# What are those thingies that screws attach to called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** arts-crafts\ **Created:** [January 18, 2022, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994 "2022-01-18T14:24:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/1 "2022-01-18T14:24:50Z")
Not talking about nuts. šŸ™‚ But itā€™s common in furniture, and some toys, for sections to be attached via a screw and another metal piece which the screw goes into. The way itā€™s done is that one section has a hole for the screw and the other has a hole, perpendicular to the first one, into which the thingie is inserted and the screw goes into the thingie. The thingie is too big to go out the screw hole, so everything stays in place. In the case Iā€™m dealing with, the thingie is a cylindar-shaped metal, with the hole for the screw in the curved part of the cylindar shape. My basic question is what these are called. But the next question is how I can access a replacement piece (I donā€™t recall these being sold in hardware stores like HD or Lowes). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/2 "2022-01-18T14:26:52Z")
I believe youā€™re talking about a Barrel Nut. > **[Hillman 20 x 3/4-in Slotted-Drive Zinc-plated Barrel Nut Lowes.com](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-20-x-3-4-in-Slotted-Drive-Zinc-plated-Barrel-Nut/3012562)** > > Shop Hillman 20 x 3/4-in Slotted-Drive Zinc-plated Barrel Nutundefined at Lowe's.com. Dowel nuts, also known as barrel nuts, are cylindrical metal nuts used with furniture connector bolts in order to join two pieces of wood together in Lowes has them in the pull out drawers in the hardware aisle. Home Depot probably has them also. ---
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/3 "2022-01-18T14:32:07Z")
Thatā€™s pretty much what Iā€™m looking for. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/4 "2022-01-18T14:33:26Z")
Welcome. I occasionally make furniture so sometime about 13 years ago I had a very similar question. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/5 "2022-01-18T16:34:10Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I believe youā€™re talking about a Barrel Nut. > > [https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-20-x-3-4-in-Slotted-Drive-Zinc-plated-Barrel-Nut/3012562](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-20-x-3-4-in-Slotted-Drive-Zinc-plated-Barrel-Nut/3012562) The woodworker dot com website has a huge array of fasteners. What Lowes call a barrel nut, they call a steel cross dowel. You can find them near the bottom of this search result: > **[Woodworker's Supply Inc Homepage](https://woodworker.com)** > > Where Expert Woodworkers Buy Their Tools. Since 1972, Woodworker's Supply offers woodworking hardware, tools, & supplies. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/6 "2022-01-18T23:28:58Z")
A similar solution is the Teenut. > **[McMaster-Carr](https://www.mcmaster.com/tee-nuts/)** > > McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/7 "2022-01-18T23:51:37Z")
Barrel nut, or steel cross dowel, or tee nut: I prefer @SpacemanSpiff_IIā€™s name, **thingy**. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2022, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/8 "2022-01-19T09:53:59Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > A similar solution is the Teenut Tangentially, McMaster-Carr has to be my favorite retailer on the internet. They have basically every tool or piece of hardware imaginable, and a no-nonsense site that has a great search tool and a wealth of data on every component (engineering drawings, and even downloadable CAD models!). Even just for browsing it is amazing. Sometimes I donā€™t know what kind of weird fastener or whatever I need, but Iā€™ve often found what I needed even Iā€™d never heard of it before. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2022, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/9 "2022-01-19T13:03:37Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Tangentially, McMaster-Carr has to be my favorite retailer on the internet. They have basically every tool or piece of hardware imaginable, and a no-nonsense site that has a great search tool and a wealth of data on every component (engineering drawings, and even downloadable CAD models!). > > Even just for browsing it is amazing. Sometimes I donā€™t know what kind of weird fastener or whatever I need, but Iā€™ve often found what I needed even Iā€™d never heard of it before. Theyā€™re not usually the cheapest source out there, but their stock is indeed comprehensive, and they ship extremely quickly from warehouses all over the country. Iā€™m amazed at how quickly things arrive; I tell people they ship your stuff to you before you even order it. šŸ˜€ ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/10 "2022-01-20T00:19:46Z")
> [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](#): > > Not talking about nuts Nitpick - nuts go on bolts. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/11 "2022-01-20T00:24:01Z")
Nuts go on bolts, but not everything a bolt screws into is a nut (though in this case it was actually a nut). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/12 "2022-01-20T00:26:53Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Nuts go on bolts, but not everything a bolt screws into is a nut Yup. Thatā€™s why I only worded it as I did. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/13 "2022-01-20T00:32:48Z")
Ahh, got it. Youā€™re nitpicking the use of the word screw. Though technically, heā€™s correct. If he has a screw, then he is definitely ā€œnot talking about nutsā€ šŸ™‚ . ---
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994/14 "2022-01-20T14:42:45Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Nitpick - nuts go on bolts. That is not correct. At least in my experience, nuts also go on screws, particularly machine screws. Thatā€™s also the lingo I see Lowes using. For example [Hillman 1/4-in-24 x 2-1/2-in Phillips/Slotted Combination-Drive Machine Screws (2-Count) in the Machine Screws department at Lowes.com](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-1-4-in-24-x-2-1-2-in-Phillips-Slotted-Combination-Drive-Machine-Screws-2-Count/3035899?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-hdw-_-ggl-_-LIA_HDW_126_Fastening-_-3035899-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4rOBn0rPKoPPwyHNruZwSQaoZBKUlN5GEYVUIIWxrQ679xybOBVf9EaAsWaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) IME, the differences between screws and bolts tend to be 1) screws are (generally) threaded all the way up to the head, while bolts typically have a bit of thread at the end, and more significantly 2) screws are tightened/loosened via indentations in the head (e.g. slotted, phillips, star, square) while bolts have flat heads but which are hexagon shaped and are tightened/loosened via a wrench or hex drive. Perhaps youā€™re correct in some technical historical sense, but thereā€™s no doubt that calling machine screws which attach to nuts ā€œscrewsā€ is extremely widely done today.