Fasteners & Repair Supplies

Tools get the attention. The fasteners, adhesives, and tapes that hold your tools, structures, and gear together are an afterthought — until you need them. A broken axe handle, a leaking water pipe, a torn tarp, a frayed strap: none of these require specialty skills to fix if you have the right supplies on hand. This page covers the consumable repair materials that belong in every prepared household.

For the skills side of rope and cordage work, see Cordage.

Adhesives

The right adhesive is determined by the materials being joined and the load it needs to bear. Stocking one of each category covers nearly any repair scenario.

Epoxy (two-part) Two-part epoxies (resin + hardener) create structural bonds on metal, wood, ceramic, glass, and most plastics. Cure time ranges from 5 minutes (quick-set) to 24 hours (full-strength). A 5-minute epoxy is useful for field repairs; a slow-cure marine epoxy (like West System) is stronger and better for structural applications. Stock both if budget allows — or prioritize the slow-cure if you can only have one.

  • 5-minute epoxy: budget tier (~$6–10 for twin syringe), adequate for most household repairs
  • Slow-cure marine epoxy: mid-range (~$25–50 for small kit), better for structural joins

Cyanoacrylate (super glue) Fast-setting bonds on small surface areas. Excellent for ceramics, wood, metal, and rigid plastics. Weak in shear and on flexible materials. Shelf life is 12–18 months opened, 2–3 years unopened in a cool, dry location.

Stock gel formula (doesn't run) and thin formula (wicks into tight joints). Cost: budget tier.

JB Weld A two-part steel-reinforced epoxy that cures to a hardness comparable to steel (3,960 psi tensile strength). The benchmark repair compound for metal: cracked engine housings, stripped threads, broken cast iron, leaking radiators. Full cure takes 15–24 hours; the WeldWeld variant cures in 4 hours. One tube set handles most repairs. Mid-range tier.

Construction adhesive (PL Premium, Liquid Nails) Cartridge-format adhesive for bonding large surfaces: subfloor, paneling, framing, foam board. Requires a caulk gun (keep one in your repair kit). Gap-filling and weather-resistant. A single cartridge covers roughly 100 linear feet of bead. Budget tier.

Contact cement The right choice for flexible materials — foam, rubber, leather, vinyl, fabric, laminates. Both surfaces are coated, allowed to tack-dry, then pressed together for an instant bond. Essential for boot sole repairs and upholstery. Budget tier.

Field note

Cyanoacrylate super glue bonds skin instantly — keep a small bottle of acetone (nail polish remover) with it. A drop dissolves the bond without damage.

Tapes

Duct tape The baseline. 10 mil (0.25 mm) thickness is the minimum — thinner tape delaminates quickly under load. Gorilla Tape (17 mil, 105 mph wind rating per manufacturer) outperforms standard duct tape significantly on rough surfaces and in cold weather. Keep at least two rolls: one standard, one premium. Cost: budget to budget-plus tier.

Electrical tape Self-fusing silicone tape (not vinyl electrical tape) is far more durable for wire splices, pipe wrapping, and waterproofing. Vinyl tape is adequate for indoor low-voltage repairs. For outdoor or high-heat applications, silicone tape is worth the price premium. Budget tier.

Teflon tape (plumber's tape / PTFE tape) White PTFE thread-seal tape is the difference between a leaking pipe fitting and a sealed one. Wrap 3–5 times clockwise (viewed from the thread end) before joining. A single roll repairs dozens of connections. Costs under $2.

Yellow gas-rated tape is also worth having if you work on propane connections. Stock 3–5 rolls.

Aluminum foil tape HVAC-rated aluminum tape (not the craft-store version) seals ductwork, reflects heat, and patches holes in metal. Rated for high temperatures where duct tape fails. Budget tier.

Gorilla tape / heavy fabric tape For large-area repairs on tarps, tents, and fabric. Far better bonding than standard duct tape on rough or dusty surfaces. Stock one large roll.

Fasteners

A small assortment of the right fasteners handles the majority of structural repairs.

Screws Wood screws (coarse thread) and sheet metal screws (sharp point) cover most applications. Stainless or zinc-plated for outdoor use. An assortment kit with #6 and #8 sizes, 1 inch (25 mm) through 3 inches (76 mm), is more practical than buying individual boxes. Cost: budget tier for a 200–400 piece assortment.

Nails Framing nails (16d, 3.5 inch / 89 mm) and common wire nails (8d, 2.5 inch / 63 mm) for structural repairs. Box nails for siding and trim. Roofing nails (1.75 inch / 44 mm, galvanized) for emergency roof patches. Stock a small assortment rather than large quantities of any one type.

Zip ties (cable ties) One of the most versatile fasteners in a repair kit. UV-stabilized black ties last longer outdoors than standard white ones. Stock: - 4 inch (100 mm) — small wire management, bundling - 8 inch (200 mm) — general purpose, the most useful size - 12 inch (305 mm) — larger structural ties A mixed bag of 100–200 ties weighs under 1 lb (0.5 kg) and costs budget tier.

Hose clamps (worm-drive clamps) Stainless steel worm-drive clamps seal leaking hoses, improvised repairs on pipes, and strap-based lashings. Stock an assortment from 1/2 inch (12 mm) to 4 inches (100 mm) in diameter — roughly 10–15 mixed sizes. Cost: budget tier.

Wire Galvanized bailing wire (14-gauge, 0.083 inch / 2.1 mm) is the benchmark repair wire for farm and rural applications — fence repair, binding, improvised clamps. A 100-foot (30 m) roll handles dozens of repairs. Soft annealed steel wire (16-gauge) is easier to work with for general lashing. Cost: budget tier.

Cotter pins and clevis pins Critical for reattaching mechanical connections — trailer hitches, equipment linkages, gate hinges, chain attachments. A small assortment pack (1/8 inch / 3.2 mm through 1/4 inch / 6.4 mm) handles most common sizes. Often the single missing piece that makes a piece of equipment unusable.

Cordage as Supply

Cordage is covered as a skill in Cordage. From a supply standpoint, the question is what to stock and how much.

Paracord (Type III, 550 cord) The baseline utility cordage. MIL-C-5040H Type III specification: minimum 550 lb (250 kg) break strength, 7 inner strands, nylon sheath. The inner strands are individually useful for fishing line, sewing thread, and snare cordage. Stock 100 feet (30 m) minimum; 500 feet (150 m) for a household with active outdoor use.

Cost: budget tier. Note: many "550 paracord" products on the market are decorative and do not meet the specification — check for actual break-strength ratings.

Type IV paracord (750 cord) Thicker than Type III (11/64 inch / 4.4 mm diameter), rated to 750 lb (340 kg). Better for load-bearing applications — ridgelines, lashing, hauling. Worth having a separate 100-foot (30 m) skein alongside standard 550 cord.

Bankline (tarred twine)

36 tarred nylon twine is one of the most practical cordages for extended outdoor use. The tar treatment makes it weather-resistant and prevents fraying without whipping. Works for: hanging food bags, small lashings, fishing net repair, staking, and camp setups where paracord is overkill. A spool of 425 feet (130 m) is extremely compact and lightweight, and costs budget tier. Preferred by primitive campers and hunters over paracord for most small-task applications.

Rope (3/8 inch / 10 mm static or utility) A 50-foot (15 m) length of 3/8 inch (10 mm) nylon or polyester utility rope handles tasks too heavy for paracord: equipment rigging, clothesline, securing loads, lifting. Static kernmantle (no stretch) is best for hauling and anchoring. Budget tier.

Starter Repair Kit Checklist

The following quantities cover a 2-person household for 1–2 years of normal-use repairs:

  • 5-minute epoxy — 2 twin syringes
  • Slow-cure epoxy (JB Weld or marine epoxy) — 1 set
  • Cyanoacrylate, gel — 2 bottles
  • Cyanoacrylate, thin — 1 bottle
  • Contact cement — 1 small can
  • Construction adhesive + caulk gun — 2 cartridges
  • Duct tape, standard — 2 rolls
  • Gorilla tape — 1 roll
  • Teflon thread-seal tape — 5 rolls (white) + 2 rolls (yellow gas-rated)
  • Electrical tape, vinyl — 2 rolls
  • Silicone self-fusing tape — 1 roll
  • Aluminum foil tape (HVAC) — 1 roll
  • Assorted wood/sheet metal screws — 1 assortment kit (200–400 pieces)
  • Assorted nails — 1 lb (0.5 kg) mixed
  • Roofing nails, galvanized — 1 lb (0.5 kg)
  • Zip ties, 8 inch — 100 count
  • Zip ties, mixed sizes — 50 count
  • Hose clamps, assorted — 10–15 mixed
  • Baling wire, 14-gauge — 100-foot (30 m) roll
  • Paracord, Type III (550) — 100 feet (30 m) minimum
  • Bankline #36 — 1 spool (425 ft / 130 m)
  • Utility rope, 3/8 inch (10 mm) — 50 feet (15 m)
  • Cotter pin assortment — 1 small pack

Field note

Store adhesives at room temperature — heat and cold dramatically shorten shelf life. A simple ziplock bag in a cool cabinet keeps a tube of super glue usable for 2–3 years. Replace your epoxy syringes when the tips start to leak; the remaining resin is usually still good for 12–18 months if sealed.