Bolts and screws are both types of fasteners used for joining two or more objects together. While they share some similarities, they also have distinct characteristics that set them apart.
Head Type: Bolts typically have a flat or rounded head with a larger surface area. The head is often designed to accommodate a wrench or spanner for tightening.
Nuts: Bolts are used in conjunction with nuts. The threaded portion of the bolt passes through the objects being joined, and the nut is then tightened onto the threads to secure the connection.
Application: Bolts are commonly used in applications where a through-hole is present, and the objects being joined have sufficient clearance for a nut on the other side.
Thread Length: Bolts usually have a longer thread length than screws, allowing for a more adjustable and versatile connection.
Types: There are various types of bolts, including hex bolts, carriage bolts, and eye bolts, each designed for specific applications.
Head Type: Screws have a variety of head types, including flat, pan, round, oval, and more. The head is designed for direct contact with a screwdriver or other driving tool.
No Nuts Required: Unlike bolts, screws don't necessarily require nuts. They are often used to create their own internal threads by self-tapping into the material.
Application: Screws are commonly used in applications where the components being joined are closely spaced, and there may not be enough room for a nut on the other side.
Thread Length: Screws typically have a shorter thread length compared to bolts because they are designed to create threads within the material they are driven into.
Types: There are various types of screws, including wood screws, machine screws, self-tapping screws, and more, each suited to specific materials and applications.
Bolts Screws A bolt is meant to be used with a nut, and it is tightened by torquing the nut. A screw is designed to be used in either a preformed or threaded hole, or it is capable of forming its own threaded hole. A screw is designed to be tightened by torquing the head. A bolt is a non-tapered fastener that uses a washer and nut to hold objects together. A screw is a tapered fastener that mates with an existing thread or creates its own thread in a material as it turns.2
Anchor bolts connect parts to surfaces of concrete. They are frequently employed in the building sector. They often reside in the steel pole bases. Additionally, they are utilised to fasten façade systems to reinforced concrete walls.
Anchor bolts that are drilled into position are installed without using wet concrete. They are placed right into a sizable hole trained in hardened concrete.
When there is limited access to one of the sides of the secured materials, blind bolts are appropriate. The fitted bolt is rotated using a spanner to turn the nut on the visible side. This process creates a strong joint that can be completed in a short amount of time.
They feature a flat tip and a shallow dome head. The bolt shaft has some threading. To avoid the bolt from spinning while the nut is tightened, a square neck is present under the head. They are frequently used to assemble wooden and metal components. They are employed in furniture, decks, patios, and frames.
The flat, thin, and rounded heads of elevator bolts fit well with the connection surface and equally transmit the load across a greater area. The threads on the bolt shaft are coarse and only partially threaded. Under their heads, a square neck prevents the bolt from rotating while the nut is being tightened or withdrawn. Elevator bolts are the best choice because they don’t obstruct the operation of elevators, pulleys, or conveying systems.
Eye bolts have a thread on their straight end and a shank that is wholly or partially looped. A square or round neck may be between the loop and the cord to increase bending resistance. Up to a point, the looped shank can raise weights. Some eye bolt varieties can act as a point of attachment for applications, including lifting, hoisting, tugging, and rigging. You can also use them to organise and route materials like cables, wires, hoses, and ropes to reduce workplace hazards.
Lag screw and machine bolt threads are on opposite ends of headless bolts, known as hanger bolts. They work perfectly for joining metal and timber products. They can tap holes into the wooden section since the lag screw thread has a pointed tip. A machine’s predrilled holes receive the machine bolt thread. A nut is placed and screwed onto the machine bolt thread to finish the setup.
Because they do not take a nut, lag bolts or lag screws are technically screw fasteners. They feature a pointed end, which allows them to form a threaded hole as they are rotated on their heads, unlike other bolts with blunt tips. Lag bolts often come with a square or hexagonal head. They are frequently employed to fasten components made of wood.
J-bolts lack a bolt head, but their threaded end can accommodate a nut. They are frequently employed in the building sector. You can bend the cast in a concrete slab as anchor bolts. They are engaged in roofing and wall-to-concrete attachments.
The forged hexagonal head of hex bolts, readily grasped and rotated with a wrench, distinguishes them. They are frequently used to fasten structural and machine parts. They work well for attaching metal and wooden components.
Machine bolts often have a hex or square head fixed with a wrench or a socket. They do not have chamfered or rounded ends and are not fit with a washer. They come in bigger sizes or diameters compared to machine screws.
Typically, they are employed to attach metal to metal and metal to wood. You can utilise them to fasten timber products as well. They are more rigid and have a larger load capacity than lag bolts, but they also need access to both sides of the materials.
Except for their countersunk heads, which are perfect for creating mechanical connections with flat surfaces, plough bolts are identical to carriage bolts in appearance. Additionally, they have a square neck to prevent the bolt from rotating while the nut is tightened. Plough bolts are used in large machinery like scoop shovels, tractors, excavators, and snowploughs.
The length and high diameter of lag screws and carriage screws allow them to enter wood or other materials deeply. Tag screws are extraordinarily durable and covered in a corrosion-resistant coating to prevent deterioration from environmental exposure or further construction corrosion. They are frequently used in decks, walls, and other outside buildings to make robust connections.
Wood screws are used to attach various pieces of wood and are undoubtedly the most popular screw among DIYers. They often have a sharp, penetrating tip that quickly penetrates wooden surfaces, and they can have a fully or partially threaded shaft. Because of this, most wood screws do not need a pilot hole.
This kind of screw comes in lengths of 1 to 3 inches and is solely meant to hang drywall panels. The name “bugle head screw” comes from how their “bugle” head is made to countersink slightly into the drywall panel’s surface without ripping the panel’s protective paper coating. It is not essential to drill holes beforehand because as these self-tapping screws get close to the wood joists or studs, they sink in.
Similar to oval head screws, these have flat heads with two rounded edges and are mainly employed as machine screws. These are available in various sizes and shapes. It can be installed using just a screwdriver and is typically employed in applying metal elements when the tapered side remains on the underside of the head.
They are often made of zinc coated in steel to prevent rust and increase their lifespan. However, the pricing range for these is flexible because different businesses are developing a range of product possibilities.
Due to their single, tiny aperture for a flat screwdriver, slotted head screws are more commonly known as flathead screws. Even though this kind of screw is one of the most widely used and least expensive, it is also the most likely to strip. Slotted screw are intended to strip so that you will not overtighten them. This trendy style, frequently used with manual screwdrivers, has a straight line running through the centre of the screw head.
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