Grooved pin fasteners provide excellent holding power with easy installation. These versatile fasteners require minimal preparation and can be used in a wide variety of applications for fastening and locking. They also provide a quick alternative to nuts and bolts when you need quick and easy disassembling.

While groove pins provide the strength and convenience needed for many applications, it's essential that you use one that will best benefit your specific use. To ensure the best performance, durability, be sure to:

1. Know which type of grooved pin you need.
2. Choose the right sized fastening pins for your application.
3. Consider the material used.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the right style of grooved fastening pins

Though some grooved pin supplier offer pins made to your specific specifications, in general, there are six types of grooved pins. The differences mainly involve the configuration and length of the grooves. With quarter-, half-, and full-length grooves in parallel and tapered configurations, there is a grooved fastening pin type for practically any application.

I recommend: Driv-Lok provides the six basic types of groove pin fasteners (A,C,E,G,H,and U) as well as three unique types (D,B,and A3). Spirol International offers a twist on the grooved parallel pins with helical grooved pins.

Use the grooved fastening pins of the best size for your job

Most groove pin suppliers will offer each type of pin in a range of sizes. Though some may offer metric grooved pins, most will use standard measurements. It's best to have standard unit measurements prepared beforehand.

I recommend: G.L. Huyett offers grooved pin fasteners in 12 diameters, each with a wide range of lengths. Pivot Point offers custom made groove pins made to fit your specific needs.

Use groove pins made of a material best suited for your application

The vast majority of groove pins are made of carbon steel or stainless steel. These materials are more than sufficient for most applications, as well as being cost-efficient. However, when specifications go beyond the capabilities of these metals, the grooved pins can also be made of heat treatable alloys and other metals such as bronze, brass, copper, and aluminum, among others.

I recommend: Pin-Tech Products offers grooved pins in carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, and other materials according to customer specifications. Groov-Pin offers pin fasteners in low-carbon steel, aluminum, brass, monel, corrosion resistant steel, bronze, high strength alloy steel, and beryllium copper.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When installing grooved pin fasteners, drill your hole a few thousandths of an inch larger than the diameter of the pin. You don't want to drill your hole smaller than the diameter of your pin, so you need to use a great deal of precision when you drill.