Newest FAQs
The grade of bolt used in a Slip Critical (SC) connection has no direct bearing on the connection itself, so the answer is yes. The SC connection means that it is a type of bolted structural steel connection which relies on friction between the two connected elements rather than bolt shear or bolt bearing to... Read more
The short answer is, yes! In 2015, ASTM created F3125 which is a new, all-inclusive specification for structural bolts that consolidated and replaced the following six stand-alone ASTM standards: A325, A325M, A490, A490M, F1852 and F2280. Under the new F3125 specification, A325 fasteners can be made in head styles other than heavy hex as long... Read more
Portland Bolt cannot manufacture a body bound type bolt. An example of a body bound or tight-fitting bolt is one in which precision is required in order to hold together parts of machinery or similar applications to prevent the slightest change of position of one part on another. This type of bolt must be supplied... Read more
There is no mention of any ASTM A615 grade being specifically used for anchor bolts in any ACI, AISC or ASTM specifications that we are aware of. Simply, the A615 grade is a rebar specification for concrete reinforcement; it is not an anchor bolt or raw steel specification. Using rebar for anchor bolts does present... Read more
When threading bolts, the two most commonly used methods are cut threading and roll threading. We are often asked if bolts which have been roll threaded have a full body diameter or a reduced body diameter. Depending on the type of fastener, the answer is both. When Portland Bolt produces bolts with rolled threads, we... Read more
ASTM A320-L7 is a specification covering bolts, studs, and screws intended for low temperature service. Portland Bolt regularly supplies both plain finish and hot-dip galvanized A320-L7 fasteners to numerous customers in Canada and Alaska. Recently in our Portland Bolt Live Chat, an engineer asked this question as he needed to know what grade of nuts and... Read more
Portland Bolt is open from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. To be able to accommodate the needs of our customers across the country, we stagger the workday between our salespeople. Our Interactive Shipment Destination Map provides detailed shipping information showing that the second-largest concentration of Portland Bolt shipments is the... Read more
Portland Bolt is often asked which grade should be used in a structural application. More specifically, when asked what grade is required for a particular fastener that we are receiving an inquiry on, companies will often reply “it’s a structural grade” or “it’s for a structural application”. This usually is the result of a fastener being specified... Read more
ASTM standards are typically called out by their ASTM number and year of revision, for example F1554-07. Occasionally, when small revisions are made at ASTM that do not necessitate a full year revision, the year is annotated with a letter. We fielded a chat recently where this question came up. Below is the correspondence and... Read more
The answer to this question is yes! All three grades within the ASTM F1554 specification, Grade 36, Grade 55, and Grade 105, can be either hot-dip galvanized or mechanically galvanized. The issues of hydrogen embrittlement and/or mechanical properties being alerted during galvanizing are not an issue with any of these three grades. In Section 7... Read more