Lag Bolts: The Whats And Hows

Society has developed and improved enough that we have found many different ways for solving problems and making once difficult tasks, easier. The problem now is, we have too many things. If you're given a huge toolbox of bolts, you wouldn't know what's what and might even get confused with things like lag bolts. Essentially, if you hear the words lag bolts, you can also make use of the term lag screws. These are mainly fasteners for putting heavy timbers together securely. If you've walked under bridges for example and even on posts and beams, you see a metal head coming out, that's a lag bolt.

This type of hardware is a very simple tool where part of the advantage is that they're also easy to use. Think of a normal screw and the lag screw will be the same. You just insert this bolt into a predrilled hole and you can easily keep two things together and hold them together securely. At the hardware store, you have a lot of variations. There are hexagonal lag screws, there are stainless steel lag screws, there are galvanized lag screws and there are zinc plated lag screws.

Using lag bolts, you have to assess the type of bolt you need. Some types of lag bolts work better with certain applications. For instance, if you're building something for your garden like a gazebo; you need to make use of bolts that are corrosion resistant and something that will withstand the beating of the elements. Size also matters with bolts and bigger isn't always better with construction and building projects. It's important to note that your bolts should be able to penetrate the first piece of timber and up to 1/3 of the second piece of timber you're putting together.

That accomplished, you now have to make sure that you use your them correctly. The most basic way for using these bolts is to line your timber up. You might need a clamp for this. Make a mark on the first timber where you'll be inserting your bolt. Drill a hole on these marks and make sure that it's 3/4 the whole diameter of the size of the lag bolt. As for the depth, it has to be about 1/2 inch for the length of the entire shaft. Insert your lag screw and tighten it with a ratchet. Fasten the nut on the other end of the bolt. You can also add a washer after the nut for extra strength.

It has been emphasized that lag bolts are only for fastening two wood pieces together. If you're making use of a different application like metal or concrete, you have to use a different kind of bolt entirely. If you purchase a specialized lag screw, this comes with a special lag insert wherein you don't have to pre drill a hole before inserting your bolts into the wood. Wood building projects like bridges, gazebos and seating areas are easily completed when you employ lag bolts.