Bolts have been around for hundreds of years and have been used in just about every application you can imagine. From automobile assembly to military defense, bolts are used in almost every industry you can think of. A bolt is simply a bolt with a threaded end and the external female thread taking a matching pre-cut female thread like a nut to thread it into the hole. Bolts are surprisingly similar to screws in their general design.
Spring bolts are used for a variety of fastening applications including anchor bolts, studs, drywall screws, and nuts. A nut can become loose or fail, and the nut head can move off the threaded end. The nut can then be replaced by another, the stronger bolt that won’t fail in the same way. However, the cost of replacing a bolt can be much greater than replacing a nut because of the extra material needed to make the new bolt secure.
Mortise-and-tenon bolts are used interchangeably to describe fasteners that have a threaded end and a corresponding nut on the other side. The threads on a bolt will be open-ended like those of a nut, but not quite as wide. It’s easy to remove the threads from a Mortise-and-tenon bolt and use it to thread a screw.
Stainless steel bolts are one of the most common types of bolts found on the planet. Most vehicles have at least one stainless steel bolt-on their bodies, whether it’s a hood or a tailgate. Bolts can also be used for other applications besides vehicle parts; stainless steel is commonly used in plumbing and is becoming increasingly popular for the construction of countertops and other construction techniques. Bolts made out of stainless steel can be purchased in a variety of different lengths and can even be pre-drilled for use in hollow objects.
Nipple and thread style bolts are another set of common types of fasteners. A nipple bolt is simply a long, thin, straight shaft that has two ends – one slightly larger than the other – with a washer on one end and a nut on the other. Threaded bolts are similar, except that they have a washer on both ends and a nut on the other end. These types of bolts are commonly used as tie rods and other fastening techniques.
Last but not least is the flathead fastener. This is the fastest type of fastener because it features a single flathead screw that has an open face at both the end and the inside of the hole. The fastener is commonly used in tight places where its size is most important. The advantage to using a fastener like this is that it is often easier to install than other types of fasteners. However, it is also potentially more dangerous due to the increased speed at which the head turns.
These are a handful of the kinds of bolts available, but there are quite a few more out there. Whatever you need one for, you can find the answer.
