I am in the middle of a bathroom re-model. I’ve used 1/2 inch bolts and nuts to tie some things together… this will all be buried under tile so I used a split lock washer with the hope that the nut wouldn’t loosen by itself. Some weeks later I found that the nut did become loose… so I purchased a different type of lock washer — the ring with teeth, called an external lockwasher. Now seems like a good time for some advice… do I use the toothed external lock washer in conjunction with the split lock washer? Is the toothed lock washer placed between the nut and washer only? Is another one required under the bolt head and its respective washer? Other advice that would help make sure these things don’t loosen over time? Thank you in advance!
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Replies
I'd use a product like Loctite. You coat the threads and it will never come loose.
They sell different strengths.
blue
Did the nut come loose or did the wood that is holding shrink?
you could also double nut it by putting 2 nuts together and tightening
DAN
If you have an industrial fastener supplier nearby, ask for deformed locking nuts (not nylon inserts). Hold far better than lock washers. Loosening not an issue, removal is tedious.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
loctite red or a nyloc nut...
won't loosen even if ya want it to...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Thank you all for the responses... I will buy some Loctite... BillHartman, good point and the answer is I don't know... The lumber was pretty green and it's very dry out now... At any rate, I'll tighten things up and hopefully the Loctite will keep it that way.
I think the reason things came loose is because of shrinkage of the lumber.
As a former motorcycle enthusiast I can tell you there is 2 kinds of locktight. Blue is for a nut/screw that you may want to get off one day. Red is for hardware you don't ever want to get off. ;-)
loosen this
View ImageDo you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
no problemo...
I have a hot wrench...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I agree with Bill --- lumber shrinkage is the likely culprit. I've seen this happen before from personal experience.
Especially if there's no vibration and minimal temperature-related shrinkage/expansion, I think it's very unlikely that the lock washer let the nut loosen up. From years of using mostly split lock washers and some tooth washers on farm equipment, I can attest that they (almost) never come loose. Locktite is good insurance, as is peening the end of the bolt, using a second locking nut, or dinging the threads...
As others have said, if it's wood you're holding together, and there isn't any rotating motion or severe vibration, then you're dealing with shrinkage.
I started building a garage last summer, and the 2nd floor joists sit on a ledger board which is bolted to a steel beam. Most of the lumber was nearly green and/or wet when constructed. As expected, after drying out all winter I had to go up and give several wrench turns to tighten it up.
I'd say tighten them up again, and if the wood is now dry, you should be ok.
Don
I agree with the others that from what you describe the wood is shrinking. Any of the suggestions for keeping the nuts from loosening are good, common ones, though the nut is not turning loose in your situation so they won't help.
You don't say what exactly you are trying to join. If they are solid wood there are other things you can do. One is to drill the holes so the fastener is tight, so your joint doesn't depend on the compression to prevent movement. Another would be to use lag screws instead of nuts and bolts. You could also use adhesive between the wooden components in addition to fasteners.
Something else you could do, though I'd recommend the above methods over this, is to use spring washers to maintain some compression when the wood shrinks. If you go to http://www.mcmaster.com and search on "disc spring washers", you'll see examples.