Hex Bolts: Keeping Things Together

The most amazing kind of simple machine is the screw and if you need to fasten things and materials together, going with a screw is your best bet. You can't however, use only one kind of screw for all the different materials you're putting together. If you need something with a bit of strength and durability, you can make use of hex bolts. Basically, this is also a screw, only it's bigger and has a washer or a nut to ensure a tighter hold on various materials. With hex bolts, you won't have slots for the screwdriver to work with on the head. The shape of the head is not so much as design but work well with a wrench for tightening.

If you need heavy duty kind of fastening, you have make use of these types of screws. Also if you're thinking about using these bolts outdoors, you have think about bolts coated with zinc, and the like. For the hex shape of the head and the nut, these bolts are great fasteners for projects like custom automotive exhaust and also header applications. You can be sure that the materials you want to have bolted together, stay locked in place with the washer on the other end prevent the bolt from coming unfastened.

Bolts with a hex head are the most commonly used bolt type. In various constructions and machines, you can see the hex shaped head of bolts. You have to know how to measure these bolts in order to make sure you're using the proper hardware for your projects and also to ensure strength and durability in your projects. You have to know about diameter, shank length, threads per inch, length and grade. Therefore, you're going to need a measuring scale and a thread gauge in the purchase of the perfect sized hex bolts. You have to place the zero end of the scale against the lowest part of the hex head. Read the scale to learn what the total length of the bolt is.

Essentially, hex bolts' length increase in 1/4 inch increments. You have to use the metric scale to measure your bolt. You then measure the unthreaded part of the bolt. Compare this figure with the replacement bolt. You then measure across the threaded part of the bolt for diameter. The diameter of the smallest bolt is 1/4 inch. The size increases by 1/16 increments. With your thread gauge, you can look at how many threads per inch are on the hex bolts. You can also count threads if you don't have a thread gauge.

You then look at the markings on the head of the hex bolts. Depending on the symbol, you can determine what the hardness grade of one specific bolt is. If you're replacing bolts in your home, make sure that you get some with similar markings. If on the other hand, you're not replacing bolts in your home but constructing something new, the people at the shop can help you get the perfect size hex bolt.