Newest FAQs
The short answer is that F3125 Grade A490 heavy hex structural bolts have higher strength requirements than A325 heavy hex structural bolts. A325 bolts have a minimum tensile strength of 120ksi while A490 bolts have a tensile strength range of 150-173ksi. In addition, there are a few other differences shown below. Coatings A325 structural bolts... Read more
In short, yes. The grooving tool for installing split rings and the dapping tool for installing shear plates allow the depth of the cut to be adjusted. Both tools have either two or four carriage bolts that set the depth of the groove cut into the wood. The headed ends of the bolts project from... Read more
The ASTM A307 specification does not provide any washer recommendations to go with fasteners specified to A307 grades A or B. Most commonly, a simple F844 flat washer is used with A307 fasteners. F844 washers have a larger outside diameter than F436 hardened washers. Since the A307 specification doesn’t recommend what to use, any washer... Read more
SAE J429 Grade 5 falls under the SAE International specification, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers. While similar in function to ASTM, it is the scope of their standards that is different. SAE has a more narrowly focused range of standards. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) tend to use more bolts manufactured to SAE... Read more
Anchor bolts come in several different configurations, such as 90-degree bent, headed, rods with threads on each end, or fully threaded rods to name a few. Anchor bolts can be made in many grades. shapes and sizes, however, there are two distinct categories of anchor bolts: post-installed anchors and cast-in-place anchors. Although both types essentially... Read more
The rotational capacity test, sometimes referred to as a ROCAP test or RC test, serves as a quality control measure to ensure that high-strength structural bolt assemblies will function together as a unit to achieve the required preload (clamping force) without experiencing thread stripping, galling, or premature failure. Per the ASTM F3125 specification, the test... Read more
When Portland Bolt calculates the length of the rods in a tie rod using the pin-to-pin length of the assembly, we assume that the rods will be threaded into the clevises the full length of the female threaded nut component (Dimension ‘N’ in the drawing below) plus an additional length equal to ½” or half... Read more
When looking at a bolt specification, you may notice that some are ASTM standards, such as ASTM F1554, and some are SAE standards, such as Grade 5 (a common bolt found within the SAE J429 specification). Outside the technical differences (mechanical requirements, chemical requirements, and other requirements) that vary between any fastener standard, the difference... Read more
The use of stainless nuts with galvanized bolts is not advisable. Portland Bolt has fielded requests for galvanized bolts that have a stainless nut and washer as the hardware. Ideally, you would use a galvanized nuts and washers with a galvanized bolts and stainless bolts with stainless nuts and washers. Both types of nuts and... Read more
In order to answer this question, we must first define what intergranular corrosion is. It is a type of corrosion where the grain boundaries of crystallites in austenitic steel are more susceptible to corrosion than the inside of the material. Grain boundaries can become depleted during the manufacturing of stainless steel round bar, the hot... Read more
