Steven's FAQs
Gimlet Points on Lag Screws
Are gimlet points (threaded points) required on large diameter lag screws?A lag screw, also referred to as a lag bolt, is a heavy wood screw with a spiral thread and a hex or square head used for driving it into wood. Large diameter lag screws typically do not require gimlet points because of the need for a pilot hole to lower the torque required to... Read more
“Black” Bolts
Are black bolts painted black?Most likely no. Our “black” bolts are unfinished or bare steel. The term “black bolt” is an industry term for plain finish or no finish bolts. These bolts offer no corrosion resistance and will rust over time. If you are looking for a decorative coating that is actually black, you will want to specify that... Read more
ASTM and Stainless Steel Washers
What is the ASTM specification for stainless steel washers?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... Read more
Oversizing Plate Holes
How large should I oversize my plate holes?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,... Read more
Metric Anchor Bolt Sleeves
Does Portland Bolt sell metric anchor bolt sleeves?Portland Bolt does not sell metric anchor sleeves but we do provide them all the time using a soft imperial conversion. We round up to the closest imperial (inch) size to make sure they are large enough to fit on the bolt. If the fit is too big, we recommend taping the neck of the... Read more
Grade 5 or A449 vs F1554 Grade 55
Can I substitute Grade 5 or A449 bolts for F1554 grade 55 bolts?In most circumstances the answer is no. For Grade 5 the answer is never. Although, Grade 5 meets the minimum yield requirements of F1554gr55, the minimum tensile requirements exceed the maximum tensile requirements in all cases. A449 is similar in regards to meeting the minimum yield strength of F1554 Grade 55 across the board but... Read more
A307 Grade A vs F1554 Grade 36
Will imported A307 grade A hex bolts meet the requirements of F1554 grade 36?Anchor bolts which are embedded in concrete and used for structural anchorage purposes can assume several forms. Common forms of anchor bolts include right angle bend anchor bolts, swedged rods, and threaded rods (typically with a nut and/or square plate attached to the bottom of the rod). Another common configuration for an anchor bolt is... Read more
Stainless Steel Bolt Differences
What are the differences between hex bolts ordered as type 304 stainless steel, A193 Grade B8, and F593 Group 1 (type 304 stainless)?Hex bolts are often ordered as a type 304 stainless and not to a specific ASTM specification. When bolts are ordered under the raw material grade (type 304) and not to an ASTM fastener specification, there are no specific requirements other than that they meet the chemical and physical requirements of 304 stainless steel and... Read more