Newest FAQs
ASTM A47, A48, and A536 are all casting specifications. Each grade has its own strength requirements and base material used. Each grade is also commonly associated with a particular finished part that Portland Bolt stocks. ASTM A47 ASTM A47 covers ferritic malleable castings intended for general use at temperatures from normal ambient to approximately 750°... Read more
Yes Portland Bolt offers custom packaging. Many of our light rail customers have us fully assemble the OCS foundation bolts marked with the foundation type. This allows them to simply drop the fully assembled bolts into their location. This also frees up their people from the task of field assembling product they may not be... Read more
In December 2015, ASTM committee F16 approved the new F3125 standard, which combined six structural bolt standards, A325, A325M, A490, A490M, F1852, and F2280. The goal was to clean up inconsistencies within those various standards and combine them, so that future updates would be easier and less costly. The goal was not to drastically change... Read more
In December 2015, ASTM committee F16 approved the new F3125 standard, which combined six structural bolt standards, A325, A325M, A490, A490M, F1852, and F2280. The goal was to clean up inconsistencies within those various standards and combine them, so that future updates would be easier and less costly. The goal was not to drastically change... Read more
Typically when bolts are ordered, they are called out by a specific ASTM or SAE grade. Stainless steel bolts are a bit different though, as they are commercially available and regularly ordered simply by the material itself, most commonly 316 or 304 stainless steel. Unlike bolts that fall under ASTM specifications, there are no specific... Read more
RCSC is the Research Council on Structural Connections. It is a non-profit, volunteer organization, comprised of over 85 leading experts in the fields of structural steel connection design, engineering, fabrication, erection and bolting. Its goal is to support research and gain knowledge to publish standards in structural steel connections.
Looking through both the ASTM specification F3125 Grade A325 and the Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC) website, we have found neither mentioning the use of lock washers in a structural steel connection. We interpret this as neither allowing nor forbidding the use and that it would ultimately be up to the engineer of record... Read more
The reference to “Grade 55” is for getting a stainless steel all thread rod with a minimum yield strength of 55,000 psi. There are currently no stainless steel specifications commonly stocked that will guarantee a 55,000 psi yield strength. The most commonly stocked grades of stainless all thread rod are A193, A320, and F593. The... Read more
This is a term that is frequently used across the industry. More often than not, “bridge washers” will refer to cast iron malleable iron washers. These washers are typically used in dock and wood construction. Malleable iron washers are specifically designed to prevent bolt heads and nuts from pulling into the wood. Detailers will also... Read more
A193 Grade B7M is a grade variation of the common A193 Grade B7 used in high-temperature, high-pressure applications. Nowhere in the A193 specification does it discuss whether or not A193B7M fasteners can be galvanized. In theory, there is nothing preventing someone from galvanizing the material, however, the application in which these bolts are intended to... Read more
