Mike's FAQs

Portland Bolt East Coast Distributors

Does Portland Bolt have any distributors on the east coast?

Many manufacturers sell through distributors, who then stock those manufactured goods and sell to the end users of the product. Portland Bolt is a manufacturer, but does not work through these distribution channels. We primarily sell directly to contractors, steel fabricators, and other construction-related end users of the bolts that we manufacture. Due to the... Read more

Hex Coupling Nut

Coupling Nut Grades

What grade of coupling nut should I use?

A common question that we encounter has to do with what type of coupling nut should be used in conjunction with a particular grade of bolt or rod. Typically, a coupling nut would be specified as a grade of nut, as opposed to a grade of bolt. The ASTM grade of hex nut that is... Read more

ASTM A325 vs. Grade 5 bolts

What is the difference between Grade 5 and A325 bolts?

While these two bolts are virtually identical in terms of chemical and physical strengths and properties, there are several differences between the two. The Grade 5 specification falls under the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) classification system, while A325 is an ASTM specification. ASTM A325 bolts are more commonly specified by engineers for use in... Read more