Resistant Materials

Components

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Learning objectives
Learning objectives

To understand how fixings are used to join

materials, and to be able to select an appropriate
fixing for a given task.
To understand how different nails and screws are
used.
To understand how rivets and bolts are used.
To understand why and how hinges and handles
are used.

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Components
It is unusual for a product to be made from only one piece of
material.
Usually you will have to join several components together to
make a product.
A range of fixings are available to complete a product, such
as fasteners, fixings, hinges, springs, etc.

What components do you think have been

used to make this office table and chair?
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Nails

Nails are the most common forms of fixing used with wood.
They are used because they are:
inexpensive
quick to use
easy to put in
difficult to extract.

Nails are sold in standard forms by length and type.

clout upholstery nail

panel pin
round wire oval wire lost head
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Types of nails

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Nails

When a nail is hammered into a piece of wood:

the nail forces the fibres of the wood apart

the lines of grain move and grip the nail
if the nail is pulled, the fibres of wood grip
the nail more firmly.

More grip is possible if the nails

are hammered in at an angle –
this is called dovetail nailing.

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Problems with nails

If a nail is placed too close to the

edge of a piece of wood, it will split.

Too many nails along the line of

grain will also cause splitting.

Oval nails should be used with the oval

running along the grain to prevent
splitting.

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Screws

Screws are commonly used where the fixing may need to

be temporary. They are used because they are:
strong
slotted
easy to use
easy to remove. phillips
twinfast screw
pozidrive

countersunk raised head

Screws are sold in standard forms by:

gauge
length
type of head
material.
round head
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Types of screw heads

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Pilot and clearance holes

Joining two pieces of wood:

1) Drill a clearance hole through the top piece of wood.
2) Drill a pilot hole in the other (or use a bradawl).
3) Countersink if appropriate.

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Special screws

Brass screws are not as strong as steel and can break

when being tightened.
If joining hardwood, create the thread by using a steel screw
first, take it out and then put in the brass screw.

Chipboard screws are designed

for joining fibrous chipboard and
have a very coarse thread.

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Rivets

Rivets are used to join metal together permanently.

Rivets are:
bifurcated rivet
quick
inexpensive
traditional.
countersunk head

flat head

snap head

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Pop rivets
Pop rivets, also known as blind rivets, were designed to
overcome the problem of riveting two pieces of material
together when access was only possible from one side.
Pop rivets are hollow with a steel pin through the centre. A
hole is drilled through both pieces. The rivet is placed in a
pop rivet gun and pushed through the two materials.
The handle is pulled and the steel pin is pulled through the
hollow rivet until it deforms the rivet and eventually snaps.

steel pin

rivet

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Nuts and bolts

Metals are often joined temporarily

using nuts and bolts.
Nuts and bolts allow you to assemble
your product quickly and easily.
Nut, bolt and
They also allow for disassembly for washers
maintenance and repair.

The usual head for a bolt is a hexagon.

This is tightened using a spanner, which may be open
ended or ring.

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Nuts

There are many different types of nuts available.

Hexagonal nuts can be tightened with normal spanners.
Wing nuts can be tightened by hand.
To prevent nuts from coming undone you may choose a
nylock (a nylon insert inside a nut grips the thread) or a
castellated nut with a split pin to prevent it coming undone.

wing square hexagonal castle nylock

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Washers

Tightening hexagonal nuts and bolts against any surface will

cause damage. Washers are used to protect the surfaces
being clamped.
Plain washers are inexpensive.
Locking washers prevent nuts from coming undone in
service.
Tab washers ‘lock’ a nut in place to prevent it from coming
loose.
Spring washers are able to withstand vibrations.

plain lock tab spring

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Strengthening plates

Large wooden structures may need strengthening.

An inexpensive and convenient way of adding strength to
the joints is to screw a metal plate to the wood.
Angle plates and tee plates are made from mild steel.

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Knock-down fittings

Knock-down fittings (KDF) create strong joints easily and

quickly. They use temporary joints that can be taken apart
and the furniture ‘knocked down’.
A simple means of assembling knock-down furniture is
to use nylon blocks with holes drilled in them.

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Knock-down fittings

Knock-down fittings using allen screws or threaded

machine screws, which connect with threaded metal
dowels, are used in assembling flat pack furniture such as
bed frames and desks.

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Hinges

Many different types of hinges are available.

Hinges allow doors to open and close easily, and support the
door as it opens. One side of the hinge is screwed onto the
door frame while the other is screwed to the door itself.

Where would you expect to see hinges like

the two pictured here?
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Knobs, pulls, handles

Handles allow doors to be opened easily. There are many

different types of knobs, pulls and handles. The handle you
choose may depend on who the user is, and how much
weight they will need to use the handle, as well as what the
handle looks like.

Where would you expect to see handles like

the ones pictured here?
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Components quiz

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Key points

Fixings are used to join different parts of a product.

Nails are used to permanently join pieces of wood.
Key points

Screws are used when fixings may need to be

temporary.
Rivets are used to join metals permanently.
Nuts and bolts are used to temporarily join metals.
Knock-down fittings create strong joints which can
be easily taken apart.
Hinges and handles come in many different types,
and allow doors to open easily.

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