ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary): A wood preservative used in pressure-treated lumber. ACQ-treated wood is corrosive to many metals, requiring compatible fasteners such as hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel.
Allen: A hexagonal internal drive requiring an Allen wrench or hex key.
Alloy: A metallic substance made by blending two or more elements that is typically harder or more corrosion-resistant than pure metals.
Aluminum: A lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal used in some fasteners and washers.
Anchor: A fastener designed to secure objects into concrete, masonry, drywall, or hollow materials.
Anodic Materials: Active metals such as zinc and aluminum that are prone to galvanic corrosion and often used in coatings to protect the material below.
B
Backing Out: Fasteners withdrawing from a material.
Bearing Surface: The area where a fastener head contacts material to transfer load.
Bolt: A flat-tipped fastener with helical threads, often used with a threaded nut.
Brass: A copper-zinc alloy known for corrosion resistance and decorative appearance.
Bright: A finish with little or no protective coating, giving the metal a bright, shiny appearance.
Brittleness: A material's likeliness to break, split, or shatter under stress.
Bronze: A corrosion-resistant copper-based alloy often used in marine applications.
C
Calipers: A measuring tool used to determine diameter, thickness, and length.
Cam Out: When a driver bit slips out of the recess during installation.
Carbide: A compound made of metal and carbon that is extremely hard and heat-resistant.
Carbide Bit: A drill bit tipped with carbide for drilling hard materials.
Carbon: An element commonly used in steel alloys to increase strength and hardness.
Carbon Steel: Steel primarily composed of iron and carbon.
High-Carbon Steel: Steel with a high carbon content that is extremely hard and brittle.
Low-Carbon Steel: Steel with a low carbon content that is softer and more flexible.
Carriage Bolt: A bolt with a smooth, domed head and a square neck, usually used with a nut to connect materials.
Cathodic Materials: Metals that are less reactive and resist galvanic corrosion, such as stainless steel, titanium, brass, and copper.
Cement Board: A cement-based panel used under tile and exterior finishes.
Clamping Force: The compressive force created when a fastener is tightened.
Coating: A layer of material applied to the surface of a fastener.
Ceramic Coating: A corrosion-resistant coating often applied to exterior fasteners.
Duplex Coating: A combination of hot-dip galvanizing and a paint or powder coating.
Nano Coating: An ultra-thin protective coating that improves corrosion resistance.
Vinyl Coating: A polymer coating that improves driving ease and holding power.
Zinc-Aluminum Coating: A dual coating that protects against galvanic corrosion and heat damage.
Collated Nails: Rows of nails joined together in strips or coils for use in nail guns.
Common Nail: A standard nail with a thick shank and flat head used in framing and general construction.
Concrete Screw: A screw designed to anchor connections in concrete.
Composite: A material made from two or more components, such as composite decking.
Connection: The joint formed by two or more materials fastened together.
Copper: A soft, highly conductive, and corrosion-resistant metallic element.
Corrosion: The deterioration of metal due to chemical or environmental exposure.
Galvanic Corrosion: Corrosion caused by contact between incompatible metals along with moisture or saltwater.
Countersinking: Driving a fastener to sit flush or below the surface after installation.
Countersinking Fastener: A fastener with a head designed to sink into material.
Non-Countersinking Fastener: A fastener with a head designed to sit above the surface.
D
Deck Screw: A coarse-thread screw designed for use in composite decking.
Deformation: Change in shape caused by stress or load.
Elastic Deformation: Temporary change that resolves when stress is removed.
Plastic Deformation: Permanent change that cannot be reversed.
Density: Mass per unit volume of a material.
Diameter: The width of a fastener measured across its widest section.
Major Diameter: The outside diameter measured across thread crests.
Minor Diameter: The diameter measured between thread valleys.
Drag: Resistance encountered while driving a fastener.
Drill: A tool used to create pilot holes or drive fasteners.
Drill Point: A fastener point designed to drill its own hole during installation.
Drive: The feature on the head used to apply torque and install the fastener.
Phillips Drive: A cross-shaped drive style.
Slotted Drive: A single-slot drive style.
Star Drive: A six-lobed drive design commonly called Torx.
Square Drive: A four-sided drive recess, also called Robertson.
Driver: The tool that delivers torque or impact to insert a fastener.
Drywall Screw: A countersinking screw designed to hold lightweight materials.
Ductility: A material's ability to stretch and bend permanently under stress.
E
Elasticity: A material's ability to return to its original shape after being deformed under stress.
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer): A durable synthetic rubber commonly used in sealing washers for metal roofing screws.
Exterior Fasteners: Designed to withstand weather exposure in outdoor environments.
F
Failure: Loss of a fastener's ability to perform as intended.
Fatigue Failure: Failure caused by gradual weakening from repeated loads.
Fastener: Hardware used to join two or more objects together.
Finish Nails: Small-headed nails designed for trim and finish carpentry.
Framing: The structural framework of a building.
Free Shipping: Available for all orders through Jake Sales within the contiguous United States.
G
Galvanized: Coated with zinc to reduce corrosion on the fastener.
Electrogalvanized: A thin, smooth zinc coating applied through electroplating.
Hot-Dip Galvanized: A thicker zinc coating applied via immersion in molten zinc.
Gauge: A numerical sizing system used for screws, nails, and wire.
H
Hardness: A material's ability to resist deformation under stress.
Head: The portion of a fastener that receives driving force and provides bearing surface.
Bugle Head: A concave countersunk head commonly used on drywall and wood screws.
Button Head: A low-profile rounded head.
Clipped Head: A nail head with one side removed to increase capacity in collated nails.
Flat Head: A countersunk head designed to sit flush with the surface.
Full Head: A complete round nail head.
Hex Head: A six-sided head driven by a wrench or socket driver.
Pancake Head: An extra low-profile round head.
Tapered Head: A head that gradually narrows.
Trim Head: A small-diameter countersunk head for finish and detail work.
Truss Head: An extra-wide low-profile head.
Wafer Head: A broad, thin head used for sheet metal and wood applications.
Waffle Head: A nail head with a crosshatched pattern to prevent slippage.
Heat Treated: Strengthened through controlled heating and cooling.
Hi-Lo Thread: A thread design with alternating high and low threads.
Holding Power: A fastener's resistance to pull-out and movement.
I
Impact Driver: A power tool that drives fasteners through rotational impacts.
Interior Fasteners: Designed for indoor applications with limited moisture exposure.
J
Joint: The point where two or more materials are connected.
K
Knurl: Raised edges on a fastener shaft designed to facilitate installation.
L
Lag Screw: A heavy-duty structural screw designed to hold large loads.
Low Profile (Lo Pro): A head design with reduced height above the surface.
M
Marine Fasteners: Fasteners made to resist corrosion from saltwater, typically made from high-quality stainless steel.
Metal: A hard material used to create fasteners for strong connections.
Mini Driller: A small self-drilling point designed to speed up start times in thin metal.
Mushrooming: Bulging caused by material moving upward during fastener installation; common in composite decking.
N
Nail: A pointed fastener driven by impact on the head.
Nailer: A power tool used to drive collated nails.
Neoprene: A synthetic rubber formerly used in roofing hardware; largely replaced by EPDM.
Notched Point: A screw point with a vertical notch to reduce splitting and speed up start times.
Nut: A small threaded piece of metal used with a bolt to clamp materials together.
Nylon: A durable synthetic polymer used to protect fasteners from abrasion.
O
Overdriving: Driving fasteners too deep, reducing shear strength and risking moisture leaks.
Overtightening: Applying excessive torque, potentially causing stripping, breakage, or material damage.
Oxidation: The reaction that occurs when metals are exposed to oxygen, resulting in rust formation.
Ozone: A naturally occurring gas that can degrade some rubber materials over time.
P
Pallet: A platform used for shipping and storing bulk products.
Penny Size: A standardized nail sizing system abbreviated "d".
Pilot Hole: A pre-drilled hole that guides a fastener during installation.
Pitch: The distance between adjacent threads on a fastener.
Point: The leading end of a fastener.
Polyurethane: A durable polymer used in coatings to extend fastener life.
Pre-Drilling: Drilling a hole before installing a fastener.
Pressure-Treated Lumber: Wood infused with chemical preservatives to resist decay and insect damage.
Proof Load: The maximum tensile force a fastener can withstand before permanently deforming.
Pull-Out Strength: Resistance against a fastener withdrawing from material.
Pull-Through Strength: Resistance against a fastener head pulling through material.
R
Reamer Tek: A winged drill point that widens the hole to reduce thread engagement in the top material. Wings break off at contact with metal.
ReGrip: Thread design intended to increase holding power in loosened connections.
Roofing Screws: Screws designed for metal roofing and siding applications.
Rust: Iron oxide formed when steel is exposed to moisture and oxygen.
S
Salt Spray Test: A laboratory corrosion test that exposes fasteners to a salt fog environment.
Screw: A threaded fastener that transfers torque into clamping force to hold materials together.
Self-Centering: A symmetrical drive that helps align the fastener and driver.
Self-Starting: Fasteners with a drill bit tip that can be installed without a pilot hole.
Self-Tapping: Fasteners that cut mating threads during installation.
Shaft: The main, elongated body of a fastener between the head and point.
Shank: The body of a nail or screw that connects with material.
Ring Shank: A nail shank with ringed grooves or ridges for increased holding power.
Smooth Shank: A plain nail shank without textured pattern.
Shear Strength: A fastener's ability to resist lateral forces acting across the body.
Shoulder: An enlarged section between the head and thread of a fastener.
Silicone: A weather-resistant synthetic material used in sealants and coatings.
Sinker Nail: A framing nail with a thinner shank and smaller head than a common nail.
Spike Nail: A large-diameter nail used for heavy timber and landscaping.
Splitting: Material cracking during fastener installation.
Standing Seam: A metal roofing style that conceals fasteners under raised ridges.
Stitch Tek: A self-drilling screw designed to connect thin materials.
