Strong-Point is a trusted brand amongst construction professionals, and their line consists of a variety of high quality fasteners that are great for specialized, trade-specific applications, as well as fasteners that can be used more generally. We’re going to explore five Strong-Point brand fasteners that every construction professional should be familiar with.

Strong Point Self-Drilling Screws can be used to attach metal to metal or wood to metal with confidence. The most popular version are hex washer head, but they also offer many other head types with several drive options. These self-drillers have ICC-ES reports, and some are coated with Strong-Point’s proprietary Strong-Shield coating.

Strong Point Strongcon concrete screws are used to attach wood or metal to concrete, brick or cement block, and have Miami-Dade approval. They are offered in hex washer head or flat head. Strongcon screws have sharp threads require less torque during installation, and their diamond point design cuts and clears debris during installation for better thread engagement.

Strong Point Needle Point sheet metal screws are used to attach light gauge sheet metal to metal, are zinc-plated with a hex washer head, and feature optional white paint on the head or a bonded sealing washer under the hex washer head. Strong-Point Razor fasteners are a subfamily to the Needle Point line, with with a fine thread pitch and non-walking point.

Strong Point Polegripper fasteners are used to attach metal to wood in roofing and siding applications. The Polegripper’s Hi-Hex washer head provides excellent driving stability, and their Type ‘17’ point eliminates wood splitting during installation. Many Polegripper sizes are available in 304 stainless steel, and all are coated with Strong Shield.

Strong Point Woodworking screws are cabinetry, furniture, trim and hinge screws that are used to attach wood to wood in a wide variety of woodworking applications. Strong Point’s woodworking screws come in plain, zinc, black oxide or phosphate finishes, and are available in lengths ranging from 1/2” to 3”.

If you’d like more information or pricing on these fasteners or any other Strong Point products, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406 today.

Elco Fasteners has drawn on 30 years of experience in manufacturing construction fasteners to create Tap-Flex thread-forming structural screws. These fasteners are dual heat treated, self-tapping screws that provide the strength, ductility, and embrittlement failure resistance that’s crucial for curtain wall and dissimilar metal applications. Tap-Flex fasteners have been designed and engineered to substitute for bolt and nut assemblies or Taptite® screws that are often used in the construction of large building.

Tap-Flex screws feature the patent-pending E-Form® segmented thread profile that gives the fastener its thread-forming ability. The E-Form design improves in-place performance and in ease of installation by:

• Decreasing thread-forming torque, which helps to ease starting and placement

• Overcoming friction build-up to reduce drive torque

• Increasing thread engagement, helping to resist back-out and loosening activity that is caused by thermal changes or vibration

As with most of Elco’s product line, Tap-Flex screws undergo the Flex Technology dual hardening process that is unique to Elco fasteners. Flex Technology eases installation by selectively hardening lead tapping threads to a minimum of HRC 52, while the load-bearing part of the fastener is kept below the critical HRC 34 level. Due to the reduced hardness level this provides, Flex Technology fasteners also meet Grade 5 ASTM A449 standards for strength and ductility. The result is an increased ability to resist embrittlement and other structural failures, providing top-notch performance over a fastener’s lengthy life in the field.

If you’d like more information about Elco Tap-Flex thread-forming screws, or any of Elco’s Flex Technology products, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406 to learn more.

When installing fasteners in any outdoor environment, a primary consideration needs to be how the fasteners will be engineered for corrosion resistance. This is an even more important question in the case of very wet or extreme conditions, such as in coastal environments or geographies where rainfall and snow is heavy. The traditional approach to these situations was to encourage the use of stainless steel fasteners, but a variety of coatings and treatments are changing that perception, often offering added strength and cost savings while retaining the corrosion resistance of stainless.

DURA-CON Corrosion Resistant Fasteners employ a three layer coating system that consists of an inorganic zinc-rich first coat and an aluminum-rich organic second coat. Friction modifiers are integrated into the topcoat, resulting in repeatable torque tension characteristics during assembly. Grade 5 bolts are stronger than A307 zinc, hot dip galvanized or 300 series stainless steel bolts. DURA-CON coating provides superior corrosion resistance; withstanding 1,500 hours of Salt Spray per ASTM B-117, at a cost significantly lower than stainless steel fasteners.

Strong-Point Fasteners has a new coating called Strong Shield, which they claim to be 50% less expensive than stainless steel and more than 40 times more corrosion resistant than zinc. Strong Shield consists of four layers: a metallic zinc layer, a hex-chromium passivation, a layer of functional nano coating used as a sealer, and a high-grade anti-corrosion chemical conversion film. These fasteners can withstand 1,000 hours of Salt Spray - not as high as DURA-CON Fasteners but still very good for corrosive environments.

Many products from Elco Fasteners are coated with Stalgard, an environmentally friendly corrosion resistant finish that’s free from chromates and silicates and any processes, such as electroplating, that might induce hydrogen embrittlement or structural failures. While fasteners coated in Stalgard max out at 1,000 salt spray hours as well, this coating comes in a variety of colors, making them a good choice where particular aesthetics or needs for identification come into play.

So, has stainless steel met its match? The answer depends on what features of a fastener are most important to you, and what specifications you’re trying to meet. If you’re looking for an alternate to stainless steel fasteners, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406 to get the information you need.

With increasing strain on supply levels for some popular name brand fasteners like Elco’s Dril-Flex screws, many of our customers are looking for alternate options. In the case of structural drill screws, Mudge is pleased to offer new Grade 5 self-drilling screws as an alternate that are made right here in America.

These low-cost alternative drill screws are made from alloy steel that has been heat treated to Grade 5 specifications, with a higher hardness on the drill point and lead threads. Additionally, these Grade 5 screws are also coated with a proprietary corrosion resistant coating that has been tested up to 1,000 salt spray hours. The result is a drill screw that provides quick, positive drilling while preventing “head popping” brittle failures.

The new Grade 5 USA-made drill screws are stocked in two sizes; 12-14 x 1-1/2” and 1/4-14 x 2". With a minimum order of 25,000, many more sizes and variations can be ordered, including hex washer heads or phillips undercut flat heads, #10 to 1/4” diameters, #3-#5 self-drilling points, and Type B self-tapping or UNC thread types.

For more information on these domestic Grade 5 structural drill screws or any other self-drilling screws, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406.

During the 1980s, the United States witnessed a number of high profile fastener failures, often resulting in injury to their users. The Congressional Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations subsequently conducted an investigation that uncovered egregious shortcomings in the fastener industry’s standards, quality controls, and general safety monitoring. The investigation also found that many international fastener manufacturers were supplying counterfeit safety certificates and presenting cheap parts as higher quality.

The Fastener Quality Act was signed into law on November 16, 1990, with the goal of protecting the public through three steps:

1. Requiring that certain fasteners sold in commerce conform to the specifications to which they are represented to be manufactured

2. Providing for accreditation of laboratories engaged in fastener testing

3. Requiring inspection, testing and certification in accordance with standardized methods.

Fasteners covered by the FQA are limited to metallic bolts, nuts, screws, studs and through-hardened direct tension-indicating washers that are manufactured to standards and specifications of consensus standards organizations or government agencies that require a grade mark. This leaves room for many exemptions, including fasteners used in an assembly and fasteners that are ordered as spare or substitute parts.

While the Fastener Quality Act has been amended three times, as recently as 1999, there are still questions as to how useful or enforceable it is with so many possible exemptions built in.

If you have questions regarding which fasteners do or don’t conform to the FQA, or need to make sure you’re buying fasteners that properly conform, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406.

At Mudge Fasteners, requests for material certs are common and we’re almost always able to provide the certification our customers need in a timely fashion. If a product or project you’re working on needs material certs for the fasteners used, we’re here to help.

Typically, when a cert is requested, a customer is in need of a certified Material Test Report (MTR) that contains the information required by the Fastener Quality Act. It’s important to note that the Fastener Quality Act only requires lot-level certs for heat treated and grade marked fasteners, which only covers a portion of fasteners on the market.

Material certs should always be requested at the time the order is placed, and depending on the cert and the manufacturer, the cost to supply these certs will vary. The most certs requested most often for fasteners are:

• Certificate of Conformance/Compliance (CofC): This cert is a simple statement that the referenced fastener meets all customer and/or industry specifications. The CofC is not required to report any actual dimensions or other physical properties.

• Material Test Report (MTR): Also known as a test report, inspection report or chem-phys report, this cert lists the physical properties of the fasteners without needing to report dimensions.

• Plating Cert: A cert that lists the type and thickness of plating used on the fastener, as well as the color of the chromate used.

• Initial Sample Inspection Report (ISIR): An ISIR is usually only used the first time a particular fastener is supplied to a customer, and it provides the physical properties as well as dimensions of the fastener in question. This cert may require lab testing, but once complete does not restrict the ability to have the part fabricated by different manufacturers, so long as they all meet the criteria laid out in this document.

• Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Commonly used in the automotive industry, the PPAP is considered the most stringent cert type available. There are five levels of PPAPs available, and they all must demonstrate that the machinery used to make the fasteners are able to meet specification requirements. Some industries are beginning to use PPAPs in lieu of ISIRs.

• DFARS Compliance: The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS) and the Berry Amendment require that parts meeting this certification meet the criteria for "Preference for domestic specialty metals". These may be required if you’re working on defense projects and products.

• R.E.A.C.H. Compliance: This cert demonstrates that materials used in the production process do not exist in an amount higher than the recommended quantities. It relates to a regulation of the EU designed to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals.

• RoHS Compliance: RoHS compliant fasteners have chemicals like lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl (PBDE) within the range of allowable levels.

If you need material certs for your fasteners, we can get you what you need. Contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406 to learn more.

Mudge Fasteners has had the privilege of producing a variety of custom fasteners for a wide range of customers in many different industries. Custom fasteners can add value to your product by making it more proprietary, or they can be used for an often repeated process in the field to save time.

In order to design a custom fastener, three primary considerations need to be made: the print, the quantity desired, and the length of production lead times.

The first step in getting a custom fastener fabricated is to provide a print, or CAD drawing, containing the pertinent information about the fastener:

• Diameter

• Thread pitch

• Length

• Material

• Finish

If you do not have someone who can design in CAD programs on staff, you can typically outsource this work pretty easily, with many talented technicians both in the US and overseas offering their services at an affordable rate.

Once you have your print, you’ll want to consider the quantities you need to order. If you’re producing a product, a good general rule of thumb is order a year’s worth of product at a time. Since you’ll have significantly longer lead times when trying to restock custom parts than you would for standard parts, you have to stay ahead of inventory needs and order a little more than you think you’ll need at first glance.

The last consideration when ordering custom fasteners is the length of the lead time from the time the order is placed to when you’ll receive your parts. Depending on what country your custom part is being manufactured in, you may have to wait anywhere from eight weeks all the way up to six months to receive what you ordered. This is another reason you’ll need to really focus on inventory control… when you need to replenish your stock it’s not as easy as buying from your local Mudge distribution warehouse.

If you have questions about how to design and order a custom fastener, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406. We have over 100 years of combined experience in our sourcing team, and we can use our expertise to help you get exactly what you need when it comes to custom fasteners.

One of the most popular services we offer at Mudge is custom kitting, meaning we’ll package our fasteners into kits with other materials of your choosing. These are often used in products where assembly is required by the end user, or where in-field personnel would save time by having their parts already kitted into one package. Sometimes, the kit becomes a salable on its own, such as in the case of skateboard hardware.

If you’re thinking about designing a fastener kit for use in your products or your business operations, there are several factors to consider, but the main three are quantity, contents of the kit, and packaging.

The first factor to consider when considering kitting up your fasteners is the quantity you’ll be purchasing. This takes more thought than it would when you’re buying and sending out parts individually, because you can only stock and ship complete kits. Additionally, kitting has lead times, as do many items within the kits, so it’s important to plan ahead and error on the side of over-ordering rather than under-ordering. One question to ask yourself when considering kit quantities is “If my business increases significantly, will we have enough kits to keep up with demand?”

The next, and most obvious factor to consider when designing a kit is what will be inside the kit. If you’re working with Mudge, you’re including some sort of fastener, but we can also take your other parts to include in the kit as well. Anything from solar racking parts to injection molded plastic parts can be kitted with fasteners, adhesives and more. Don’t forget to consider what types of printed materials (assembly instructions, kit contents, etc.) that need to be included.

The final decision to be made when designing your kit is the type of packaging it will be in. Some common options are poly bags, paperboard boxes and clamshell plastic packaging. You’ll want to consider the packaging’s cost, appearance and sizing before making any decisions. If you use a box, will it fit properly in the master case with your other components? If the kit is not going to be seen by customers prior to purchase, your most affordable option will be a standard, heat sealed poly bag. Acquiring a sample of your desired packaging will be best, but a photo or drawing may be helpful as well.

As you can see, there are a variety of decisions to be made when designing and ordering a custom fastener kit, but Mudge Fasteners is here to help you all along the way. Contact us at (800) 634-0406 to discuss your next steps in getting a custom kit designed for your business.

As one of the only fastener distributors to service glazing subcontractors with a dedicated team and product offering, Mudge Fasteners knows a thing or two about what glaziers need to be successful in the field. And while we offer all of the leading anchors, concrete screws and fall protection, we’re constantly reminding our glazing customers to remember their bits and drivers. The following items are some of the essential tools for glaziers that you can purchase from Mudge along with your glazing fasteners.

SDS bits for glazing

SDS bits are specialty bits made specifically to fit an SDS chuck mechanism, and won’t work with any other. The end that fits into the chuck has a fluted appearance; the drilling part of the shaft is normal. SDS bits often come with a carbide head, making them more durable when drilling into concrete and more resistant to extreme loads.

Insert bits come in endless styles and are usually used with a bit holder. Some common types include phillips power bits, insert slotted bits, power slotted bits, carbon-steel screw extractors and power torq-set bits.

Nitro jobber bits are a specialty bit made by Drillco, and they feature a heavy duty nitride surface treatment to increase their hardness for drilling into stainless steel and other hard metals. Their black and gold oxide finish resists corrosion and increases the hardness of the drill bit for additional resistance to wear, while their self-centering 135-degree split point penetrates hard material without a pilot hole and produces small chips to reduce clogging.

Nitro jobber bit for glazing

Nut drivers can be used in power drills to tighten nuts, but can also work when installing hex head bolts and anchors.

If you’re a glazing subcontractor who needs bits or drivers not mentioned here, check out our full bits and drivers page or contact us at (800) 634-0406 for assistance.

Sheet metal screws are used in a large number of industrial and commercial applications, including construction, aerospace, HVAC, automotive and more. Two of the most common types of sheet metal screws are Type A and Type AB, but which is best for your application?

Both Type A sheet metal screws and Type AB sheet metal screws are self-tapping, meaning they create the threads in the substrate they’re being inserted into as they are torqued down. Both types of sheet metal screws are used in similar applications, such as thin metal or wood.

The real difference between these two types of sheet metal screws is in the threaded portion of the fastener. Type A sheet metal screws feature a coarse thread, while Type AB sheet metal screws feature a fine thread. Because they feature a higher number of threads per inch, Type AB sheet metal screws offer broader functional capabilities than Type A sheet metal screws, and are especially helpful when drilling into very brittle materials.

When choosing which sheet metal screw is best for your application, a large part of the decision will be the substrate that you’re attaching to. However, if you have any doubt about whether or not Type A sheet metal screws will meet your needs, you can almost always substitute Type AB sheet metal screws with little difference to the finished product.

If you need help choosing the sheet metal screw that’s right for you, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406.

Type A Sheet Metal Screw Threads

Type AB Sheet Metal Screw Threads

Everyone can use a little help sometime, and those of us working in the construction industry are no different. When it comes to fastener-related submittals and calculations, Mudge has the tools to make your life easier. The following tools and calculators can save you time and make sure you get exactly what you need, right off the bat.

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Product comparison chart from DeWALT’s submittal generator

DeWALT offers a world-class connection design software for concrete anchoring called Design Assist. Need to calculate the volume of adhesive anchor needed for a particular job? DeWALT has a calculator for that as well. Lastly, DeWALT offers a submittal generator to quickly and easily create a submittal for their anchor products.

If you need assistance in selecting the right fastening product and size for your solar panel installation project, EJOT’s solar questionnaire will get you exactly where you need to be.

MKT Fasteners has created a new version of its Anchor Design Software, where a user can design connections to concrete for both mechanical and adhesive anchors. This software includes data for rebar installations as well as cracked and uncracked concrete applications.

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Simpson Strong-Tie’s Anchor Design Software

Simpson Strong-Tie offers a plethora of helpful tools to save you time, including an Adhesive Cartridge Estimator, an Anchor Designer, an Anchor Reference Tool, a Connector-Anchor Selector and a Wood Shrinkage Calculator.

Of course, sometimes there’s no substitution for being able to speak with a fastener expert about what parts you need to accomplish your goals, and Mudge has plenty of fastener experts waiting to take your call. Contact us at (800) 634-0406 to get the personalized help you need today.

Elco Fasteners is one of the most trusted brands in construction, and Elco’s UltraCon+ screw anchors are a great choice for light to medium duty applications in concrete, masonry block, brick, and wood base materials. The UltraCon+ provides a neat, finished appearance and is fast and easy to install.

The UltraCon+ screw anchor has been engineered to meet the user’s needs and provide optimum performance by working together with matched tolerance drill bits and installation tools. One of the primary features of UltraCon+ fasteners is the self-drilling gimlet point that eliminates the need for pre-drilling when drilling into wood base materials.

The UltraCon+ screw anchor is made of carbon steel and is coated with Stalgard, and comes in a variety of colors and head options.

Colors

• Blue

• White

• Silver

• Bronze

Head Options

• Slotted hex washer head

• Phillips flat head

• Phillips Trimfit flat head

• Hex flange head

For more information about UltraCon+ or any Elco fasteners, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406.

It’s pretty well known that skateboarders like to infuse their own personal style into their gear, and skateboard hardware is no different. Throughout the years, many custom colored skateboard hardware companies, like Shorty’s, Upful, Shake Junt, DGK, Enjoi and others, have given skateboarders the opportunity to add a little more flair to their setup. Maybe you’re reading this right now thinking about a custom colorway of skateboard hardware you’ve never seen and would like to start a brand based around your vision. If so, read on to consider the steps required to make your creative vision into a reality.

One of the first questions in designing custom colored skateboard hardware, is if you want to use paint, plating, or some combination of the two. Traditional skateboard hardware is coated with black oxide, which is great for mild corrosion resistance but doesn’t offer much to the eyes. Plating will give your hardware a more metallic appearance, while paint will give you more vivid and longer lasting color. Paint also allows for mix-ins like metallic flakes that can actually make your bolt heads sparkle in the sunlight. While paint colors are virtually unlimited, zinc plating is usually only silver and gold. Mudge Fasteners, however, also offers the option to plate skateboard hardware in red, green or blue zinc.

Yellow zinc plated mounting bolts

Red head painted mounting bolts

Metallic flake painted mounting nuts

Red painted mounting nuts

Yellow zinc plated, blue candy head painted mounting bolts

If you’ve decided on paint for your custom colored skateboard hardware, you’ll need to decide whether you want the whole bolt painted or just the head. Painting just the head is more affordable, but painting the whole bolt will allow you to see the color from underneath the trucks where the bolt mates with the nut. That being said, fully painted skateboard hardware is more difficult to assemble correctly due to the thickness of the paint, and can be very frustrating to deal with when you’re trying to set up a new board before hitting your local spot.

Next comes the mounting nuts, which can also be painted or plated just like the bolts can. If you’re looking to add an extra special touch of style to your nuts, Mudge Fasteners is the only skateboard hardware vendor in America that can dye the nylon insert your desired color. This is a labor-intensive process which adds significant cost, but it does really set your product apart from the rest.

In some cases, you can actually use both plating and paint to create a two-tone effect, such as in the Mudge limited edition candy blue and yellow zinc mounting hardware. This is the cream of the crop process for designing custom hardware, and it comes with a price premium.

Mudge offers unpackaged custom colored skateboarding hardware in quantities as low as 2,500 pieces per color and style. If you have any questions about designing your own colored skateboard hardware, contact us at sales@mudgefasteners.com.

For the month of June 2022, all DURA-CON Corrosion Resistant Fasteners at FastenerExpert.us are on sale for 20% off with promo code DURA20.

DURA-CON Fasteners employ a three layer coating system that consists of an inorganic zinc-rich first coat and an aluminum-rich organic second coat. Friction modifiers are integrated into the topcoat, resulting in repeatable torque tension characteristics during assembly.

Grade 5 bolts are stronger than A307 zinc, hot dip galvanized or 300 series stainless steel bolts. DURA-CON coating provides superior corrosion resistance; withstanding 1500 hours of Salt Spray per ASTM B-117.

The result is a collection of fasteners that are high strength, with high corrosion resistance, and no galling whatsoever. Shop online to get the discount or contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406 for best pricing.

Based in the epicenter of skateboarding in Southern California, Mudge Fasteners has been providing bulk, packaged and custom skateboard hardware to the industry for over 30 years. Most skateboarders know fasteners by the way their industry labels them, using terms like mounting hardware, axle nuts, kingpins and kingpin nuts, speed washers, and Shorty’s bolts. However, if you asked anyone in the fastener industry to identify parts by these names, they’d think you were speaking a foreign language. To help cut down on confusion between skateboard industry trade names for fasteners and their technical (and technically correct) fastener industry trade names, we’ll review a few of the more common parts and compare the two ways of naming them.

Skateboard mounting hardware

“Shorty’s style” mounting bolt

The most common skateboard fastener is what the skateboard industry calls “mounting hardware”. This is the assembly of fasteners that holds trucks to the deck. Mounting hardware consists of a mounting bolt and mounting nut. A mounting bolt’s technical name is a 10-32 flat head machine screw, with either a phillips or hex socket drive. The 10 represents the diameter and the 32 is the thread pitch. A hex socket drive is always called an allen drive in skateboarding, and these machine screws are paired with a 10-32 nylon insert locknut to complete the assembly. Some variations on this assembly can be seen in skateboarding , such as “Shorty’s style” machine screws, which consist of a smaller, #8 size head and a partially threaded shaft. If the fasteners are to be used for longboard skateboards, the user may opt for a phillips pan head on the machine screw instead of a flat head.

Both axle nuts and kingpin nuts are thin pattern variations of nylon insert locknuts in 5/16-24 and 3/8-24, respectively, where the 5/16 and 3/8 represent the diameter and both feature a thread pitch of 24 TPI (threads per inch). A kingpin, which is the primary fastener that secures a skateboard truck’s axle to its base, is technically a 3/8-24 2” long hex cap screw with zinc plating.

Skateboard “speed washers”

Some skateboarders like to use what they refer to as “speed washers” between the ball bearing that sit inside the wheels and the truck hanger and/or axle nut. Speed washers are a custom sized flat washers that have an inner diameter of .324", an outer diameter of .409", and a thickness of .030". These washers are typically coated in black oxide or zinc silver.

If you have any questions about skateboard hardware or would like to get a quote, visit the Mudge Hardware skateboard-specific website, or contact us at (800) 634-0406.

In many trades and industries, there are technical terms for products and processes, and then there are alternate terms more commonly used by the people who work inside of those industries on a daily basis. Fasteners are no different, and one of the nomenclature debates that comes up in fasteners frequently is whether the correct term is lag screws or lag bolts.

Generally, a screw is considered to be defined by its pointed tip and its self-tapping properties, meaning it mates with the substrate by torquing the threads into the surface directly, which holds it into place. These properties are certainly true for lag screws/bolts.

A bolt, in most circumstances, does not mate directly with the substrate but rather mates with a nut to hold an assembly together. Bolts do not have pointed tips and are not self-tapping, they require a nut to complete the holding action.

You may be thinking, if these conditions are true, why is a machine screw or socket screw called a screw and not a bolt? Well, like so many technical names in different industries, terms are applied to items that may not be 100% correct from a technical standpoint, but repeated use of the term by industry insiders makes these names more ubiquitous than their correct descriptions, and this is definitely true in the fastener industry.

So where does that leave us in the lag screw/bolt debate? Technically, the correct terminology is lag screw, but if you use the term lag bolt, no one is going to question what you’re referring to. If you contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406, you’re welcome to ask for lag screws or lag bolts, and you’ll still get the exact part you’re looking for.

For over 30 years, VHB Tapes by 3M have been one of the most trusted non-threaded fasteners for permanently bonding and sealing a wide variety of substrates. VHB stands for Very High Bond, and these tapes are used in construction and industrial applications across the globe.

The all-acrylic construction of 3M VHB Tapes provide strength and durability in highly demanding applications, such as in replacing spot welds, screws, rivets and chemical adhesives. 3M VHB Tapes have the durability for long-term performance in both indoor and outdoor applications, with resistance to temperature extremes, UV light, moisture and solvents.

In addition to the structural and performance properties, 3M VHB Tapes increase productivity through ease of application and versatility, meaning less labor and increased time and cost savings. 3M VHB Tapes also offer an aesthetic advantage you can see and feel, with virtually invisible fastening to keep surfaces smooth and clean.

In construction applications, 3M VHB Tape can be used to permanently bond ACM and MCM panels, mount cladding on to railing base shoe, bind glass to aluminum framework, and so much more.

Want to learn more about how 3M VHB Tapes can save time and create cleaner aesthetics on your projects? Download the VHB Tapes brochure or contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406 for more information.

Hilti is a tremendous force in the industrial fastener market, with long running, engineered solutions for many applications including expansion anchors, concrete screws, chemical anchors, powder-acuated fasteners and so much more. In fact, Hilti is one of the most trustworthy and recognizable names in construction, and their products are specified more than any other fastener brand on the market.

That long history, and the marketing and development budgets that support it, comes at a steep price. Everyone seems to know that you can get an engineered Hilti solution for almost any application, but also that you’re going to need to have a significant line item in your project budget for fasteners if you’re buying Hilti parts.

Fortunately, there are many top quality substitutes for Hilti parts, from equally as reputable of brands, for much lower prices. Sometimes, substituting for a Hilti part can save you up to 50% on branded structural fastener purchases. One of the manufacturers with the most comprehensive selections of Hilti substitutes is Powers Fasteners, now owned by DeWALT and known as DeWALT - Engineered by Powers.

DeWALT Power-Stud®+ SD2

DeWALT Screw-Bolt+™

DeWALT AC100+ Gold®

DeWALT Pure 110+®

If your project specifies the Kwik-Bolt or Kwik-Bolt TZ wedge anchors from Hilti, you can find a comparable substitute in the Power Stud+ from DeWALT. If you’re used to working with Hilti’s Kwik HUS-EZ concrete screw anchor, DeWALT’s Screw-Bolt+ can take its place with no reduction in performance. Are you used to working with Hilti’s chemical anchors, like the HIT-HY or HIT-RE series products? DeWALT’s AC100+ Gold and Pure 110+ can stand in and perform at the same levels for a serious price reduction.

Mudge has created a handy Power Swap chart showing many of these Hilti substitutions, which you can download as a PDF and keep on hand when you come across Hilti parts being specified in your projects. If you’d like help saving money by substituting for Hilti fasteners in your projects, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406.

Please remember to consult a licensed engineer to guarantee that these substitutions will be structurally sound in your particular application, as the suggestions made above are general guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular use.

If you’re installing electric vehicle chargers in a public area, keeping your installation secure from theft and damage is going to be of utmost importance. When it comes to fasteners for EV charger installations, tamper-proof security fasteners should be considered.

Security fasteners are typically ones that can’t be found in stores, nor can the bits for these fasteners be purchased in stores. For some of the more common styles of tamper-proof fasteners, that no longer reigns true, but there are still plenty of tamper-proof fasteners available from Mudge that are never sold in stores, including some with exclusive-to-you drives that no one else in the world can access.

Some of the security fasteners that might be used in electric vehicle chargers and their installation include Penta head lag screws, tamper-proof sheet metal screws, security self-drilling screws, lock-out drive machine screws and more. Tamper-proof fasteners come in plenty of corrosion-resistant materials, including 18-8 stainless steel , 316 stainless steel, 410 stainless steel, and YUS550 stainless steel. Grade 8 alloy and case hardened alloy security fasteners are also available.

If you’d like to explore the option of using tamper-proof security fasteners in your electric vehicle charging stations, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406 for help.

As the United States grapples daily with the destruction caused by climate change, increasing gas prices and unstable geopolitical situations in petroleum producing regions, the transition to electric vehicles has been accelerating quickly. As we wrote in our article about fasteners for wall mounted EV chargers, the country will need thousands and thousands of new charging stations installed over the coming years to keep up with demand for electric vehicles.

While many of these new electric vehicle chargers will be installed in single family residential properties, another significant portion will be installed in multi-family housing developments, apartment buildings, shopping centers and other commercial locations. Whereas EV chargers installed into personal garages are likely to be wall mounted, charging stations installed in commercial locations are more likely to be floor mounted.

In the case of most floor mounted installations of electric vehicle chargers, the substrate they’ll be attached to will be some form of concrete. Specific fasteners for concrete will be needed for these applications, and Mudge Fasteners can provide the best concrete fasteners for EV charger installations.

One of the most popular concrete anchors is called a wedge anchor, also known as expansion anchors. These fasteners provide holding power by expanding when torqued down, and many are rated for cracked concrete - which is especially important when an electric vehicle charger is being installed into an older slab. Take caution to provide enough room for the expansion mechanism to happen, engineers typically call for six times the diameter of the anchor from the edge of concrete.

When there is not enough room for the expansion action of a wedge anchor, a screw anchor may be a better option. These will require a pre-drilled pilot hole (like a wedge anchor), and some are rated for cracked concrete as well.

The last option is to use what’s known as a chemical anchor, or epoxy anchor, with threaded rod. In this scenario, the installer will drill a hole just larger than the diameter of the threaded rod, fill it will chemical anchoring material, and then set the threaded rod into the hole. From there, the EV charger can be installed over the threaded rod with standard nuts and washers.

Remember, these are general guidelines and are not based on site- or product-specific engineering, so make sure to follow the manufacturers’ instructions for installation. If you need help finding fasteners for your floor mounted electric vehicle charging stations, contact Mudge Fasteners at (800) 634-0406.