Check out MF Supply’s 2023 Standoff & Spacer Cross Reference Tables!
Posted: April 18, 2023 Filed under: Cross Reference Charts, Female-Female, Hex Spacers, Hex Standoffs, Male-Female, Male-Male, Round Spacers, Round Standoffs, Spacers, Standoffs, Standoffs and Spacers | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing Leave a commentStandoffs & Spacers Equivalent Cross Reference: Find OEM brands & Functional Equivalents
Using functional equivalents, including Mil-Spec, generics and other OEM brands’ versions of Electronic Hardware like Standoffs and Spacers, is a practice many manufacturer’s use to save money and shorten lead times.
Checkout our four most popular Standoff & Spacer cross reference charts to see if there is a Functional Equivalent to your OEM fastener brand, and start saving money and reducing lead times immediately.
Round Spacers

Round shaped Spacers. Available in Aluminum, Brass, Nylon, and Stainless Steel materials.
Hex Standoffs

Hex shaped Female and Male-Female Standoffs. Available in Aluminum, Brass, Nylon, and Stainless Steel materials.
Round Standoffs

Round shaped Female and Male-Female Standoffs. Available in Aluminum, Brass, Nylon, and Stainless Steel materials.
MF Supply is a leading supplier of Standoffs and Spacers, including major brands and equivalents to Amatom, Captive, Concord, Globe, HH Smith, Grainger, Keystone, Lyn-tron, McMaster-Carr, MSC, Microplastics, PEM, RAF, Unicorp and more in imperial, metric and mil-spec sizes and materials.
We stock a huge inventory including Inch & Metric Sizes, Round and Hex styles, Female & Male-Female options and a variety of sizes, materials and platings. We stock commercial imported and domestically made and DFAR compliant with COC and full certifications available upon request.
Standoffs and Spacers sometimes show up under their Mil-spec numbers, which can be crossed to commercial equivalents. Some common Mil-spec series include NAS42, NAS43, NAS61, NAS1056, NAS1057, NAS1829, NAS1830, NAS1831.
If you cant find the part number you need feel free to request a quote and our sourcing experts can help you out!
Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.
Six Reasons To Buy From MF Supply
- Full eCommerce Enabled Website With Technical Manual Available 24/7 – Visit our website and Create a New Account, track online orders, browse our product catalog, check technical specs, subscribe to our blog, or buy online. We are adding items and improving functionality daily!
- Same Day Shipping From The USA – Our hardware products are in stock and ship to you directly from our USA based distribution centers.
- Functional Equivalents To Expensive Brand Names- We stock and source alternatives to brand name fasteners, reducing long lead times and saving you money.
- Creatively Solve Problems – We are sourcing experts, offer competitive pricing and specialize in finding hard to find parts and reducing long deliveries.
- One-Stop Shopping On Certified Hardware – We stock and source a full line of fasteners including Mil-Spec, DFARS compliant and other industrial products.
- WBE/WOSB Woman Owned Certified Small Business – To meet your diversity & set-aside needs.
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government. We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies. For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services. Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.
Read More https://conta.cc/3r0B1Q3 |
Check out MF Supply’s 2023 Keensert® Cross Reference Tables!
Posted: February 21, 2023 Filed under: Alloy Keenserts, Inch and Mil-Spec Keensert, keensert, Metric Keensert, Stainless Steel Keenserts | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing Leave a commentKeensert® Equivalent Cross Reference: Find OEM brands, Mil-spec & Functional Equivalents
Although the name Keensert® is often used to describe what is generically called a Key-locking insert (like Band-Aid® or Kleenex®), Keensert® is the registered trademark of Huck Patents (its close cousin, the Keysert® is a registered trademark of Alcoa Fastening Systems). Using functional equivalents, including Mil-Spec, generics and other OEM brands’ versions of key-locking inserts, is a practice many manufacturer’s use to save money and shorten lead times.
Checkout our three most popular Keylocking Insert cross reference charts to see if there is a Functional Equivalent to your Keensert® OEM brand, and start saving money and reducing lead times immediately.
Inch & Mil-Spec Keensert®

Miniature, Thinwall & Lightweight, Heavy Duty, Extra Heavy Duty, Keylocking Inserts in Stainless Steel, A286, 4140 Alloy. Includes MS51830, MS51831, MS51832, KN, KNC, KNL & KNCL Series.
MF Supply is a leading supplier of key-locking inserts including major brands and equivalents to Acme, Alcoa, Camloc, Clarendon, Fairchild, Kaynar, Microdot and Tridair Keenserts® in imperial, metric and mil-spec sizes and materials.
We stock a huge inventory including Miniature, Thinwall, Lightweight, Heavy Duty, Extra Heavy Duty, Locking, Non-Locking, Solid and Floating style Keenserts®. Our products are DFAR compliant with COC and full certifications available upon request.
If you cant find the part number you need feel free to request a quote and our sourcing experts can help you out!
Six Reasons To Buy From MF Supply
- Full eCommerce Enabled Website With Technical Manual Available 24/7 – Visit our website and Create a New Account, track online orders, browse our product catalog, check technical specs, subscribe to our blog, or buy online. We are adding items and improving functionality daily!
- Same Day Shipping From The USA – Our hardware products are in stock and ship to you directly from our USA based distribution centers.
- Functional Equivalents To Expensive Brand Names- We stock and source alternatives to brand name fasteners, reducing long lead times and saving you money.
- Creatively Solve Problems – We are sourcing experts, offer competitive pricing and specialize in finding hard to find parts and reducing long deliveries.
- One-Stop Shopping On Certified Hardware – We stock and source a full line of fasteners including Mil-Spec, DFARS compliant and other industrial products.
- WBE/WOSB Woman Owned Certified Small Business – To meet your diversity & set-aside needs.
To learn more about our products, visit our blog, or email us at sales@mfsupply.com
Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government. We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies. For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services. Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.
Read More https://conta.cc/3r0B1Q3 |
Ultimate Guide for Using Functional Equivalents to OEM Fastener Brands in 2023
Posted: February 16, 2023 Filed under: Functional Equivalent, Sourcing, Uncategorized | Tags: Functional Equivalents, Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, Sourcing Leave a commentAt MF Supply, we spend a lot of time sourcing hard to find, back ordered, expensive, or out-of-stock OEM hardware brands. We do this in order to save money and to reduce long lead times for our customers, without sacrificing quality.
Just like in the pharmaceutical world, where there are brand names that everyone knows, there are also generic alternatives that are functional equivalents. This is true for the hardware industry too!
6 Things to Know when Comparing Fastener Brands to Generic Alternatives
We’ve discussed how the trademarked brand Keensert® is often available as a Mil-Spec or generic branded key-locking insert. We also reviewed how national brands of precision shoulder screws, such as Amatom, Concord, RAF and others are also offered by McMaster-Carr (tight tolerance series), MSC, Grainger and generically.
But how exactly do you determine which categories of fasteners cross to generic alternatives? This guide offers creative solutions including when to cross, and how to save money and reduce long lead times by using brand alternatives.
1. What is a functional equivalent when it comes to fasteners and precision components?
You can find hundreds of registered trademark-branded fasteners and components in the industrial marketplace. Much like brand-name pharmaceuticals such as Tylenol and Advil are available generically (as acetaminophen and ibuprofen), some brand name fasteners are also available as “generics,” “crosses,” “alternatives” or “functional equivalents.”
In the world of fasteners, a functional equivalent fastener is a part that is the same as the brand-name product in form, fit and function, including material and plating specifications.
2. How can I determine if I must use the brand name or if I can cross to a generic part?
Before you shop, check the bill of materials to see if it specifically calls out a particular brand name along with the part number. If no specific manufacturer’s name is listed, then you can typically use a functional equivalent.
Use this handy 4 point checklist as your guide:
- Does your bill of materials specifically call for the OEM brand-name fastener or component?
- Can you live with the lead time or will having parts sooner improve delivery of the final product?
- Will your supplier provide a certificate of conformance?
- Will saving money help you be more competitive?
3. What categories of fasteners are available as generic or functional equivalents?
Popular categories include adhesives and sealants, anchors, bits and nutsetters, cage nuts, flex type lock nuts, handles, Keenserts, knurled thumb screws, nylon insert stop nuts, precision shoulder screws, retaining rings, rivets & blind threaded inserts, self-clinching, fasteners, spacers and standoffs, speed clips, spring nuts, weld nuts, weld studs, and woodworking screws.
4. What brands of fasteners should I consider crossing to their generic or functional equivalent?
A sample list of brands that have generic alternatives:
3 STAR RIVETS USA, ABBATRON®, ALCOA, AMATOM®, APEX®, ARCONIC®, ATLAS®, AVDEL®, AVK®, B. F. GOODRICH, BOLLHOFF, BUCKEYE, CAPTIVE, CELUS®, CHERRY®, CONCORD, FASTENAL, GESIPA®, GRIPCO®, GLOBE ELECTRONICS, H. H. SMITH, HUCK, INDUX, INTERFAST, KEYSTONE, LOCTITE®, LYN-TRON, MACLEANESNA®, MARSON®, MCMASTER-CARR, MISUMI, MSC INDUSTRIAL, PEM®, PIC DESIGN®, POP®, POWERS®, QUICKSCREWS, RAF, RED HEAD®, ROTOR CLIP®, SHEREX, SIMPSON, SOUTHCO®, SPS TECHNOLOGIES, TINNERMAN®, U. S. ANCHOR. VIP, W. M. BERG, W. W. GRAINGER, WALDES TRUARC®.
5. What are the advantages of using functional equivalents?
Brand names are great, and when they are in stock, available and required by your customer, then you can buy them with confidence in their quality. However, one surefire way to save money and shorten delivery time is to cross the OEM brand part on your bill of materials to a functional equivalent.
6. MF Supply Case Studies for Functional Equivalents
- Precision Shoulder Screw Functional Equivalents: In this case study, you can learn how one OEM branded precision shoulder screw has eight (yes 8!) functional equivalents.
- Keensert Functional Equivalents: In this case study, we highlight how we helped a defense supplier save 59% and cut delivery time from 28 weeks down to 5 weeks.
Brands and Functional Equivalents at MF Supply
Supplying a full range of fastener products and services, MF Supply is an authorized distributor of Amatom/Carey, Captive (Pem equivalent), Chrislynn Inserts, Concord, EZ-Lok, Lok-mor, Lyn-tron, Microplastics, Shear-loc, S&M Retaining Rings, and Unicorp, as well as a distribution partner for many others. We have an expertise in dowel pins, inserts and Keenserts and domestic and Mil-Spec products.
We provide functional equivalents to expensive brand name fasteners and help our customers save money while reducing long lead times. Check out our recent case study where a functional equivalent was substituted for an OEM brand, reducing costs by 37% and shaving lead time. This time and money savings gave the manufacturer an advantage over their competition, which helped them win the job.
For more detailed information about brands we commonly cross, visit our website. And if you don’t see it listed, as always, ask us. “Finding the right screw for you” is our tag line after all!
Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government. We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies. For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services. Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.
Read More https://conta.cc/37Yp0F6
MF Supply Launches New Product Filter! (Refreshed for 2023)
Posted: February 7, 2023 Filed under: Domestic Fasteners, Electronic Hardware, Filter Tool, Search Tool, Supply chain - manufacturing, Women in Manufacturing | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, supply chain Leave a commentWe are excited to announce our new product search and filter feature on our website!
Our new product filter lets you refine product searches by multiple attributes, including size, material, category and more. This makes it easier to navigate and search for products the way you want to. Hence, you can find the parts you need faster and more efficiently.
Simply search by your keyword…
Product Filters will appear on the left panel of our website in the following cases:
1) From the Search Navigation Bar at the top left of our home page, key in the product type, description or attributes you are seeking. i.e. inserts, then the filter appears.
And filter through your specific needs…
2) From the pages that list products available for purchase or RFQ, i.e., where the filter automatically appears.
Once the filter appears, search refinement is available based on multiple attributes including:
- Product Type & Subtype
- Size – Diameter x thread
- Length
- Head styles and drives
- Inch or Metric
- Outer Diameter x Thread
- Material
- Finish
- Standard, including OEM brand name
- More!
As always if you can’t find your specific part or product, feel free to send us a Request For Quote and our team of sourcing experts will follow up for you!
Six Reasons To Buy From MF Supply
- Full eCommerce Enabled Website With Technical Manual Available 24/7 – Visit our website and Create a New Account, track online orders, browse our product catalog, check technical specs, subscribe to our blog, or buy online. We are adding items and improving functionality daily!
- Same Day Shipping From The USA – Our hardware products are in stock and ship to you directly from our USA based distribution centers.
- Functional Equivalents To Expensive Brand Names- We stock and source alternatives to brand name fasteners, reducing long lead times and saving you money.
- Creatively Solve Problems – We are sourcing experts, offer competitive pricing and specialize in finding hard to find parts and reducing long deliveries.
- One-Stop Shopping On Certified Hardware – We stock and source a full line of fasteners including Mil-Spec, DFARS compliant and other industrial products.
- WBE/WOSB Woman Owned Certified Small Business – To meet your diversity & set-aside needs.
To learn more about our products, visit our blog, or email us at sales@mfsupply.com
Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government. We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies. For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services. Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.
Read More: https://conta.cc/3Ae2RgN
Get the Job Done with a Pneumatic Power Tool
Posted: February 3, 2023 Filed under: keensert, KEENTOOLPNEUMATIC-RS, key-locking inserts, Mil-Spec, Pneumatic Power Tools | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, KEENTOOLPNEUMATIC-RS, Key Locking Inserts, Mil-spec fasteners, Pneumatic Power Tools, Power Tool Leave a commentNow introducing the Rock Solid Hydro-Pneumatic Key-locking Insert Installation Tool!
A single button is all it takes to operate this tool and to get the job done. No need to use a hammer and a drill to drive the key locking insert into place.
Don’t know what a pneumatic power tool is or how to use one? Read on!
What is a pneumatic power tool?
Pneumatic tools are designed to speed up the installation process of key locking inserts—also known as keenserts. They provide you with increased precision and control, improved torqueing, reduced vibration and noise, and more versatility for your projects.
How do I use a pneumatic power tool?
Using a pneumatic power tool is very simple and bound to give you some peace of mind in the process! To use a pneumatic power tool, simply set up or prepare the material to be used in the key locking insert (Keensert) installation process and:
- Drill and countersink the material.
- Tap the hole in the material.
- Insert the key locking insert (Keensert) into the hole.
- Screw the key locking insert down into the material with the aid of the pneumatic power tool!
Keensert Installation Tool Kit
We offer the pneumatic power tool you need to quickly assemble your key locking inserts. Check them out here. Request a quote today, and our team of experts can help source your needs!
Do you need more details on why you need a pneumatic power tool? Watch the video below!
Optionally, you might also be interested on reading our previous blog posts about pneumatic power tools, and on how to manually install key locking inserts (Keenserts)!
Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government. We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies. For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services. Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.
MF Supply Launches New Product Filter!
Posted: November 16, 2022 Filed under: Domestic Fasteners, Electronic Hardware, Filter Tool, Search Tool, Supply chain - manufacturing, Women in Manufacturing | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, supply chain Leave a commentWe are excited to announce our new search and filter feature in our website! Find the parts you need faster and more efficiently.
Read More: https://conta.cc/3Ae2RgN
Check out MF Supply’s Handy Keensert® Cross Reference Tables!
Posted: November 10, 2022 Filed under: Alloy Keenserts, Inch and Mil-Spec Keensert, keensert, Metric Keensert, Stainless Steel Keenserts | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing Leave a commentCheckout our three most popular Keylocking Insert cross reference charts to see if there is a Functional Equivalent to your Keensert® OEM brand, and start saving money and reducing lead times immediately.
Read More https://conta.cc/3r0B1Q3 |
Your Ultimate Functional Equivalent Cheat Sheet
Posted: June 9, 2022 Filed under: Functional Equivalent, Sourcing, Uncategorized | Tags: Functional Equivalents, Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, Sourcing Leave a commentAt MF Supply, we spend a lot of time sourcing hard to find, back ordered, expensive, or out-of-stock OEM hardware brands. We do this in order to save money and to reduce long lead times for our customers, without sacrificing quality.
Read More https://conta.cc/37Yp0F6
Custom Made & Reworked Fasteners
Posted: August 13, 2021 Filed under: Custom Fasteners per print, Domestic Fasteners | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, supply chain Leave a commentWhen off-the-shelf fasteners are not the right fit for an application, engineers and designers may require Custom Made fasteners. This may be for a prototype, a replacement of an existing part, or for a large-scale production run. Learn more about what they are and how to get an accurate quote below.
Custom Made & Reworked Fasteners at MF Supply https://conta.cc/3AiegcZ
Floating Inserts Now Available!
Posted: June 17, 2021 Filed under: keensert | Tags: Keenserts, threaded inserts Leave a commentFloating Key-locking Inserts are often used to help compensate for uneven surfaces which need alignment, and where expansion and contraction are an issue. We offer the KNK series in both locking and non-locking styles from size 2-56 through 1/2-13 in A286, 300 Series Stainless Steel and 4140 Alloy Steel.
Floating Keenserts Available At MF Supply https://conta.cc/3pS3Cpx