5 Popular Types Of Bolts

If you ever need to buy bolts and nuts for any reason, it would be very important for you to at least know of the different varieties there are out there first. This makes it a lot easier for you to decide which one to use for specific applications. Remember, choosing the wrong type of bolts could have disastrous consequences. In addition to the fact that you may end up having to spend a lot of money on replacements, you are also more likely to have equipment damaged if you use low quality or inappropriate bolts and nuts to fasten it. Some of the most popular bolts and their applications include:

The carriage bolt
A carriage bolt has a round, smooth head that has no slots in it, so you don’t get to tighten it using a screwdriver or wrench. However, it has a square shoulder under the head, and this is meant to prevent the bolt from turning once you lock it in place using a nut. This is one of the few bolt types that can be used to fasten wood, and can also be used in situations where a protruding head would be a disadvantage. A good example of this is when you want to fasten items but want a smooth finish afterwards.

 
The stove bolt
This type of bolt has a flat rounded head, which has a slot in it. This is an allowance for the use of a flat screwdriver to fasten it. These types of bolts tend to have threads running the entire shaft, and are designated as general purpose bolts in most instances. They can also be used to fasten items such as wood and plastic together.
The machine bolt
Most people who come across the name machine bolt for the first time often think that it’s a bolt that is used to fasten machines together. However, the designation “machine” is actually a description of how the bolt should be put in place: using a wrench or socket. Most of the machine bolts have shafts that are not threaded the entire length, but some do. They also tend to have hexagonal heads, so some stores will give you this if you asked for a hex nut.
The all thread
This is an unusual type of bolt that is not so common. It comprises a headless shaft that is threaded all the way. Fastening it therefore depends on the use of two nuts on both ends. Unlike other types of bolt, this one can also be cut into a smaller pieces or even into two bolts using a tool as simple as a hacksaw.
The J bolt
These types of bolts are J shaped and often have no heads. They are usually used to support hanging items.
There are other specialized types of nuts, but these are the most popular ones. The next time you are shopping for one, you should identify which specific one you need, since this will make shopping easier.