The Most Common Types of Bolts and Their Uses

Whether you’re repairing furniture at home or working in the construction industry, fasteners are essential for pulling the whole project together. That said, many types of fasteners are available. Furthermore, certain fastener options have subsections. For example, there is a wide array of bolts available for your next project. Start learning the most common types of bolts and their uses with the detailed guide below.
Anchor Bolts
You can easily spot an anchor bolt by its distinct L-shaped appearance. That said, if you spot one of these fasteners out in the wild, you’ll only see a portion. The reason for this is that anchor bolts are the go-to tools for anchoring structures or equipment to concrete; it’s a pretty straightforward moniker.
After installing anchor bolts into concrete, the only portion visible is the threaded tip. Furthermore, these fasteners frequently sport washers and nuts to ensure excellent security. Although anchor bolts serve a simple but invaluable purpose, you can find bolts available that serve a wider array of building needs.
Carriage Bolts
Carriage bolts are impressively solid and reliable fasteners thanks to their square undercut, smooth mushroom head, and machine screw threads. Unlike anchors, carriage bolts are most helpful in securing metal to wood. That said, you can find carriage bolts available that are better for attaching wood to wood or metal to metal, widening the scope of projects this tool can help create.
Furthermore, these versatile fasteners are optimal for both DIY home projects and construction work. Thankfully, reputable metric carriage bolts suppliers are quick to find online, whether you’re buying small quantities or bulk.
Hex Bolts
Finally, discussing the most common types of bolts and their uses requires a mention of hex bolts; they aren’t as supernatural as they sound. Typically, hex bolts are fully threaded, but some have only partial threading, so ensure you know which one you’re buying before committing to a pack.
This fastener gets its name from the hexagonal shape of its head. Like carriage bolts, hex bolts are prominent for DIY uses at home and heavy-duty applications in the construction and automotive industries.