There are various types of bolts commonly used in construction and other devices.
What are bolts?
Bolts are a type of fastener, usually made from metal, that commonly comprises a head at one end, a chamfer at the other, and a shaft characterised by an external helical ridge known as a ‘thread’. Bolts are typically used to hold materials or objects together, or to position objects. Bolts typically (but not always) require a nut which is applied via torque while the bolt is held in place (or vice versa). Vibration or dynamic loads may loosen nuts, necessitating the use of locknuts, lock washers or thread lockers which can provide resistance to loosening.
There are many different varieties of bolt which can be selected based on the particular requirement or the materials involved. Most common types include:
Anchor bolt – Usually embedded in concrete or masonry for structural applications.
Carriage bolt – Used to fasten metal to timber, with a squared undercut to the head which holds the bolt in place once it has been tightened.
Elevator bolt – Commonly used in conveyor systems, an elevator bolt has a flat, plain or countersunk head which holds the bolt in place when tightened.
Flange bolt – Also known as frame bolts, this type of bolt distributes the bearing load using a washer on the undercut of the head.
Hanger bolt – This type of bolt comprises two threaded ends instead of having a head, one of which contains a wood screw.
Hexagon bolt/Tap bolt – A hexagon bolt comprises a head that has six sides, with threading that begins part-way down the shank, whereas a tap bolt’s shank is threaded the whole length.
Huck bolt – A proprietary bolt in which the pin and collar are swaged together using a specialist tool to form a permanent fixing.
Lag bolt – Also known as lag screws, this is a heavy-duty fastener that creates its own mating thread in timber and other soft materials when tightened.
Machine bolt – This type of bolt has a short shank and is intended for assembling metal components through predrilled holes.
Plow bolt – This type of bolt is commonly used in construction tools and other devices due to its durability, and is characterised by its flat countersunk head and square shank neck.
Sex bolt – Rather than requiring a nut, the shank of sex bolts are covered with a ‘mating’ female component. These are useful for fastening components that cannot be exposed to abrasive threads.
Square head bolt – This is similar to a machine bolt in that it has a short shank, in addition to a four-sided bolt head.
Stud bolt – This type of bolt has hexagon nuts on both ends. Components are fastened between the two bolts.
Timber bolt – Bolts that are meant for use with large timber components.
T-head bolt – Has a T-shaped head which can be gripped by a wench and can fit into a slot with ease.
Toggle bolt – This type of bolt has an expanding wing-like nut which helps it to mount objects to walls.
U-bolt – Similar to staples, U-bolts are bent in the shape of a ‘U’ and are partially threaded on both ends.
Bolt heads – Square shoulder: A truss head, shaped so as to allow fastening with the least amount of surface obstruction, on a square shank which resists rotation.
Indented hexagon: For use with a wrench, this head has a circular depression in its top surface.
Indented hexagon washer: Same as an indented hexagon, but with the addition of a washer section at the base to protect the assembly finish from the wrench.
Hexagon (trimmed): Standard type of head, with clean corners that are trimmed to close tolerances.
Hexagon flange: Similar to the indented hexagon washer, but the washer is conical or slightly rounded.
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