Keep liquid, gas, debris, and other contaminants from seeping into or out of machinery, with no need for a separate O-ring. These nuts are often used outdoors to protect enclosures and other equipment from harsh weather. They also withstand high pressure, so they are useful for sealing pneumatic pumps and pressure valves. Also known as acorn nuts, they conceal protruding screw threads while fastening parts together and have a smooth, rounded head for a finished look.

Get the protection of a cap nut with the vibration resistance of a locknut. These nuts not only conceal protruding screw threads, they also have a nylon insert that grips the screw to prevent loosening from moderate vibration. However, the insert may become brittle if exposed to high temperatures. Nuts are reusable a handful of times, but their holding power decreases with each use.

For a stronger hold than nylon-insert cap nuts, these have irregularly shaped threads that grip the screw to resist loosening. The threads prevent the nut from backing out in high-vibration applications, but they also increase the effort to install and remove. To get these nuts off, you may need special tools, such as an impact wrench or propane torch. They have a smooth, rounded head that conceals and protects protruding screw threads while creating a finished look. Nuts are not reusable.

The open top allows threads to stick out slightly, so you don't have to worry about picking the wrong thread depth. These nuts also engage more threads than standard nuts for a tighter hold. The smooth, curved head creates a finished look, while still partially concealing and protecting the sides of the screw from damage.