Answer: Stainless steel washers are not made to an ASTM specification; they are only made to raw material specifications. Most stainless steel ASTM bolt specifications refer to the raw material specification they are made from as the appropriate washer to use in conjunction with the bolt. Hence, an ASTM A193 or A320 grade B8M bolt, made from type 316 stainless steel, requires a type 316 stainless steel washer. An ASTM A193 or A320 grade B8 bolt, made from type 304 stainless steel, requires a type 304 stainless steel washer. These standard washers are typically made to the dimensional tolerances of ASME B18.2.1.

Answer: Yes! Portland Bolt ships to Canada on a regular basis. Our strengths of product expertise, on-time shipping and familiarity with customs documentation make us an excellent option for Canadian companies. In 2011, we shipped to 9 of the 10 provinces, and we shipped an average of 5.21 orders to Canada per week (more than one per day). Please visit our Interactive Destination Map to see a map of the locations in Canada to which we have shipped recently.

Our knowledgeable shipping department will ship your order with the required NAFTA and customs paperwork in a timely fashion. We can take care of the freight for you or ship your order collect on a carrier of your choice. We have experience with shipping all sizes of orders to Canada, from a single box of bolts to pallets carrying 10 or 12-foot anchor rods. We work with dependable carriers and we will make sure your order arrives when you need it.

We supplied bolts for these Canadian projects in the last 12 months.

We have also shipped many orders of square head pole line fasteners to Canada that are being used by a utility in the Eastern part of the country, as well as many orders of galvanized threaded rods that are being used to build crane mats for another Eastern Canadian company. Get in contact with an estimator today and let us show you why Canadian companies choose Portland Bolt for their custom bolt requirements.

Answer: No. The ASTM F1554 specification clearly addresses the type of bolts that are covered under this specification, and which types of fasteners are not.

ASTM F1554 Section 1.1 states that F1554 covers “…straight and bent, headed and headless, carbon boron, alloy or high strength low-alloy steel anchor bolt (also known as anchor rods).” Additionally, in Section 1.2, “The anchor bolts are intended for anchoring structural supports to concrete foundations.” Finally, in Section 1.6, the specification reads, “This specification does not cover the requirements for mechanical expansion anchors, powder-activated nails or studs, or anchor bolts fabricated from deformed bar.” Wedge anchors, which are also known as expansion anchors or expansion bolts, are considered to be mechanical expansion anchors and therefore, are not covered by ASTM F1554.

In summary, F1554 allows for a variety of anchor bolt configurations, but does not cover hardware, such as expansion anchors, that are used for functions other than anchoring structural supports to concrete.

Answer: Square plates, rectangular plates, round plates, and templates are often required as part of an anchor bolt or fastener assembly. These plates serve as either large, oversized washers or anchor plates which are fastened to the bottom of anchor rods to provide pull-out resistance. Plates and washers are typically manufactured to ASTM A36, A572 grade 50, or ASTM F436, although other options exist. The amount that a hole in a plate is oversized (larger than the bolt diameter) will often depend on the thickness of the plate, the application of the plate, and the equipment used to fabricate the plate.

Portland Bolt will always provide plates to the dimensions requested by the customer, including the size of the hole. However, often times the hole size has not been detailed and is left up to the customer to determine. Portland Bolt has some standard guidelines that we have developed depending on the application of the plate to appropriately oversize the hole for ease of manufacturing and installation. We use a 150 ton Uni-Hydro Iron Worker to punch A36 plates up to 1” thick.  Holes in thicker plates are either flame cut, laser cut, or cut using high definition plasma.

Basic Guidelines

Punched Holes:

Portland Bolt uses a 150 ton Uni-Hydro Iron Worker to hydraulically punch holes in plates.

1. A36 flat bar / plate only
2. Maximum 1” plate thickness
3. No holes smaller than plate thickness
4. The distance between the edge of the hole and the outside edge of the plate, should be greater than the thickness of the plate.

B > A + 2C

Note:  For plates in which the measurement from the outer edge of the hole to the outer edge of the plate is less than the plate thickness or  plates in which the hole is smaller than or equal to the plate thickness, holes will need to be drilled or laser cut rather than punched.

Laser Cut Holes

Lasers cut holes in plates by melting or burning  the steel in the beam’s path.  Lasers are precise and leave the plates with a high quality surface finish.

1. Mild steel only
2. Maximum 1” plate thickness
3. Tolerances of +/- .005”
4. Holes can be smaller than the plate thickness

High Definition Plasma Cut Holes

A simplified explanation of how plasma cutters work is that they send an electric arc through a gas that is passing through a constricted opening.  The stream of ionized gas cuts the steel.

1. Carbon and stainless steel
2. 3/8” – 1-1/4” plate thickness
3. Tolerances of +/- 1-16”
4. No holes smaller than the plate thickness
5. Can produce a slightly tapered hole

Flame Cut Holes

Flame cutting uses oxygen and a fuel gas to preheat the steel.  A jet of oxygen is then directed into the steel, piercing through the plate.

1. Carbon and alloy steels
2. 1-1/4” and larger plate thicknesses
3. Tolerances of +/- 1/16”
4. No holes smaller than plate thickness

Plate Hole Oversizing Guidelines

Plates Assembled On Rods

• Punched / Laser Cut Hole for plate thickness < 1”: 1/16″ oversize
• Punched / Laser Cut Hole for plate thickness of 1”: 1/8″ oversize
• Plasma / Flame Cut Hole: 1/4″ oversize

Plates Welded to a  Nut

• Punched / Laser / Plasma / Flame Cut Hole: 1/4″ oversize

Plates Welded Directly to Rod

• Drilled / Punched / Laser Cut Holes: 1/16″ oversize

Please note, these guidelines are used by Portland Bolt when plate hole sizes have not been specified by an engineer, and may not be appropriate for all applications. We would recommend clearing these hole sizes with an engineer prior to ordering since different applications may require different hole sizes in plates. 

Answer: ASTM F1554 does not specify whether the headed configuration is to be a standard hex pattern or heavy hex. There are three primary configurations covered by the ASTM F1554 specification which include straight rods, bent anchor bolts, and forged headed anchor bolts. Whether or not a headed anchor has a standard hex head or a heavy hex head can differ depending on the application. Since the head is embedded in the concrete, the designer or engineer may want a larger bearing surface than what a standard hex head would provide. If the head dimension is unspecified in the plans or specifications, it is best to leave the option of head style up to the manufacturer. Portland Bolt stocks headed F1554 anchor bolts and headed blanks in standard hex configurations and this flexibility may result in shorter lead times and less expensive bolts.

Although the ASTM F1554 specification does not specify what the head pattern should be, some ASTM grades do have specific requirements when it comes to the head style. Below is a chart specifying some common ASTM grades and whether or not they have requirements on the hex pattern of the head. It is important to keep in mind that this chart only specifies requirements in regard to hex headed bolts. These ASTM grades may also allow for other configurations such as bent anchor bolts, straight rods, or bolts with other head styles.

Answer: No, ASTM does not require a rotational capacity test for A490 structural bolts. The reason for this is that the purpose of the rotational capacity test per ASTM is to evaluate the presence and efficiency of the lubricant used in a bolt and nut combination. Lubrication is used with galvanized bolts since there is additional friction resulting from the galvanizing of the bolt threads. Therefore, ASTM requires that a rotational capacity test be performed on galvanized A325 structural bolts and not plain finish A325 Structural Bolts. Since A490 heavy hex structural bolts cannot be galvanized, ASTM does not require a rotational capacity test be performed on them.

For more information on the Rotational Capacity Test requirements and procedures, see the link below.

http://www.portlandbolt.com/faqs/rotational-capacity-testing

Answer: There are no documented torque values for lag bolts or screws. The reason for this lies in the definition of torque when discussing threaded fasteners. To put it simply, torque is a measure of the twisting force required to spin a nut up along the threads of a bolt. Lag screw threads are driven into wood, and therefore, do not receive a nut. There are no published specifications for the amount of torque required when turning the head of a lag screw. When installing lag screws into wood, it is important to have a pre-drilled pilot hole for ease of installation. Below is a chart with recommended pilot hole diameters for a given diameter of lag screw:

Table provided by OBEC Consulting Engineers

It is important to keep in mind that there are variables that could change the required pilot hole dimensions. These variables could be the lag screw’s overall length or the actual species of wood being drilled into. Although the above chart is a useful guide, it is always recommended to contact an engineer regarding any questions or concerns for a specific application.

Answer: Tie-rod assemblies can be very complicated and confusing to someone who does not deal with them on a routine basis. If you are not experienced in dealing with tie-rod assemblies, you may not understand all of the necessary information that is required to ensure that you receive the proper components for the tie-rods to function correctly and assemble smoothly. The good news is that Portland Bolt’s experienced sales staff is trained to ask all of the questions necessary to ensure you receive the correct components.

Below is a list of information that our estimators will need to know in order to work up an accurate quotation. To save time and ensure an accurate quote, please include this information in your request for quote.

1. Configuration
The first basic piece of information required is the configuration of the tie-rod assembly. Tie-rods come in three basic configurations:

A. Assemblies consisting of a rod with a left hand threaded clevis on one end and a right hand threaded clevis on the other end.

B. Assemblies with right hand threaded clevises on both ends and a turnbuckle in the center of the assembly.

C. Assemblies with right hand threaded clevises on both ends and a turnbuckle offset from center of the assembly.

2. Rod Diameter
The diameter of the rods will dictate the compatible clevises size(s) as well as the size of the turnbuckle (if required). Some diameters of rod may be utilized with more than one clevis size. In cases like this, we will let you know what the available options are. For instance, ⁷⁄₈” diameter rods could be used with either #2¹⁄₂ or with #3 clevises. In some cases, the rod diameter/clevis size combination will dictate the clevis pin diameter as well. Refer to this Clevis Numbers for Various Rods and Pins chart for more information.

3. Overall Length of the Assembly
In order to calculate the correct length of the rod portion(s) of the tie-rod assembly, we will need to know the overall length of the assembly. This dimension is measured from the centerline of the clevis pin on one end of the assembly to the centerline of the clevis pin on the opposite end. This dimension is often called the “pin to pin” dimension or abbreviated further to “P2P” length. The actual rod lengths are frequently detailed on the drawings, However, if rod lengths are not specified, our Tie Rod Calculator will determine these rod lengths for you.

4. Clevis Pin Size
Once the clevis size has been determined (see Step 2 above), the pin size will also need to be determined. Typically, there is a limited range of sizes that the pin must fall within. This allowable range is a function of the clevis number and rod diameter (Tap) combination, which has been calculated such that the pin will be stronger than the rods of the assembly. The allowable Pin & Tap combinations can be found on this chart on our Clevis Page. In some cases, such as design/build projects or quotes for bidding purposes, we can quote tie-rod assemblies without knowing the pin size. In cases like this we will typically quote a pin size that is the same as the rod diameter of the assembly for estimate purposes only. However, in cases like this the purchaser would need to verify the pin size is correct before placing an actual order.

5. Clevis Grip
The grip size is based on the thickness of the plate that will slide in between the “ears” of the clevis and that will receive the clevis pin. The grip size is normally specified as the plate thickness + ¹⁄₄“, however since the clevis is a forged steel part, there is a limited range to which the clevis ears can be compressed or spread apart to achieve the desired grip. The grip guidelines can be seen on the chart below:

In some cases, such as design/build projects or quotes for bidding purposes, we can quote tie-rod assemblies without knowing the grip size. In cases like this we will quote the clevises as “Grip To Be Determined” or “Grip TBD” for short. However, in cases like this the purchaser would need to determine and specify the clevis grip before placing an actual order.

6. Finish
Finish can greatly affect the lead time and cost of a tie-rod assembly. For this reason, our estimator’s will need to know at the time of quote request whether the tie-rod assemblies you are after are black (bare/plain steel), hot-dip galvanized, or stainless steel. In the case of galvanized assemblies, the clevises (and turnbuckles if required) will need to be galvanized and tapped oversize to accept the galvanized threads of the rods. In the case of stainless steel, the rods can be supplied in either Type 304 or Type 316 stainless, however, the clevises and turnbuckles are only available in electropolished Type 316 stainless.

7. Quantity
For each particular configuration of tie-rod assembly, we will need to know how many of that assembly are required. For instance, you may have a requirement for 10 assemblies of 1″ rods and another for 6 assemblies with 1¹⁄₄” rods. We would need to know how many of each type are required. Also, for assemblies with the same rod diameter and the same components, but with different overall “P2P” lengths, we would need to know how many of each length assembly are required.

8. Grade
The vast majority of tie rod assemblies are engineered using mild steel rods. These are typically specified to the raw material grade A36 or the finished rod specification A307 grade A. In rare instances, engineers will design high strength tie rod assemblies using A572 grade 50, A449, or one of several other ASTM grades of high strength rod. In this instance, the engineer will need to determine whether a standard clevises (and turnbuckles) will be strong enough to develop the full strength of the assembly. High strength clevises and turnbuckles are available by special order. When stainless steel rods are required, simply specify type 304 or type 316 stainless steel.

Example Request
An example request for quote on a tie rod assembly might look like this:

(10) tie-rod assemblies, 1″ Galvanized A307 grade A rods, 168” overall length pin to pin, with turnbuckle in center of each span, #3 clevis on each end with 1″ pin and 1″ grip for ³⁄₄” plate.

If you provide us the above information with your inquiry, we will be able to provide you a quote that is accurate, and ultimately, with the tie-rod assemblies that will function correctly on your project.

Answer: Yes, in some cases the stacking of F436 washers seems to be allowed, but not in all cases.
The Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC) in Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength Bolts, December 31, 2009, page 16.2-12 says,

“If necessary, the next increment of bolt length can be specified with ASTM F436 washers in sufficient number to both exclude the threads from the shear plane and ensure that the assembly can be installed with adequate threads included in the grip for proper installation.”

They go on to say, later in the same section,

“To determine the required bolt length, the value shown in Table C-2.2 should be added to the grip (i.e., the total thickness of all connected material, exclusive of washers). For each ASTM F436 washer that is used, add 5/32 in.; for each beveled washer, add 5/16 in. The tabulated values provide appropriate allowances for manufacturing  tolerances  and  also provide sufficient thread.”

One could reasonably assume based on the above passages that the use of multiple washers to achieve a purpose like keeping the threads out of the shear plane is acceptable.
I was able to find one instance where the stacking of washers is prohibited. In the same document, in Table 6.1 page 16.2-45, while discussing the requirements for 5/16” thick F436 washers to be used with A490s with oversized or slotted holes, they say,

“Multiple washers with a combined thickness of 5/16 in. or larger do not satisfy this requirement.”

So it appears, that when using F436 washers to compensate for bolt lengths, the stacking of washers is acceptable, however, if 5/16” thick F436 washers are specified with A490 bolts and oversized or slotted holes, simply stacking two regular F436 washers does not satisfy that requirement.

Answer: Hot-dip galvanized nuts cannot be used on a plain finish bolt. Hot-dip galvanizing adds between 2 – 6 mils (.002” – .006”) of zinc to the threads of the bolt and due to this increased thread thickness, hot-dip galvanized nuts are tapped oversize to accommodate and create a workable fit. These oversized internal threads on a galvanized nut will not engage properly with a plain finish bolt and the fit of the nut will be too loose to develop the engagement/strength needed.

ASTM 563 specifies the exact amount of oversizing required per each diameter of nut. Portland Bolt has previously answered the opposite question of using black/zinc plated nuts on a hot-dip galvanized bolt. The answer is the same: only a hot-dip galvanized nut, that is tapped oversize, will work with a hot-dip galvanized bolt. A plain finish or zinc finish nut will not have the oversized threads that will allow for a correct fit, instead the nut will strip and gall a galvanized bolt to the point of not be able to assemble the nut correctly onto the threads, if at all.

In either situation, it is the nut that must be tapped oversize, or not, to accommodate. The bolt is threaded the same if the bolt is plain finish or hot-dip galvanized finish. Never chase or rethread a bolt to remove the added thickness that galvanizing adds. Chasing a bolt will remove the protective zinc coating and may even remove parts of the thread, damaging the corrosion resistance intended for the threads of a bolt, or even the bolt itself. The ASTM F2329 specification for hot-dip galvanizing specifically prohibits thread chasing.

Plain finish bolts must be used with plain finish nuts and hot-dip galvanized bolts must be used with hot-dip galvanized nuts that are tapped oversize. Being a hot-dip galvanizing company with our own specialized galvanizing line in our manufacturing facility, Portland Bolt has the expertise and the manufacturing capabilities to be a qualified and trusted supplier on your next job.