You've got a damaged bolt-maybe it's stripped, maybe it's bent-so you head to the hardware store for a replacement. There you are, surrounded by bolts, nuts, washers, and all sorts of small hardware.

Few fasteners can beat threaded ceramics nuts and bolts when it comes to withstanding heat, pressure, and corrosive environments. Just don't torque them too tight. Back in the late 1980s, I had my ...