FastItalian LearningSign in
PhrasesAt the Hardware StoreCerco delle viti in acciaio inox.
B1

Cerco delle viti in acciaio inox.

I'm looking for stainless steel screws.

Pronunciation

a-CHA-yo in-OKS — 'acciaio' has three syllables; 'inox' is pronounced 'in-OKS' (from the French inoxydable).

When to use it

Use this when you need specific screws and know the material. Specifying the material is important for outdoor, kitchen, or bathroom use where corrosion resistance matters. In a ferramenta, staff can advise on the right specification.

What it means

Viti (screws) come in multiple materials: acciaio zincato (galvanised steel — for outdoor use), acciaio inox (stainless steel — for coastal or wet environments), ottone (brass — for furniture), and acciaio normale (plain steel — for indoor use only). Specifying the material, length (in mm), diameter (M4, M5, M6), and head type helps the staff find the right product.

Variations

Viti da 40 millimetri a testa svasata.

40mm countersunk screws.

Testa svasata (countersunk head) sits flush with the surface; the most common type for woodwork.

Bulloni M8 con rondelle e dadi.

M8 bolts with washers and nuts.

Bullone is a bolt; rondella is a washer; dado (nut) — the full assembly for through-bolting.

Viti per cartongesso.

Drywall screws.

Cartongesso (drywall/plasterboard) requires specific screws with a fine thread and bugle head.

Mini Dialogue

— Cerco delle viti per fissare una mensola al muro in mattoni. — Ha bisogno di tasselli e viti. Che larghezza è il muro? — È un muro pieno, vecchi mattoni. — Allora tassello universale da 8 mm con vite da 60 mm. Quanto peso deve reggere la mensola?

— I'm looking for screws to fix a shelf to a brick wall. — You need wall plugs and screws. How thick is the wall? — It's a solid wall, old bricks. — Then a universal wall plug, 8mm, with a 60mm screw. How much weight does the shelf need to hold?

Cultural Note

Italian old buildings (palazzi storici) often have walls of solid handmade brick, stone, or a mix of materials that can surprise even experienced DIYers. Standard fixings may not work — specialist tasselli chimici (chemical anchors) or heavy-duty tasselli a espansione (expansion plugs) may be needed. A good ferramenta owner will always ask about the wall material before recommending a fixing.