Fasteners

Joining things together

The last category of scenic materials and supplies are fasteners.

These are the pieces of hardware that are used to join materials together, and are broken down into a few main categories and types.

Nails

We've all seen them and likely used them. Nails were some of the earliest and easiest to use fasteners created. While they can work themselves loose over time, nails are very easy to install and easy to find.

Staples

Great for attaching thin materials such as fabric and thin plywood/lauan to a thicker frame. Pneumatic staplers have also made them fast and easy to install, with decent holding power. They should not be used though on scenic pieces like platforms that need to be weight-bearing due to their thin profile.

Screws

The most common fastener that we use in theatre. It has great holding power, does not work itself loose, and can be easily and quickly installed with a power drill. Additionally, screws also have the benefit of being just as easy to remove as they are to install, making them a great choice for stock scenic pieces that will be reused on different shows. The most popular type we use is the drywall screw

Bolts

Bolts are the most secure fastener that we have to use due to their thicker diameter and solid metal construction. They are threaded like screws are, but most are not self-tapping. This means that a hole approximately the size of the diameter of the bolt needs to be drilled through the material you want to connect before you can add the bolt.

Most bolts require extra pieces called washers and nuts in order to keep the materials bolted together. The advantage is that they are not easily removed, can support a lot of weight and force, and are one of the safest fasteners ever created.