Kyle's FAQs

Wet Storage Stains

What is a wet storage stain?

A wet storage stain is a white, rust-like surface discoloration that occurs from storing newly hot-dip galvanized materials.  Wet storage stains occur when recently hot-dip galvanized materials are subjected to a moisture-rich environment and/or the materials are packed so closely together that there is not enough air movement and oxygen for the parts to “breathe”.... Read more

Thread Protectors

Can Portland Bolt assemble thread protectors to bolts?

Yes. Portland Bolt has in the past assembled mesh, and other, thread protectors onto anchor bolts and headed bolts to protect the threads during shipping. However, for large construction fasteners, it is exceedingly rare this is required or needed. Typically our sturdy packaging and shipping practices will be more than sufficient to ensure that the... Read more

Partial Galvanizing

Does Portland Bolt partially galvanize anchor bolts?

Yes. Portland Bolt can partially galvanize an anchor bolt. However, it is far more common for anchor bolts to be fully galvanized. If hot-dip galvanizing is required, engineers sometimes specify that only the exposed, projecting end of an anchor bolt should be galvanized, while the rest of the anchor bolt that gets embedded into concrete... Read more

Wrapped Anchor Bolts

My plans call for a section of the anchor bolts on the project to be wrapped with tape. Can Portland Bolt quote this?

Although uncommon, there are times when a project’s specifications or plans call for the unthreaded portion of an anchor bolt to be wrapped with various kinds of tape. This tape typically starts at the bottom of the threads projecting from the concrete and will either travel the entire length of the anchor bolt or stop at... Read more

Round Bar

Does Portland Bolt sell steel round bar?

Portland Bolt is a nonstandard bolt manufacturing company that specializes in manufacturing custom bolts and other nonstandard construction fasteners from steel round bar.  Our extensive inventory of steel round bar is used solely for the purpose of manufacturing fasteners for our customers.  It is our desire to always provide the finished product by using the... Read more

Supplementary Requirements

What is a supplementary requirement in an ASTM grade?

Supplementary requirements are optional requirements within ASTM specifications that must be requested at the time of quotation or purchase to be included, otherwise the manufacturing company is not required to adhere to the supplementary requirements. ASTM specifications have varying amounts of supplementary requirements. Some specifications have as many as six or more supplementary requirements, while... Read more

Class 3A Thread

Does Portland Bolt produce bolts with a Class 3A thread? What does the “A” mean in “3A”?

Portland Bolt does not manufacture or supply bolts with a Class 3A thread. Instead, Portland Bolt manufactures and supplies bolts with a Class 2A thread and nuts with a Class 2B thread. The A designates a male thread and the B designates a female thread. Essentially there are three different classes of threads, the difference... Read more

Published Prices

Why doesn’t Portland Bolt advertise prices on the website?

Due to the fact that Portland Bolt is a manufacturer of nonstandard anchor bolts and construction fasteners, the vast majority of the product that we manufacture and sell to our customers is custom and is manufactured to the specific requirements of the job they are being used on. Portland Bolt is not a large scale,... Read more

Substituting F1554 Grade 55 for Grade 36

My bolt supplier said they can substitute ASTM F1554 Grade 55 anchor bolts for the F1554 Grade 36 anchor bolts that are specified on my project. Is this correct?

ASTM F1554 does specifically state in Section 6.4 that the manufacturing company can substitute weldable F1554 Grade 55 material in place of F1554 Grade 36 material at the option of the manufacturing company. So technically your supplier is correct that they can substitute F1554 Grade 55 for F1554 Grade 36 at any time, as long... Read more

DTI Washer Configuration

I am installing some A325 bolts, and I am using direct-tension-indicator (DTI) washers. Does the DTI replace the F436 washer that I would normally use, or do I still use a standard F436 washer?

According to the Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC December 31, 2009 edition), an F436 washer is used in addition to a DTI washer with an A325 structural bolt.  RCSC’s Specification for Structural Joints Using ASTM A325 or A490 Bolts, Section 6 Use of Washers, states that a ASTM F436 washer is always used, but... Read more