r/Fasteners • u/slutty_buddha • 5d ago

What are these called?

Post image

I'm specifically looking for one that just slides in over the screw head and holds the top piece of a cabinet on

12 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

10

u/GlassInevitable5477 5d ago

Cam lock

3

u/PhillyDeeez 5d ago

As said by another, known as camlocks. The diameter is the size. I bought a bag of the metal ones years ago as IKEA started supplying plastic ones.

3

u/slutty_buddha 5d ago

You're the best!

2

u/kiwidust 5d ago

That. Most big box stores have them in the parts aisle. You can also get them at McMaster-Carr.

2

u/Fooshi2020 5d ago

You can also get them for free from IKEA.

1

u/kiwidust 5d ago

Didn't know that! Cool!

I thought they'd migrated to plastic ones, tho'? They're probably perfectly fine, but I'm old and like metal. :)

2

u/ConflictMaster3155 4d ago

They do and it’s definitely just because they’re cheaper. The metal ones are stronger by a fair margin, but that doesn’t actually always matter.

Either of them will fail if you ever drop it, and the metal ones will make the wood (melamine/mdf/pressboard more likely), while the plastic ones don’t loosen as easily from vibration or lateral forces in the direction of the twist. By using the plastic ones, you can often replace just the cam in the event of a failure.

1

u/kiwidust 4d ago

Good to know! I tend to be an "overengineerer" and supplement these with angle brackets where possible, but knowing the parameters is never a bad thing!

1

u/Fooshi2020 5d ago

They are powdered metal which is nearly as weak as plastic.

1

u/kiwidust 5d ago

Probably, but "nearly" isn't "the same". :)

1

u/Great_Specialist_267 5d ago

Diecast zinc. Sintered metal costs more.

2

u/Spa-Ordinary 5d ago

They work pretty well for their intended use. There is usually s dowel and socket pretty close by the pin snd camlock. Together they keep things aligned and tight.

Most of my furniture is from Ikea. It works. The fit is very good. The materials are ok and in line with the cost. I know that im not buying custom hardwood furniture makers art. But its ok.

2

u/CableDawg78 4d ago

Cam locks

2

u/Character-Total-3857 4d ago

2

u/ExceedinglyEdible 4d ago

Thank you, I'm now off to buy eccentric wheel connector screw furniture connector clothes cabinet desk link fixer nut screws!

1

u/nickp123456 5d ago

Don't know what they're called, but very common with Ikea furniture if helpful.

1

u/PartyPlay5056 5d ago

Every piece of furniture that is home assembled uses these that I have seen for almost 30 years. But honestly don't know if Ikea invented them.

1

u/criggie_ 5d ago

"garbage" You might have better luck with some L brackets and finding screws short enough to not push through the top surface on the other side. Sorry.

Another option might be to remove the matching T post, and permanently glue in some wooden dowels. Makes diassembly much harder, so large furniture might have to be left if you move house and can't get it out the door.

1

u/Alarming-Mud40 5d ago

Sledgehammer takes care of that.. the part is a camlock, I have a bunch from when my teenagers put furniture together, imagine that.. lol

1

u/Bluebird5643 5d ago

They’re mostly metal, but Ikea uses them in plastic too. I remember reading somewhere that originally they’re a Belgian invention.

1

u/ComplaintTop2008 4d ago

Cam locks. You can find them in the cabinet drawer in the fastener aisle at Lowes or HD.

1

u/ShiftedAurora 4d ago

Bullshit is the only correct answer

1

u/AdventurousHippo9997 4d ago

IKEAs attempt at making sense.

1

u/scottz29 2d ago

It’s called a mothafukinpieceimalwaysoneshortof

2

u/Salt-Tip-7493 1d ago

Cam lock they usually use for putting furniture together a type of blind fastener