WHAT IS A BLIND FASTENER?
WHY NOT JUST USE A WASHER AND NUT ON A BOLT INSTEAD?
The Twister Fastener is designed for installations that only have access on one side of the application or hard access on the side that would normally have a washer and a nut on the "blind side" / side that cannot be seen or accessed.
ARE THERE OTHER BLIND FASTENERS ON THE MARKET?
IF SO, WHY IS THE TWISTER FASTENER THE BETTER CHOICE?
Yes, the most common blind fastener for sheet metal is called a Rev-nut. The difference of this fastener from the Twister Fastener is that a rev-nut only pushes out a bump in the shaft of the Rev-nut creating a wedge like impression to hold the fastener from pulling back through its installation hole.
The Twister Fastener is able to create a washer-like support to fasten to the outside of the immediate hole area. An inexpensive and disposable tool is available with the purchase of your Twister Fasteners for the installation, where a rev-nut needs a tool for installation thatch cost from $50 to $100. For drywall only applications, there are many different drywall fasteners on the market, but none of the existing fasteners have nearly as much support as the Twister Fastener because we simply have almost a full circumference of support that is being applied away from the drilled hole through the drywall.
WHEN WOULD I NEED THE TWISTER FASTENER?
The Twister Fastener is perfect for any blind application. If you can not access the opposite side of sheet metal or drywall, the Twister Fastener is the best option to create a full circumference washer on the non-accessible side. The uses are endless for the Twister Fastener. For example, in the automotive industry, installing products through the roof without removing the head liner and onto any surfaces such as fenders, trunks, floor pans, etc.
DO I NEED A DIFFERENT FASTENER FOR THE THICKNESS OF DRYWALL VS. THE THICKNESS OF SHEETMETAL?
Yes, for optimum quality and ease of installation, we have designed a special sheet metal fastener that differs from our drywall fastener in size for the different thicknesses. The sizing for the sheet metal fastener is up to 1/8 inch thickness and the drywall version is up to 5/8 inch. The drywall fastener also has a coil that a greater pitch and softer wire to allow it to open larger.
HOW DOES THE FASTENER WORK?
On our HOME page we have a video of how it is installed as well as our Installation page has a step by step of how it is used. The key component of the Twister Fastener is in the coil/washer design. The flat helical wire allows access through a drilled hole by spiraling it through and coiling it against the back side of the surface it is being installed to. Once it is completely threaded through to the backside, the coils are collapsed and the fastener is tightened together forming a washer like support.
WHAT MARKET IS THE FASTENER BEST SUITED FOR?
The fastener works great for point of purchase sales, sold in multiples of three or four with the installation tool. There are also numerous commercial applications that it can be purchased in bulk for professional tradesmen. Another option is to be a part of a company's installation kit that is supplied with their product for the end users.
IS IT EXPENSIVE?
The fasteners that are currently available on the market are relatively cheap. Our fastener will be at the upper end of the cost scale in comparison to current fasteners for drywall, but will have quality that is not available in other fasteners. At a still relatively inexpensive price, it will be the definite fastener of choice when needing to hang expensive mirrors, paintings, electronics, etc.
CAN I INSTALL THE FASTENER BY HAND OR DO I NEED TO PURCHASE A TOOL?
The hand tool that is supplied with the Twister Fastener is also designed to fit into a drill. This will allow a quick and easy installation, especially when installing into drywall.
HOW MANY DIFFERENT SIZES ARE AVAILABLE?
At this early stage, it is designed for a 1/4-20 threaded bolt as that is a common size.
WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THE FASTENER?
We are currently accepting letters of intent as this is a new product and we are just preparing to go into manufacturing. Feel free to reach out via email for more information. We can be reached at twistefastener@gmail.com
HOW TIGHT DO I NEED TO MAKE THE OUTER T-NUT BEFORE PUTTING MY BOLT IN?
It just needs to be snugged up as that the strength of the fastener comes from putting tension on the threaded portion with the coil washer.