shrink tubing, it can be used for applications ranging from industrial to automotive. Our primary focus is obviously on the automotive end, so we’ll… read more »
Bolt Head Grade/Strength Identifiers
You can usually figure out the grade, or strength, of a bolt by looking at the markings on its head. English bolts (U.S.S. or S.A.E) are categorized by grade, from grade 2 to grade 8, where the grade represents inch strength. The higher the grade,… read more »
