Bolt (fastener)

Nut and bolt

A bolt is a form of threaded fastener with

an external male thread. Bolts are thus
closely related to, and often confused with,
screws.[1]
Bolts vs. screws

Bolted joint in vertical section

Screw joint

The distinction between a bolt and a screw

is commonly misunderstood. There are
several practical differences, but most
have some degree of overlap between
bolts and screws.

The defining distinction, per Machinery's

Handbook,[2] is in their intended purpose:
Bolts are for the assembly of two
unthreaded components, with the aid of a
nut. Screws in contrast are used in
components, and may cut their own
internal thread channels. There is a large
overlap between bolts and screws in
function.

Bolts are often used to make a bolted

joint. This is a combination of the nut
applying an axial clamping force and also
the shank of the bolt acting as a dowel,
pinning the joint against sideways shear
forces. For this reason, many bolts have a
plain unthreaded shank (called the grip
length) as this makes for a better, stronger
dowel. The presence of the unthreaded
shank has often been given as
characteristic of bolts vs. screws,[3] but
this is incidental to its use, rather than
defining. The grip length should be chosen
carefully, to be around the same length as
the thickness of the materials, and any
washers, bolted together.[4] Too short
places the dowel shear load onto the
threads, which may cause fretting wear on
the hole. Too long prevents the nut from
being tightened down correctly. No more
than two turns of the thread should be
within the hole.[4]

Where a fastener forms its own thread in

the component being fastened, it is called
a screw.[2] This is most obviously so when
the thread is tapered (i.e. traditional wood
screws), precluding the use of a nut,[2] or
when a sheet metal screw or other thread-
forming screw is used.

A screw must always be turned to

assemble the joint. Many bolts are held
fixed in place during assembly, either by a
tool or by a design of non-rotating bolt,
such as a carriage bolt, and only the
corresponding nut is turned.[2]

Bolt heads
Bolts use a wide variety of head designs,
as do screws. These are designed to
engage with the tool used to tighten them.
Some bolt heads instead lock the bolt in
place, so that it does not move and a tool
is only needed for the nut end.

Common bolt heads include hex, slotted

hex washer, and socket cap.
The first bolts had square heads, formed
by forging. These are still found, although
much more common today is the
hexagonal head. These are held and
turned by a spanner or wrench, of which
there are many forms. Most are held from
the side, some from in-line with the bolt.
Other bolts have T-heads and slotted
heads. [5]

Many screws use a screwdriver head

fitting, rather than an external wrench.
Screwdrivers are applied in-line with the
fastener, rather than from the side. These
are smaller than most wrench heads and
cannot usually apply the same amount of
torque. It is sometimes assumed that
screwdriver heads imply a screw and
wrenches imply a bolt, although this is
incorrect. Coach screws are large square-
headed screws with a tapered wood screw
thread, used for attaching ironwork to
timber.

Head designs that overlap both are the

Allen or Torx heads; hexagonal or splined
sockets. These modern designs span a
large range of sizes and can carry a
considerable torque.

Bolt types
Anchor bolt - Bolt designed to allow
objects to be attached to concrete. The
bolt head is usually placed in concrete
before it has cured, leaving the threaded
end exposed.
Arbor bolt - Bolt with a washer
permanently attached and reversed
threading. Designed for use in miter saw
and other tools to auto tighten during
use to prevent blade fall out.
Carriage bolt - Bolt with a smooth
rounded head and a square section to
prevent turning followed with a threaded
section for a nut.
Elevator bolt - Bolt with a large flat head
used in conveyor system setups.
Hanger bolt - Bolt that has no head,
machine threaded body followed by a
wood threaded screw tip. Allow nuts to
be attached to what is really a screw.
Hex bolt - Bolt with a hexagonal head
and threaded body. Section immediately
under head may or may not be threaded.
J bolt - Bolt shaped like the letter J.
Used for tie downs. Only the non curved
section is threaded for a nut to be
attached.
Lag bolt - Not a true bolt. Hex bolt head
with thread screw tip for use in wood.
Rock bolt - Used in tunnel construction
to stabilize walls.
Sex bolt or Chicago Bolt - Bolt that has a
male and female part with interior
threads and bolt heads on either end.
Commonly used in paper binding.
Shoulder bolt or Stripper bolt - Bolt with
a broad smooth shoulder and small
threaded end used to create a pivot or
attachment point.
U-Bolt - Bolt shaped like the letter U
where the two straight sections are
threaded. A straight metal plate with two
bolt holes is used with nuts to hold
 pipes or other round objects to the U-
bolt.

Selection of bolt material

Regarding the requirement of the strength
and circumstance, there are several types
of material can be used for the Fastener
Material Selection.[6]

Steel Fasteners(Grade 2,5,8) - the level

of strength
Stainless Steel Fasteners (Martensitic
Stainless Steel, Austenitic Stainless
Steel),
Bronze and Brass Fasteners - Water
proof usage
 Nylon Fasteners - it is used for the light
material and water proof usage.
In general Steel is the most commonly
used material of all fasteners(90%)
above.

See also
ASTM A325, standard for bolts ¹⁄ to 1- 
¹⁄ in diameter
ASTM F568M, standard for metric bolts
M12-M36
Screw thread
Socket wrench
Thread-locking compound
Torque wrench
 Washer
Wrench

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related
to Bolts.

1. "Bolt | Definition of Bolt by Merriam-

Webster" . Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved
11 April 2016.
2. Machinery's Handbook (Twenty-First
ed.). New York: Industrial Press. 1980.
p. 1131.
3. Dyke's Automobile and Gasoline Engine
Encyclopedia . A.L. Dyke. 1919. p. 701.
4. "Correct and Incorrect Grip Lengths" .
Airman - Aviation Theories and Other
Practices.
5. "What is a bolt?" . AALL American
Fasteners.
6.
http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/hardw
are/fastener-materials

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