Keps Nut

Keps nuts deliver a smarter, faster way to lock down assemblies without extra parts or wasted motion. Our keps nuts combine a precision hex nut with an integrated, free-spinning external tooth lock washer that bites into the mating surface to resist loosening under vibration. Choose them when you want tidy installs, confident retention, and fewer components to manage on the line.

What Is a Keps Nut?

A keps nut is a hex nut pre-assembled with a captive, free-spinning external tooth lock washer. When you tighten the nut, the washer’s teeth grip the mating surface to help prevent back-off from shock, vibration, and thermal cycling. Our BN 1364 keps nuts follow this proven design so you get the speed of a one-piece solution with the reliability of an all-metal locking element. 

Choose our keps nuts when joints must resist vibration but space, speed, or cost make separate lock washers impractical. They shine on sheet-metal enclosures where tooth bite stabilizes thin material, on brackets and frames that see cyclical loads, and on field installs where fewer loose pieces mean fewer dropped parts and faster completion.

If your project also calls for traditional profiles or a finished look in visible areas, consider pairing our keps nuts with our Hex Nut options for standard joints, our Acorn Nut selections for a clean domed finish, or our Square Nut styles when anti-rotation against channel or timber is helpful.

BN 1364: Standards and Part Identification

Our BN 1364 keps nuts represent the workhorse configuration most teams rely on: a hex profile paired with a free-spinning external tooth lock washer for dependable, all-metal retention. Dimensions align with common industry practices so you can mix into existing fixtures and tooling with confidence, while our catalog call-outs make reordering simple across sizes and finishes.

Why Choose Our Keps Nuts

Our keps nuts cut assembly time because the locking element is already in place—no fumbling for a separate washer, no extra reach-ins or tool changes. The free-spinning washer reduces galling as you snug the joint, while the external teeth bite securely to stabilize clamp load over time. 

That means fewer post-install surprises, tighter panels, and fixtures that stay put even around pumps, motors, HVAC housings, enclosures, light machinery, racking, guards, and control panels. You also simplify inventory with a single part that handles both clamping and vibration resistance, helping your team move faster and your BOM get leaner.

Materials, Threads, and Finishes

We stock popular diameters in both coarse and fine thread to match the fastener strategy of your build. For indoor assemblies and general fabrication, our zinc-plated steel gives dependable strength with clean cosmetics. 

For wet, washdown, or outdoor environments, our stainless configurations maintain locking performance without sacrificing corrosion resistance. Each nut is machined for smooth run-on, then paired with a precisely formed external tooth washer to deliver consistent bite and repeatable torque-tension behavior.

Installation and Torque Tips

For best results, seat the washer teeth against the fixed surface, not a painted layer so thick that it prevents bite. Bring the joint to snug and finish to the specified torque, allowing the external teeth to embed and stabilize clamp load. 

Re-torque after an initial run-in if your procedure calls for it, and avoid stacking additional washers that could isolate the teeth from the mating surface. In thin sheet applications, use an appropriately sized pilot hole and flat, burr-free edges so the teeth engage cleanly.

FAQs

What does a keps nut do?

A keps nut provides clamping plus vibration resistance in a single part. The integrated external tooth lock washer bites into the mating surface as you tighten, helping prevent the nut from backing off due to shock, vibration, or thermal movement while maintaining a more consistent clamp load over time.

What is the main difference between a keps nut and a Nylock nut?

A keps nut uses an all-metal external tooth washer to achieve locking, which handles heat and chemical exposure better than nylon inserts and doesn’t risk cold flow. A Nylock nut relies on a nylon ring to create friction on the threads; it performs well in many applications but can lose effectiveness at higher temperatures or with certain fluids. 

Are keps nuts reusable?

Yes, in typical service a keps nut can be reused because the locking action comes from metal teeth engaging the surface rather than a one-time deforming insert. As with any locking fastener, inspect the washer after removal; if the teeth are flattened or damaged, or if the mating surface can no longer accept bite, replace the nut to maintain reliable locking performance—especially in safety-critical joints.

What is the strongest nut in the world?

“Strongest” depends on material, grade, and the application. In general industrial use, high-grade alloy steel heavy hex nuts offer very high proof loads, while specialty alloys such as Inconel are used where extreme temperatures or corrosion demand it.