Furniture has always been made from individual elements, which are then assembled in a certain sequence. Previously, furniture screeding was carried out using locking joints, tenons and wedges, however, for simple home furnishings this was enough. Similar connections are still used today in the manufacture of antique-style furniture. In modern furniture production, fasteners are represented by a wide range of elements. This makes it possible to produce furniture of various shapes with complex joining methods.
Why are they needed?
Furniture is assembled in stages, combining different parts into a single piece of furniture. Conventional fasteners are not suitable for such purposes. Ties allow you to connect parts together at the desired angle, maintaining the strength of the connection and the entire structure.
Special furniture fasteners have long replaced traditional self-tapping screws and screws with nuts. Among the advantages of using there are 3 reasons:
- Increased reliability. After disassembly, the interior item does not lose strength.
- Design features. A separate element is used for each detail or type of furniture. Often the use of conventional fasteners is not possible.
- Aesthetics. The screed makes the connection almost invisible. The design looks beautiful and complete.
If nails are used during assembly, the parts may crack or become detached. When installed with self-tapping screws, parts of the furniture delaminate or burst. When the load on the piece of furniture increased, the fasteners came out with “meat”.
Due to the design features, conventional fastenings are not suitable for connecting several cabinets or mezzanines together. The tie helps to twist parts at an angle of any complexity, without reducing the strength of the product. The interior item does not lose stability even with frequent disassembly and transportation.
Why are screeds needed? Source neureiter-shop.at
Dimensions and materials of manufacture
Everyone has already understood what it is and for what purposes fastening furniture fastenings are used.
By the way, we recently discussed how to hang kitchen cabinets and what is needed for this. We also discussed the topic of level installation of wall cabinets. In such cases, zip ties definitely won't hurt.
See also
High shoe rack for the hallway: choosing a cool design
To connect two parallel walls of cabinets, you can use ties made of different materials. Most often on sale there are products based on nickel-plated steel, galvanized and chrome-plated steel. I can’t say that one of the options has total superiority over its competitors. The main thing here is good workmanship. Plus, sometimes you have to make a selection by color. If the furniture is black and the screed is just silver, it looks beautiful, the fastening is still visible.
Although it would be fair to mention the existence of plastic ties.
To be more precise, the cylindrical part with internal thread itself is made of plastic, and the screw remains steel.
You can use plastic fasteners, but they are not suitable for high-quality and durable connections.
The short service life is due to the low strength of plastic as a material.
As for the sizes, here, by analogy with the seven bolts, the sizes are marked as M, L and D.
[adv2]
- The letter M stands for metric thread. Typically for such fasteners it varies from M4 to M6;
- The length of the screw is marked as L. For example, the marking L1 means the length of the cylindrical part of the tie with internal thread, and can range from 15 to 30 mm on average;
- L2 means screw length. Here the average values are from 10 to 15 mm;
- The outer diameter is about 5-8 mm.
Products may differ in size and material of manufacture, but structurally they always remain identical to each other.
Based on this, I think it’s not difficult to figure out what M4, M5 or D5 means when choosing an intersectional tie rod.
Popular types
The type of furniture fastener depends on the connection task. Models are distinguished by shape, material of manufacture and method of use. Let's look at 8 main ties for interior items.
Minifix
Eccentric fasteners are the most common type of furniture parts. The device is used when connecting L- and T-shaped structures. The result is a strong alignment, completely hidden from prying eyes. Traditional minifixes consist of 3 parts:
- latch (eccentric);
- rod with head;
- decorative plug.
Coatings used
Furniture fastening fittings are used in the vast majority of cases indoors, which protects them from the harmful influences of the environment. However, all metal elements made of steel subject to corrosion are subject to special treatment:
- Galvanizing gives metal fasteners higher functional and decorative qualities. In most cases it is a white, matte finish, less often – with a golden tint;
- Galvanic brass plating. Unlike galvanizing, this coating provides a more attractive appearance, which is achieved by adding copper to the coating alloy.
The above technologies for applying zinc and copper alloys to fasteners are designed to provide higher performance and decorative qualities. Screw elements made of aluminum are almost never coated with protective compounds, due to the properties of the material from which they are made.
Galvanized
Brass
Video description
Eccentric coupler.
Dowel
A furniture screed visually resembles a pencil cut. Fasteners are made from natural wood, less often from plastic and steel. The common length of the part is 3 cm, diameter is 0.8 cm. There is a grooved notch on the surface of the element. The notch increases the strength of the connection.
The dowel is rarely used as an independent fastening. The part often complements the minifix, giving the connection greater rigidity and reliability. The holes are filled with furniture glue, after which fasteners are inserted. The only drawback of the screed is its fragility. The wood and the sealing element will dry out after a few years, which will cause the structure to wobble.
Wooden parts Source ortodontiya.com
Confirmat
The furniture euroscrew is made of steel alloy and coated with galvanization on top. The result is a beautiful, shiny fastener that is resistant to corrosion. Visually, the model resembles a compact self-tapping screw with a flat head and leg. The top has slots for a hex or Phillips screwdriver.
A thread was placed on the confirmation rod. The spiral rings go more freely than those of a screw. The part has a blunt end, so a hole is drilled in the furniture to install the fastener. The same size of smooth and wavy parts ensures a tight fit.
Connection model Source td-fenix.com.ua
Confirmat is a universal part that is used when assembling all types of interior items. The fasteners are easy to screw in both in industrial and home environments. To assemble furniture, you do not need professional equipment.
To connect the parts, holes are made for the spiral notch and for the cap. A screwdriver can deform the hole, so tighten the fasteners manually. The finished structure with hardware will withstand multiple load cycles.
When installing the confirmation, a metal cap is visible on the surface of the interior item. The element can be hidden under special plugs to match the frame. This type of furniture screed does not withstand frequent twisting and assembly.
Part installation Source wkretmet.ru
Screw
Fasteners are used when connecting two thick parts. The hardware consists of a metal or plastic cylinder with a hole running across it. At the top there is a pin with a cap. The thread is machined along its entire length, which ensures reliable screwing. The design has high resistance to lateral loads.
When installing, 2 holes are drilled in the surface of the ends of the parts. A cylinder is inserted into the first, matching the holes in all elements. The screw is threaded through a groove in another panel. If the structure becomes loose, the fasteners can be easily tightened. The cap is visible, so they cover it with plugs.
Furniture screed Source td-fenix.com.ua
The screw tie is ideal for connecting chair parts. The method allows you to repeatedly disassemble and reassemble interior items without damaging the components. The only drawback of the technology is that installation is carried out by professionals using special equipment. Without skill, it is difficult for a person to accurately match holes for fasteners. If there is a mistake, it is difficult to pull the cylinder out of the groove.
Corner
Hardware consists of a steel plate bent at a right angle. The kit includes two threaded fittings (futorka), providing a smooth transition of fasteners with different diameters. The ties are made of plastic or metal and installed using self-tapping screws. The model has a hole. A rod is inserted into the hole and a screw is screwed to it.
The connection method is not very reliable, so it is used for structures with light loads. Corner fasteners are used to assemble decorative parts and shelves. Using a tie, the sides of the interior items are screwed together. The fasteners are convenient for mounting the legs of a bed, table or chair.
Steel plate hardware Source math-nttt.ru
Video description
Furniture assembly. Intersectional furniture screed.
For table top
If the piece of furniture consists of several parts, then a screed for the countertop is needed. Fasteners are used for rigid fastening. The part joins the structure in such a way that the individual components do not move apart horizontally. The model is ideal for kitchen furniture. Based on the type of contraction, there are 3 types:
- Nuts. The long steel rod is complemented by washers on both sides.
- Gearbox with cylinder. Consist of a barrel and a stud with double-sided thread.
- QUICK. The structures have a tie with a self-tapping screw and a counter piece.
Paired fasteners are mounted in prepared holes. Holes are made using a Forstner drill and a groove is created with a chisel. The connecting part is placed in the free areas, and the nuts are carefully tightened with a wrench.
For connecting flat structures Source vsecuplu.ru
How to choose the right one
Fastening elements should not impair the functionality or spoil the appearance of interior items. Manufacturers often indicate in the instructions the type of furniture screed that should be used. During assembly it is forbidden to violate technology.
Case models store things. To ensure a strong, reliable connection, you need a confirmat. The universal mount will align the parts of the structure at the required angle. Hardware is inserted into ready-made holes, which are drilled in advance.
How to choose screeds Source uslugio.com
Ugly hats are hidden under covers. If you need to hide a furniture screed in the facade, then use minifixes. Intersectional types are appropriate for connecting several structures. For cabinets with many shelves, professionals advise using corners or dowels with eccentrics.
Scope of application
As the name suggests, the main purpose of this fastener is furniture production. Naturally, the application is not limited to this, and screw fastening is used in many sectors of the national economy, as well as for solving everyday problems. Depending on the size and design, the following options for using this fastener can be distinguished:
- Connecting laminated chipboard panels during the assembly of cabinet furniture;
- Assembly of frames in the process of manufacturing beds, sofas, armchairs and other upholstered furniture;
- Interfacing of solid wood parts in carpentry and construction.
Some types of screws have a rather narrow scope of application. For example, locking shelf supports are designed solely to hold shelves. At the same time, not a single closet or bedside table can do without fasteners such as confirmat. And the use of bolts, in addition to their main purpose, is widespread in areas quite far from the furniture industry.
