Newest FAQs
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
Bolt Length Tolerance
What is the length tolerance for a bolt?ASME B18.2.1 has a table that deals with the length tolerance for square, hex, heavy hex, and askew head bolts. It also has a section for lag screws as well as tighter tolerance cap screws. The tolerance varies greatly per diameter and length of the fastener. See the table below. ASTM A325 and A490 heavy... Read more
Welding Beveled Washers
Can I weld to your malleable beveled washers?Along with shear plates and round malleable washers, malleable beveled washers are made with ASTM A47 cast malleable iron. See the following excerpts from ASTM A47. 11.3 Castings that have been repaired by the welding shall be reannealed so that the microstructure will comply with Section 8. (Section 8 of ASTM A47 lays out specific... Read more
Contec vs. Wilson Sleeves
What is the difference between the two types of anchor sleeves that Portland Bolt stocks?Portland Bolt inventories two different lines of anchor bolt sleeves, Wilson and Contec. There are many similarities between the two products, with two notable differences. The two main differences between these two types of anchor bolt sleeves are in sizing and coloring. Wilson Sleeves Contec Sleeves Composition and Materials Both brands are manufactured of high... Read more
Torque Charts and Anchor Bolts
Do torque charts for tensioning fasteners apply to anchor bolts?The AISC Steel Construction Manual, 13th Edition has this to say about anchor rod nut installation. “The majority of anchorage applications in buildings do not require special anchor rod nut installation procedures or pretension in the anchor rod. The anchor rod nuts should be “drawn down tight” as columns and bases are erected. This condition... Read more
Forms of Payment
What forms of payment does Portland Bolt accept?Portland Bolt cannot ship an order until it has been paid for in some fashion. If it is an order consisting solely of stock items, it cannot ship without being paid for first. In the case of custom manufactured parts, Portland Bolt cannot begin production without first receiving payment. If your company is planning on... Read more
Pre-Order Certification Documents
Can I get a copy of the Certification documents before I place my order?This question comes up with some regularity at Portland Bolt and by necessity the answer is no. We are happy to provide sample certifications to you so that you may get a general idea of what your certifications will look like when you receive them with your order. However, beyond the sample certifications we cannot... Read more
A307 Grade 36 vs F1554 Grade 36
Can the anchor bolts type ASTM F1554 grade 36 be replaced with ASTM A307 grade 36?This question was submitted by a Port Authority on the East Coast. Anchor bolts were supplied by another company claiming they met or exceeded the requirements of F1554 grade 36. As it turns out, they did not. Hi Greg, Sorry for being late to send you a clear copy of the Mill certification. Just to... 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
Small Quantity Orders at Portland Bolt
Can I buy small quantities from Portland Bolt?Yes, you can. Although Portland Bolt is a manufacturer, we are not the type of company that sets up and runs tens of thousands of common, standard-sized bolts. We can, and often do, set up to make just a handful of custom construction fasteners if that is what is required. We should clarify that this... Read more