Educational Website Covering Marine Construction Bolts
Our newest website, www.marineconstructionbolts.com contains educational information related to the marine construction industry.
These fasteners are used in the construction of piers, marinas, fendering systems, floating docks, and various structures in and around water. Created by our resident marine fastener expert, Mike Monlux, this microsite contains technical information about marine bolts and rods, nuts, and washers and plates. We have created this technical resource for engineers, contractors, marinas, ports, and fastener distributors. The FAQ section of the site will address many common questions related to marine construction fasteners, while the applications section provides information about various marine structures that are constructed using large, nonstandard bolts and fasteners.
Because all marine fasteners are exposed to harsh, corrosive environments, marine fasteners are virtually always either stainless steel or hot-dip galvanized to prevent corrosion. Therefore, separate sections of this microsite address both stainless and galvanized product. How do we know so much about hot-dip galvanizing? We do it ourselves! Contained within our 85,000 square foot bolt manufacturing facility is our very own hot-dip galvanizing line that is designed specifically for threaded fasteners. By controlling the galvanizing process in-house, we are able to quality check each fastener that comes off the galvanizing line as well as meet your critical delivery requirements.
Do you have questions about bolts for a marine application, require a quote, or need to procure bolts for a marine project? If so, contact Mike.
FAQ: Large Diameter SAE Bolts
Question: Can I buy 2″ diameter grade 8 bolts?
SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers) is a standards development organization with fastener specifications that apply to the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. SAE bolts are also used in machinery, equipment, and OEM applications.
Answer: NO!! It never ceases to amaze us how frequently we receive inquiries from customers looking to buy SAE grades 2, 5, and 8 bolts larger than 1-1/2″ diameter. Fact is, the scope section of the J429 specification that covers grades 2, 5, and 8 bolts reads as follows:
This SAE Standard covers the mechanical and material requirements for inch-series steel bolts, screws, studs, sems, and U-bolts used in automotive and related industries in sizes to 1-1/2 in inclusive.
Since the specification does not cover bolts larger than 1-1/2″ in diameter, 2″ diameter grade 8 bolts don’t exist and can’t be manufactured. Yet we see it time and again… customers come to us looking for quotes on oversized SAE bolts. Often, these are repetitious purchases in which these non-conforming bolts have been bought (from another company) and sold for years. Who has been manufacturing bolts that theoretically don’t exist? We are not really sure, but if your fastener supplier claims they can manufacture or supply these bolts, we would suggest that you question the competence of these claims. Consider involving a structural engineer and moving to an ASTM specification that covers bolts over 1-1/2″ diameter.
Read more about large diameter SAE bolts or other FAQ’s.
Steel Plate Fabrication
Portland Bolt is known for our bolts, but did you know we also make square and rectangular plates?
Our 150 ton Uni-Hydro Ironworker can shear and punch A36 flat bar up to 1″ thick, and our certified welders are well-equipped to complete your anchor bolt assemblies quickly. We can provide plates with round or oval holes, and our in-house hot-dip galvanizing line ensures your order will have all the necessary parts and finishes with the shortest lead time.
Plates are often used as an oversized washer, or as an anchor plate on the bottom end of threaded rods to provide pull out resistance. We are also capable of providing anchor bolt templates.
Portland Bolt provides an estimating tool for Plate Weight Calculation as well as an in-depth FAQ outlining Plate Hole Oversizing.
Chevron Gulf of Mexico Preservation and Maintenance Facility
Portland Bolt was chosen to supply hex bolts and shear plates for the 150,000-square-foot Gulf of Mexico Preservation and Maintenance Facility in Houma, Louisiana. The pre-engineered metal warehouse facility sits on a 30-acre site and offers 20,000 square feet of office space and 11 acres of outside storage and building apron areas. Features include 12.5 acres of heavy-duty concrete paving, ample surface level parking and a design that allows for future expansion up to 300,000 square feet.
See more of Portland Bolt’s projects or read more about the Chevron Gulf of Mexico Preservation Facility.