Typical fasteners (coin shown for scale) A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Fasteners can also be used to close a container such as a bag, a box, or an envelope; or they may involve keeping together the sides of an opening of flexible material, attaching a lid to a container, etc. There are also special purpose closing devices, e.g. a bread clip. Fasteners used in these manners are often temporary, in that they may be fastened and unfastened repeatedly. Some types of woodworking joints make use of separate internal reinforcements, such as dowels or biscuits, which in a sense can be considered fasteners within the scope of the joint system, although on their own they are not general purpose fasteners. Furniture supplied in flat-pack form often uses cam dowels locked by cam locks, also known as conformat fasteners. Items like a rope, string, wire (e.g. metal wire, possibly coated with plastic, or multiple parallel wires kept together by a plastic strip coating), cable, chain, or plastic wrap may be used to mechanically join objects; but are not generally categorized as fasteners because they have additional common uses. Likewise hinges and springs may join objects together, but are ordinarily not considered a fasteners because their primary purpose is to allow articulation rather than rigid affixment. Other alternative methods of joining materials include crimping, welding, soldering, brazing, taping, gluing, cementing, or the use of other adhesives. The use of force may also be used, such as with magnets, vacuum (like suction cups), or even friction. [edit] Fastener types Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fastener Look up Fastener in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. batten bolt, screw, cap screw, stud brass fastener buckle button clamp (or cramp) clasp Bocklebee clasp clip circlip paper clip frog grommet nail peg pin clevis pin clothes-pin cotter pin retaining ring external circlip internal circlip e-ring rivet rubber band (or bands of other materials) screw screw anchor snap stitches strap staple tack tie toggle Velcro brand hook-and-loop strips wedge anchor zipper [edit] See also Helicoil Safety wire This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.