One similarity between the many different types of concrete anchors and fasteners is that they are all labeled with many different names. The manufacturing and marketing companies of concrete fasteners have worked hard to brand their products. While some names are nationally known, other names are recognized on a regional basis. This plethora of names for the same product causes confusion for both the buyer and the seller. For example, a buyer may unsuccessfully try to purchase an item using a name not recognized by the seller, who might actually have the product just under a different name.

In most cases, the best known names for concrete fasteners are the original brand names. The other names used for specific concrete fasteners are those that competing companies created to label their versions of the fasteners. To simplify this confusion, it is important to consult the following list. The generic name of the anchor is followed by a brief description, a list of names that the product is commonly called and common brand names.

Concrete Screws

Concrete screws are a threaded product with either a hex washer or flat phillips countersunk head. They are designed to tap threads in a pre-drilled hole in a base material of concrete, brick or block.

Commonly called:
Tapcon®, concrete screw, self tapping concrete screw, the original Tapcon, con-sert screw, consert screw, confast screw, ruff-nex, Kwik-con, Tapper, titen, masonry screws, concrete and masonry screw

Kwik-Con®
Tapper®
Titen®

Wedge Anchors

Wedge anchors are a steel stud with one of its ends threaded and the other end having a clip to set wedges between the stud and concrete. They are only for use in solid concrete.

Commonly called:
Stud anchor, Kwik-bolt, Thunderstud(s), DFS wedge anchor, sup-r-stud, Kwik bolt II anchor, Hilti Kwik bolt, Kwik bolt, concrete stud anchor, stud wedge anchor, stud anchor system, power bolt, power stud, trubolt, redi bolt, wedge all, kingpin

Trubolt®
Kwik-bolt®
Wedge-All®

Sleeve Anchors

Sleeve anchors are made up of threaded rod beveled on one end, a sleeve that goes over the rod, and a nut and washer which are all assembled into one single piece. Turning the nut pulls the working end of the sleeve anchor up through the sleeve to expand and anchor itself securely in concrete, brick or block.

Commonly called:
Sup-r-sleeve, thunderbolt, bolt sleeve anchor, lok bolt, lock bolt, dynabolt, sleeve all, concrete anchor, masonry anchor

Dynabolt®
Lok-bolt®
HLC®
Sleeve-All®

Drop In Anchors

Drop in anchors consist of a tubular expansion shield and a solid, cone-shaped expander plug. The shield has four equally spaced slots for a portion of its length. The bottom part may be knurled and the end that is opposite the slotted part is internally threaded. The anchor is set by placing it in a predrilled hole in concrete and by using the proper setting tool.

Commonly called:
Dropin, femal anchor, hdi, Hilti drop-in anchor, concrete drop in anchor, sup-r-drop, HDI anchor, lip drop in anchor, HDI-L anchor, HDI-P anchor, thunderdrop, multi-set concrete anchor

HDI
Steel Dropin®
Drop-in®
Multi-Set®

Split Drive Anchors

Split drive anchors are one piece, tamper-resistant, pre-expanded anchors. These anchors are designed for use in solid base material such as concrete. They are available in a flat countersunk or round head. The anchor is driven into a predrilled hole in concrete and the split part of that anchor is squeezed as the anchor is set. The pressure exerted from the anchor trying to resume its original shape is what gives the split drive anchor its holding values.

Commonly called:

Split anchor, flat head split anchor, round head split anchor, split bolt anchor, super-split, spike, drive, CSD, countersunk split drive anchor, concrete and masonry anchor

MSD/CSD/DSD
Drive®

Metal Hit Anchors

Metal hit anchors are precision die cast, light duty anchor. These anchors consist of a cylindrical zinc alloy body and zinc plated steel pin expander. The shank is split a major portion of its length from the bottom up. The anchor body has a bore, which runs through the head thickness and into the shank for a depth just beyond the point where the slot terminates in the body. The steel pin expander is made of high carbon steel which is properly heat treated and heavily zinc plated for maximum corrosion resistance. The anchor is set by driving the pin into the body of the anchor.

Commonly called:

zamac anchor, strike anchor, nail anchor, roof anchor, hammer drive anchor, thundernail, hammer drives, zamac hammer screw, zamacs, zamac nailin, hammer set, concrete and masonry anchor

Hammer-Set
Zamac Nailin
Metal Hit Anchor
Nailon Pin Drive Anchor

Concrete anchors and fasteners are called by numerous names. It is important to keep this in mind when deciding which anchor to use in a specific application and when ordering the correct fastener for the job. If you are aware of all the different names for these products, determining and ordering the correct concrete fastener and/or anchor should be painless.