# What are these wood fixings called?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-wood-fixings-called/488961>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 10, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-wood-fixings-called/488961 "2009-03-10T15:05:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-wood-fixings-called/488961/1 "2009-03-10T15:05:21Z")

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A lot of self-assembly furniture uses a neat type of fixing and I was wondering what it’s called. I don’t have a picture but will try to explain what I mean:

It’s used to attach to pieces of wood (or more usually particle board) at 90 degrees. In one piece you drive a screw which beds in leaving the top half protruding, with a screw head on the top. There’s a hole drilled in the “end” of the other piece of wood that fits over this screw. There is also a larger round hole cut out from the face of this piece of wood, exposing the side of the top of the screw.

To lock the pieces together, you put a shaped metal disk into this round hole and give it a twist using a screwdriver. That causes it to grip the head of the screw and tighten the wood together.

Any ideas what I mean?

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**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-wood-fixings-called/488961/2 "2009-03-10T15:09:02Z")

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Maybe a cam bolt?

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-wood-fixings-called/488961/3 "2009-03-10T15:11:49Z")

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Generically, they’re “cam-lock” or “knock-down” fasteners.

AFAIK, one of the more popular brand names is Haefele’s [Minifix](http://www.hafele.com/us/products/Minifix_Connecting_Bolt_Cam_Hafele.asp).

ETA: Or just say “Those things that hold Ikea furniture together.” and the hardware store people should know what you mean.

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-wood-fixings-called/488961/4 "2009-03-10T16:11:28Z")

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Those are the fellas. Thanks!