WELD NUTS TO COATED STEELS

As we’re all doing our best to save weight, thinner gauge steel with higher strength has become the new trend, however in reducing the gauge it is best to coat the steel for corrosion protection purposes.

Understanding that you’ve chosen coated steel, why on earth would you weld nuts to it, simply because the weld process burns off the coating locally, and this is the start of your corrosion process.

Simple solution is to use SELF PIERCING AND CLINCH  or SPAC nuts, like those from RB&W, alternatively you can use simple clinch nuts from people like RIFAST, PROFIL, or one of many other brands available.

By using SPAC nuts it is the nut that pierces the hole in the component, and this can and should be done in the die, in doing so you can create a 50% saving over the common weld nut, plus all the other advantages of accuracy, repeatability, quality etc.

If you’re going to use clinch nuts, these can also be applied in the die, but you need to have pierced a hole for it in a previous operation, again there are good savings together with improved quality etc.

Finally, both of these options can be inserted into a roll-formed closed section like a steel cross-member or side rail, Superior Roll Forming out of Ohio and SHAPE Corp out of Michigan do some excellent products with this combination.

If you need any more information, or you’d like to join my network, please feel free to contact me by email ‘[email protected]’

JB