It’s a common misconception that all hinges are metal. While most of them are, in fact, made of steel, aluminum, titanium, brass or similar metals or alloys, living hinges are made of flexible materials. Living hinges are characterized by a … Read More

When most people think of fasteners, they envision nuts and bolts. There are many other types of fasteners, however, including dowel pins. Also known as dowel rods, they are used to secure and align parts. One end of a dowel … Read More

Gaskets are commonly used to seal spaces and prevent leaks. They are found at the mating surfaces of parts. When two or more parts meet, fluids or gases may leak out of these mating surfaces. Gaskets, however, create an airtight … Read More

Nuts are commonly used to hold parts together. They are attached to the threaded shank of a bolt. The bolt is initially placed through a predrilled hole in the parts, after which a nut is twisted onto the shank. As … Read More

It’s frustrating when you install a new door hinge, only to discover that the door will no longer fully open or close. Door hinges should facilitate a smooth opening and closing action. If you encounter resistance, you may be dealing … Read More

Drawer slides make it easy to open and close drawers. Also known as drawer runners, they are metal rails on which drawers glide. Some drawer slides, however, can handle more weight than others. There are drawer slides with a load … Read More

Oil seals play an important role in many machines and industrial equipment. Oil is commonly used as a lubricant. It reduces friction so that machinery parts can move more smoothly and with less resistance. Leaks, however, can result in the … Read More