Self-clinching nuts are installed by placing them in properly sized holes in sheets and applying a parallel squeezing force to the head of the nut. The sheet metal surrounding the head cold flows into an undercut thereby making the fastener an integral part of the sheet. A serrated clinching ring prevents the fastener from rotating after installation.

Type CLA is recommended for use in steel or aluminum sheets HRB (Rockwell "B" scale) 50 or less and HB (Hardness Brinell) 82 or less.

Unplated threads are sized to accept a basic go gauge after .00025” plating.