If you work with a bunch of materials, it's common to have a lot of metric fasteners in stock. They help you combine materials in effective ways. If you want your metric fastener stock to last for as long as possible, take these measures.
Figure Out Ideal Applications of Different Fastener Types
You probably will have a lot of different metric fasteners in your collection, which could include flat washers, bolts, screws, and rivets. One of the best ways you can make them last is to understand which applications they're ideal for. Then you won't use these fasteners in a way that leaves them susceptible to damage.
For instance, if you're trying to fill space and distribute weight, metric washers would be the right fastener choice for the job. Take your time reviewing these ideal applications so that you give these fasteners the best shot at lasting.
Prime Insertion Points With Lubricant
An important factor to be cognizant of when putting fasteners into materials is friction. If too much friction was created, then you can actually damage the threads on the fastener. That's far less likely to happen if you take your time lubricating all insertion points that are receiving metric fasteners like screws and bolts.
The lubricant will create a smoother driving mechanism that should keep the fastener's threads completely protected. Even if you have to remove these fasteners and put them back on regularly, lubrication around the insertion points will play a huge role in keeping these materials intact.
Properly Grip the Heads
In order to put metric fasteners in materials through insertion points, you'll have to grip the head. A lot of fasteners have durable heads, but you still need to make sure proper grip is provided. Otherwise, you could slip when turning the fastener and then strip some of the material away.
You want to keep this from happening so you can ensure your metric fasteners hold materials down correctly and are easy to remove later if needed. Find the right tool to give you a firm grasp on the fastener's head. You should be able to move in any direction and still retain an effective grip.
Working with metric fasteners can help you support a lot of important materials. As long as you watch what you do when working with these materials, they should be able to last for the foreseeable future and keep chronic replacements from becoming an issue.