Ask the Expert

Since steel is the primary raw material used to manufacture our products we closely monitor price changes in the market. To date we have seen slight, periodic increases in the cost of steel. Read More...

One recent change with regard to specifications that will have a significant impact on the construction fastener industry is the 2007 elimination of the grade C designation within the ASTM A307 specification. Read More...

In some respects SAE J429 grade 8 bolts and bolts are similar, and in other respects they are different. The first thing to address is the fact that these specifications are covered by different organizations. Read More...

Every ASTM standard is identified by a unique designation. It includes a capital letter (A - H), followed by a serial number ranging from one to four digits, a dash, and finally the year of issue. Read More...

All bolts we manufacture are made to imperial measurements. The primary reason for this is because the steel used to make bolts is milled to imperial sizes. Even though metric measurements are almost exclusively used internationally, most raw materials are only available domestically in inches. Read More...

When using a clevis pin and using a cotter pin, or a spring pin, or a spring clip, or a retaining ring to capture the outer end, my practice has always been to place a washer under the retaining device to discourage deformation and/or loss of the retaining device due to rotation of the clevis pin. Read More...

Question: Is a grade 8 bolt the same as an ASTM A325? Answer: ASTM A325 and SAE J429 grade 8 are not the same fastener. As a matter of fact, they couldn’t be more different. SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) establishes specifications covering fasteners intended for use in automotive, OEM, and equipment applications, while ASTM [...] Read More...

I’m designing a tie rod bracing system for a steel building in Seattle, WA and need a higher strength rod than the typical ASTM A36 steel. Would it be appropriate to spec ASTM F1554 tie rods? I’m looking at Grade 105, but could probably use a larger diameter grade 55 if I need to.What are the lengths these rods come in, the availability of each grade, and cost differences? Read More...

According to section 9 of the ANSI B18.2.1 specification that covers dimensional tolerances for hex bolts, a A325 structural bolt can actually be produced .12 to .25 of inch less than the published length and still meet the specification.  Read More...

What many people do not realize is that the head of a bolt is formed by heating the end of a piece of steel round bar and then forging (reshaping) the heated end into a head. The head is not welded on or otherwise “attached” to the end of the round bar. Read More...