Buy Nuts Online in Australia
Nuts — Quick Reference
AIMS Industrial stocks the full nut range for Australian trade, engineering and maintenance buyers — hex, nylon insert lock (Nyloc), all-metal hex lock, flange, dome, wing, castle, coupling, captive, tee and rivet nuts (nutserts) — in metric, UNC, UNF and BSW (Whitworth) thread forms, across zinc-plated, high tensile, 304/316 stainless and brass options. We've put together a Types of Nuts: Hex, Nyloc, Wing, Flange & More Explained if you'd like more detail before you buy.
| Nut Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Hex Nut (Standard) | General-purpose fastening — pair with a matching-grade bolt. See hex nuts. |
| Nyloc / Nylon Insert Lock Nut | Vibration resistance up to ~100–120°C, single-use. See nylon lock nuts. |
| All-Metal Hex Lock Nut | Reusable, prevailing-torque locking above nylon's temperature limit. See hex lock nuts. |
| Flange Nut (Serrated) | Built-in bearing surface and bite — no separate washer needed. See flange nuts. |
| Dome / Cap Nut | Caps and protects exposed thread ends for a finished look. See dome nuts. |
| Wing Nut | Hand-tightened for covers, guards and panels needing frequent removal. See wing nuts. |
| Castle / Slotted Nut | Locked with a cotter pin through a drilled bolt — critical/safety joints. |
| Coupling Nut | Long-body nut for joining two lengths of threaded rod. See coupling nuts. |
| Captive / Tee Nut | Retained in sheet metal or timber panels. See captive nuts and tee nuts. |
| Rivet Nut (Nutsert) | Threaded insert set into sheet metal from one side. See rivet nuts. |
| Class/Grade 8, 10, 12 & 304/316 Stainless | Match nut grade to bolt grade; step up to A2/A4 stainless for marine and corrosive environments. |
Nuts for Australian Trade & Industry
A nut is only as good as the bolt it's matched to — the wrong grade or thread standard paired together is one of the most common (and most avoidable) fastening mistakes on a job. AIMS Industrial stocks nuts across every standard trade and engineering application: general hex fastening, vibration-resistant locking, high-load flange joints, finished/exposed thread ends, hand-operated panels, and specialty types like castle, coupling, captive and rivet nuts. Stock spans metric, UNC, UNF and BSW (Whitworth) thread forms from brands including Hobson, Bremick, Inox World and Champion, plus high-tensile stainless options from Bumax.
Hex Nuts
The standard hex nut is the workhorse of bolted fastening — six flats for a spanner or socket, tightened to clamp two components together. AIMS stocks metric, UNC, UNF and BSW hex nuts in Class 5, 6, 8 and 10 zinc-plated carbon steel, 304 stainless steel (A2), 316 stainless steel (A4) and brass, plus Champion hex nut assortment refills for workshops that keep bulk bin stock. See the full hex nuts range.
Lock Nuts — Nyloc & All-Metal
Where vibration or dynamic load can back a standard nut off over time, a lock nut holds preload. The nylon insert (Nyloc) type is the everyday workshop choice — a nylon collar deforms around the bolt thread on installation, resisting loosening up to roughly 100–120°C. It's a single-use fastener: once removed, the insert has lost its grip and shouldn't be reinstalled on a safety-critical joint. For higher temperatures, or where the nut needs to be reused, an all-metal hex lock nut (prevailing-torque type) uses a distorted or crimped thread section instead of nylon, and holds up across the full service range of the parent material — common in exhaust systems, engine bays and high-temperature process equipment. Both types are stocked in metric and imperial threads, zinc-plated, 304 and 316 stainless. See nylon lock nuts and hex lock nuts, or the broader lock nuts range covering both.
Flange Nuts
A hex flange nut has an integral, usually serrated, collar built into the base of the nut — it spreads clamping load over a wider bearing area and, on the serrated version, bites into the mating surface to resist rotation, removing the need for a separate lock washer. Stocked in Class 8 zinc-plated and 304/316 stainless, plus Champion flange nut assortment kits. See flange nuts.
Dome Nuts
Dome (acorn) nuts cap an exposed bolt end for a finished appearance and to protect the thread from damage, snagging and corrosion — common on food processing equipment, marine hardware, safety barriers and any fastening left visible after assembly. Stocked in 304 and 316 stainless steel. See dome nuts.
Wing Nuts
Wing nuts have two flat "wings" for hand-tightening without a tool — used on covers, guards, inspection panels and anything needing frequent, quick removal. Stocked in 304 and 316 stainless steel, plus Champion wing nut assortment refills and kits. See wing nuts.
Specialty Nuts: Castle, Coupling, Captive, Tee & Rivet
Beyond the everyday types, AIMS carries a range of specialty nuts for specific jobs. Castle (slotted) nuts have machined slots that align with a drilled hole through the bolt, taking a cotter pin for a mechanically locked, tamper-evident joint — common on wheel bearings, steering and other safety-critical assemblies. Coupling nuts are a long, unslotted hex body used to join two lengths of threaded rod end-to-end. Captive nuts and tee nuts are held permanently in sheet metal or timber panels, giving a fixed thread point for repeated fastening. Rivet nuts (nutserts) are set into a pre-drilled hole from one side of a sheet and provide a full internal thread where there's no access to the back face — stocked in 304 stainless, left- and right-hand thread, large- and small-flange styles. See coupling nuts, captive nuts, tee nuts and rivet nuts.
Materials, Grades & Finishes
- Zinc-plated carbon steel: the standard general-industrial finish, Class 5/6/8/10, for indoor and mild-exposure use.
- High tensile (Grade/Class 8, 10, 12): for structural and higher-load joints — always match the nut grade to the bolt grade; mixing grades means the weaker component governs the joint.
- 304 stainless steel (A2): general corrosion resistance for food-contact, indoor/outdoor and light industrial use.
- 316 stainless steel (A4): the marine grade, for coastal, chloride-rich and chemical-process environments where 304 isn't enough.
- Brass: non-sparking and non-magnetic properties for electrical and specific safety applications.
- Hot-dip galvanised / zinc-yellow passivate: heavier corrosion protection for outdoor, structural and earthmoving applications.
Thread Standards Stocked
AIMS carries nuts across all four thread standards commonly found in Australian workshops: Metric (the default on modern equipment), UNC and UNF (Unified National Coarse/Fine, common on US-built and automotive equipment), and BSW (British Standard Whitworth, still found on older imperial-thread machinery in service across Australian industry). Always confirm thread standard as well as pitch before ordering — a nut that "almost" fits a mismatched standard will damage the thread on both parts.
Choosing the Right Nut
Start from the application, not the nut: general fastening calls for a standard hex nut in a grade matched to the bolt; anything exposed to vibration — machinery, vehicles, anything that moves — needs a lock nut, nylon insert for everyday use under ~100–120°C, all-metal where it runs hotter or needs to be reused; a wider bearing area or a need to avoid a separate washer points to a flange nut; a safety-critical joint with a drilled bolt calls for a castle nut and cotter pin; and anything outdoors, marine, or in a wash-down or chemical environment should move to 316 stainless rather than mild steel or 304. When in doubt on grade, thread standard or the right type for your application, our team can talk it through with you.
Companion Collections
See also: Lock Nuts, Nylon Lock Nuts, Hex Lock Nuts, Hex Nuts, Flange Nuts, Dome Nuts, Wing Nuts, Coupling Nuts, Captive Nuts, Rivet Nuts, Hex Bolts & Nuts, Washers, Stainless Fasteners and the broader Fasteners range.
Order from AIMS
Need a specific grade, thread standard or material combination, or a quantity not shown online? Contact our team or call (02) 9773 0122 (Mon–Fri, business hours) — our people know this range and can match the right nut to your bolt, application and environment. For bulk or trade pricing, request a quote and we'll get back to you fast. AIMS Industrial has supplied Australian industry since 1988, proudly Australian-owned, dispatching from our own Sydney warehouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a Nyloc nut and a standard lock nut?
"Nyloc" refers specifically to the nylon-insert type of lock nut — a nylon collar in the top of the nut deforms around the bolt thread to resist loosening, and is single-use. "Lock nut" is the broader term and also covers all-metal (prevailing-torque) types that use a distorted metal thread instead of nylon, which are reusable and rated for higher temperatures than nylon allows.
Can I reuse a Nyloc nut?
Not recommended for safety-critical or highly-loaded joints — the nylon insert is deformed on first installation and loses locking force each time it's removed and refitted. For a reusable lock nut, an all-metal prevailing-torque type is the better choice.
Should I use 304 or 316 stainless nuts?
304 (A2) stainless suits general indoor, food-contact and light outdoor use. 316 (A4) stainless has added molybdenum for better resistance to chlorides and is the standard choice for marine, coastal and chemical-process environments.
Do I need to match the nut grade to the bolt grade?
Yes. In a bolted joint, the lower-grade component governs the joint's strength — fitting a standard-grade nut to a high-tensile bolt (or vice versa) undermines the rated strength of the higher-grade part, so always match nut grade to bolt grade.
What's the difference between a hex nut and a die nut?
They're unrelated despite the similar name. A hex nut (and lock nut, flange nut, etc., on this page) is a fastener that threads onto a bolt. A die nut is a hand tool used to clean up or re-cut damaged external threads — it's stocked in our tools range, not alongside fastener nuts.
What thread standards do you stock nuts in?
Metric, UNC, UNF and BSW (Whitworth) — covering modern equipment, US-built and automotive gear, and older imperial-thread machinery still in service in Australian workshops.
Can AIMS supply nuts in bulk or trade quantities?
Yes — most of our nut range is stocked in boxes and bulk packs as well as smaller quantities, and we can quote larger volumes on request. Request a quote or call (02) 9773 0122 and our team will confirm stock and pricing.