Manufacturing FAQs

Heading being done on hex headed bolts.

Type 304 vs. Type 316 Stainless Steel

What is the Difference Between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel?

When stainless steel fasteners are specified in the construction industry, 304 and 316 stainless steel are by far the most common. Although 304 and 316 are simply the type of stainless raw materials used to produce a finished fastener to an ASTM specification, it is also common for the finished fastener to be specified as... Read more

Type 1 vs. Type 3 Structural Bolts

What is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 3 Structural Bolts?

The ASTM F3125 specification covers heavy hex structural bolts including Grades A325 and A490. Both grades include Type 1 and Type 3 options. Tension control bolts in Grades F1852 and F2280 are also available in both Type 1 and Type 3. What is the difference? Type 3 bolts are made from weathering steel designed to eliminate... Read more

Different ways that threaded rods are measured.

All Thread Rod is not Cut Equal

How Do You Cut All Thread Rod?

Fully threaded rods can be supplied by several different manufacturing methods depending on the job's requirements. What is all thread rod? All thread rod is a piece of steel round bar that is threaded across its entire length. They are used for a wide variety of purposes, from through bolts to concrete anchors. It might... Read more

Thread Class for All Thread Rod

Is all thread rod produced with a Class 2A thread?

There are three classes of thread fit associated with fasteners: Class 1A/1B, Class 2A/2B, Class 3A/3B. The “A” refers to the externally threaded fastener component, typically the bolt, while “B” refers to the internally threaded fastener component, usually a nut. As the number of thread class increases, the threading tolerances become more precise. Most construction... Read more

Clevis Grip

What is a clevis grip?

A clevis is a forged component at the end of a tie rod assembly that secures one end of a threaded rod to a structure. The “grip” of a clevis is the distance between the ears and is typically ¼” wider than the thickness of the connecting plate. This dimension is important so that the... Read more

Removing Barrier Pins

How are Portland Bolt barrier pins removed?

Portland Bolt manufactures both median barrier connecting pins and base stabilization pins for precast barriers used in many different states throughout the country. Although most states use a unique design for their pins, we have worked with several Departments of Transportation to approve our unique barrier pin. We designed the head of the pin to be... Read more

12′ Galvanized All Thread Rod Cut into Studs

Can 12 foot lengths of galvanized all thread rod be cut into studs?

Yes, 12’ sticks of hot-dip galvanized all thread rod can not only be cut to smaller lengths, but it is often preferred. Depending on the application, all thread rod studs vary in length. For this reason, it is most common for all thread rod to be stocked in 12’ sticks, which can then be cut... Read more

Economy Bolt

What is an Economy Bolt?

Economy bolt is an alternative name for what is most commonly referred to as a timber bolt. Some other names for this part are dome head, fender head, safety head, and mushroom head bolt. The economy bolt name is most common in the Pacific Northwest. This style of bolt is used in marine and wood... Read more

Headed Bolt Length

What is the longest headed bolt that Portland Bolt can manufacture?

Portland Bolt uses National Upsetters to hot-forge the heads onto bolts. The end of the round bar is heated using an induction process and placed horizontally into the upsetter where a plunger compresses the heated steel into the shape of the bolt head. Because this process is a horizontal forging process, Portland Bolt is only... Read more

Bolt Blanks

What is a Bolt Blank?

From time to time our friendly estimators may mention that we are going to make your order using bolt blanks. But what is a bolt blank? In order to help facilitate small runs of custom bolts and rush orders, Portland Bolt stocks bolt blanks. Bolt blanks are headed bolts that have not been threaded yet.... Read more