Wing Nuts
Wing nuts are a popular type of fastener thanks to their flexibility and ease of use. They have a lot to recommend them, though many people don’t fully understand what a wing nut is. Let’s take a closer look at wing nuts, their uses, benefits, and more.
What is a Wing Nut
Wing nuts are an internally threaded fastener featuring two protrusions on the head of the nut. They get their name from the fact that the two protrusions look somewhat similar to wings.
What are Wing Nuts Used For?
Wing nuts are not suitable for use in all the situations where standard nuts come into play. However, they’re still highly variable and may be found used in an array of different places. Some of these may include the following:
- Assembly and disassembly. In situations where things need to be assembled and disassembled quickly without the use of tools, wing nuts are the hardware of choice.
- To build jigs. In fixtures or jigs for woodworking and machining, wing nuts often play a pivotal part. They’re ideal for this use since jigs often require regular adjustments.
- Furniture. When it comes to furniture box sets and DIY construction, wing nuts are popular since they’re easier to use with bolts than standard nuts.
- Automotive components. Automotive components that require regular adjustment, like battery holders, often make use of wing nuts.
Benefits of a Wing Nut
Wing nuts are vastly useful pieces of hardware with many benefits. Some of these may include the following:
- No tools are required when tightening and loosening wingnuts, making them ideal for temporary fastening or fastening where adjustments are frequently required.
- Accessibility in tight spaces. Since you don’t require tools to fasten and loosen wing nuts, it makes it considerably easier to use them in tight spaces.
- They’re highly versatile and can be used for a wider range of purposes and projects than some other types of fasteners.
- They’re highly adjustable, making them perfect for applications where regular precision adjustments are required.
- Affordability. Wing nuts are highly cost-effective, making them ideal for projects with a tight budget.
- Wing nuts are incredibly user-friendly and can be used without any special knowledge or training.
Wing Nut Sizes
Wing nuts come in a fairly diverse array of sizes. From large wing nuts to small wing nuts, the options are diverse. Let’s take a look at wing nut sizes, which may include multiple aspects.
The first thing you need to look at is the thread size, which may include either a numerical code or a size in inches, as indicated below:
- #4-#12
- ¼”-¾”
The other thing you need to look at is the diameter of the wing nut. Wing nuts are available in many of the sizes standard bolts come in. So, if you want to use a wing nut for your project, simply look at the nut that would typically go with the bolt and buy that size wing nut.