QA

Question: When To Use Carriage Bolts

Carriage bolts are ideal for fastening wood to metal. Alternatively, carriage bolts can also be used to fasten two pieces of wood together. Some specialty versions of carriage bolts allow for the effective fastening of two separate metal components.

What is the difference between a bolt and a carriage bolt?

The type of carriage bolt is having the same head shape as the standard one. The difference is the square shape under the head replaced with vertical ribs slightly wider than the diameter on the bolt. As the nut is tightened or loosened, the ribs prevent the bolt from turning.

Who uses carriage bolts?

Who would typically use a carriage bolt? Carriage bolts are extremely common and their uses are so varied that most people have probably seen or used one at some point. Anyone involved in carpentry or wood construction will rely on carriage bolts frequently.

What can I use instead of carriage bolts?

ThruLOK is a multi-purpose structural wood-to-wood fastener that replaces carriage or through bolts. It is perfect for specific applications such as multi-ply beams, girder trusses, deck posts and many places where a traditional carriage or through-bolt is used.

How strong is carriage bolt?

Carriage Bolts: Round Head Square Neck Low Carbon & Hot Dipped Galvanized Carriage Bolt Proof Load 33,000 psi Yield Strength 36,000 psi min. Tensile Strength 60,000 psi min. Elongation 18% min.

What is stronger a lag bolt or carriage bolt?

Just as we explained that the lag bolts are quite strong, so are the carriage bolts. Depending on the lag bolt’s grade and the application in which it is installed, you will find that lag bolts can hold up to thousands of pounds. The shear strength of carriage bolts also tends to be relatively high.

Which is stronger lag screws or carriage bolts?

Answer: Yes! As a matter of fact, structural screws are much stronger than lag bolts. And they make more of a robust connection with the surface. A drill, Phillips head, or hex-head lag can be used to fasten the screws.

Can you use carriage bolts on steel?

Carriage bolts are used to hold together wood with wood, wood with metal and even metal with metal. Their particular shape allows the bolt to be self-locking when placed through a square hole, especially when dealing with metal.

Can you use carriage bolts on metal?

Carriage bolts are designed for wood to wood or wood to metal joints. Don’t trust them with your life in metal to metal joints because of the risk of loosening under movement, vibration or pressure.

How much weight can a 3/8 inch carriage bolt hold?

A 3/8-inch bolt of this type is rated to 7,000 pounds in 6,000 psi concrete (basically granite) and 4,000 pounds in 2,000 psi concrete (hard sandstone). This is roughly the breaking strength range of carabiners and much higher than any rope’s maximum possible impact force.

How do you keep carriage bolts from spinning?

One option is to cut or split the nut. Sometimes you can hold onto the bolt that protrudes through the nut. Or grind a screwdriver slot into the Head of the bolt. Or weld a nut to the head of the bolt.

Should I use bolts or lag screws?

At connections carrying structural loads, such as deck ledgers or railing posts, use through-bolts or lag screws. Through-bolts are stronger and should be used where possible. For the heaviest connections on a deck, such as where ledgers attach to the house or to posts, use 1/2-inch bolts or lags.

How long should carriage bolts be?

Typically, carriage bolt sizes range from #10 to 3/4″ in diameter while lengths span from about 1/2″ to 20″—only larger sizes are available in long lengths. Measure length from under the head to the threaded end of the bolt.

What is the strongest carriage bolt?

Grade 5 carriage bolts are made from carbon steel and have a tensile strength of 120,000psi, and have a proof load strength of 85,000psi. Carriage bolts are fully threaded up to 6″, lengths over 6″ will have 6″ of thread and the rest is non-threaded shoulder.

Can I use carriage bolts for deck posts?

Deck Posts Do not notch the 4×4 railing posts. The 4×4 railing post should be bolted to the inside of the joists using two ½”x6” galvanized carriage bolts. Corner posts use a third carriage bolt inserted through the adjacent joist.

What bolts to use for deck?

You need a different type of screw for each part of your deck. An 8 gauge, 2.5” coated deck screw is most commonly used when fastening deck boards to joists. For deck framing, structural wood screws such as Simpson SDS 1.5” screws work with joist and stringer hangers, as well as post/beam brackets.

Do carriage bolts need washers?

Do you use a washer with a carriage bolt? Yes. It is important to use washers with carriage bolts, as they prevent damage when you use the nut to pull the bolt through the material.

Are carriage bolts galvanized?

These galvanized coarse-threaded carriage bolts, exclusive to Home Hardware, have a domed top and a square under the head that pulls into the wood as the nut is tightened and prevents the bolt from turning once completely installed. The collar fits into a prebored hole or twists into wood.