Do you think this sounds familiar to you? Do you keep having to replace bolts and screws in your projects?
Do you wonder how to ensure these fasteners last longer and maintain their original shape over a longer life span?
By installing and maintaining fasteners, you can increase their longevity, which will delay unnecessary repairs or replacements. Here, we will discuss some tips for maximizing screw and bolt lifespan.
Article Summary
Tips for Maximizing Screw and Bolt Lifespan: Choose the Right Material for the Job
Carbon or alloy steels must be chosen if long-lived or hostile service fasteners are the goal for maximizing the lifespan of screws and bolts.
Fasteners vary in quality. The wrong kind will lead to failures, especially in extreme service conditions.
Here’s how to choose the best materials:
- Stainless Steel: If your project has outdoor or moisture exposed areas, stainless steel components resist corrosion and rust.
- Galvanized Steel: For general purpose construction, we use zinc coated bolts (nails), which provide protection against wear caused by moisture.
- Brass or Aluminum: These options are lightweight and suitable for secondary applications, such as furniture or light fixtures.
Use Proper Installation Techniques
Improper installation is a primary cause of premature failure in fasteners. For more longevity in your hardware parts, install separate parts with the proper tool and method to ensure proper application.
Especially pre-drilling a pilot hole where needed to reduce the risk of splitting the wood or whatever the fastener will be inserted into.
Make sure to use the right torque: over tightening can damage threads and cut off the heads of bolts, making them more likely to fail, while under tightening can allow pressure offloaded from the part to focus on the threads or bolts and loosen the fastener over time.
Always align fasteners before tightening so that threads engage fully. Failure to ensure correct alignment can lead to cross threading, which can fatigue the material and compromise the strength of a fastener.
Protect Against Corrosion and Rust
Moisture and certain chemicals can cause corrosion that reduces the lifespan of any fastener, so you’ll want to keep hardware outdoors and in high humidity environments free from rust.
Here are ways to protect fasteners from corrosion:
- Apply Anti-corrosion Coatings: Provide a barrier against the ingress of moisture and corrosive products through anti corrosion coatings such as zinc or chromium.
- Use Sealants: Go around components in areas of high moisture to ensure water doesn’t get in, thus preventing rusting and corrosion.
- Regular Inspections: Periodically check your fasteners for signs of rust and address any issues before they escalate.
Routine Maintenance and Inspection
Screws and bolts, like all parts of your work, are subject to regular maintenance and inspection.
Any fastener can become loose with time because of vibration, wear or environmental factors.
Maintenance tips for fasteners:
1. Check for Looseness
Anywhere you see a bit of movement or vibration, inspect the fasteners periodically. If they’re loose, tighten them.
2. Replace Damaged Fasteners
Replace Fasteners If threads are stripped or damaged, or the fasteners are broken or corroded, they should be replaced.
3. Lubricate as Necessary
Under some conditions, grease and other lubricants can reduce friction and wear on fasteners to extend their service life.
Store Fasteners Properly
From the moment that you don’t store your screws and bolts following installation, you might be contributing a host of factors to identify why you could be having a shorter lifespan to the point where they can stop working sooner than expected.
If your screws and bolts were efficiently stored, they are more likely to possess good quality across their storage period.
Key storage tips include:
- Keep Them Dry: You can further preserve them by keeping them dry, which means they will hold better not allow rust and corrosion. Any fastener that requires gapping should be put in a dry, moisture free state.
- Organize By Size and Type: Group parts by size and type so that when you need a specific fastener, you won’t have to rummage through your stash to find it, and more importantly, so you don’t inadvertently damage anything by digging it out and moving it around.
It’s not hard to extend the life of your screws and bolts if you take the right measures.
Each of these measures is vital in extending your fastener’s life, from selecting materials and using proper installation procedures to protecting it from corrosion and completing routine maintenance.
If you consider these tips, you can ensure a longer lasting life for your fasteners and save a lot of time, money and effort on your next project.
