Throughout your home, bolts and screws are the unsung heroes, holding things together and keeping them in place. These little devices are known as fasteners, and they come in all different shapes and sizes. Among the most popular fasteners for home improvement projects are hex head screws and hex head bolts, but what are they, and what do they do? Read on to find out.
What is the Hex Head?
All screws and bolts consist of two main parts, the shank and the head. The shank is either partially or fully threaded, allowing the fastener to screw into place and be secured by torque. The head is positioned at the end of the shank, and it contains the drive, which can be tightened and loosened using a tool.
In the case of hex screws and hex bolts, the head is hexagonal shaped, which allows it to be tightened with either a hex key or a wrench. This makes them unique to other types of fasteners, which usually use a screwdriver. Screws are driven into threaded holes, while bolts need to be attached using a nut.
Whether you use a hex head screw or bolt, you’ll find that it’s easy to tighten these fasteners and apply a lot of force. In addition, you can use the hex key or wrench to loosen the head and remove the fastener when you’re disassembling something.
What Are Hex Bolts and Screws Made From?
These fasteners can be made from a variety of different materials. Most commonly, stainless steel is used as it’s a corrosion-resistant material that can withstand different temperatures and offers a high level of tensile strength.
Slightly expensive fasteners may also use brass for increased resistance against corrosion. These are useful, especially in outdoor environments where they may be exposed to the weather. On the other hand, zinc-plated steel is less resistant to corrosion, so it is better suited for indoor use.
The Advantages of Hex Bolts and Screws
Compared to standard screws that use screwdrivers, bolts and hex screws are better suited to heavy-duty applications. The fact that they’re fastened with a wrench or hex key allows them to generate a greater amount of torque without damaging the head, meaning they can be fixed much tighter.
Normally, this makes hex bolts and hex screws ideal for bridges, buildings and road structures, where they need to support a large load. Strength and load bearing are extremely important in these applications, where a single fault could mean serious accidents and damage is caused.
However, these fasteners can also be used in and around your home. The increased strength makes them ideal for projects where you need to think about how much load the joint has the bear. In addition, using heavy-duty hex bolts and screws may mean you need to use fewer fasteners than you normally would.
How to Choose Hex Bolts and Screws
If you’re planning on doing some repair work or building something within your home, hex bolts and screws offer a lot of advantages. Before you get started, take a look at all the different types of fasteners available and think about which one will be most effective for the work you’re doing. Although hex bolts are screws are suitable for a lot of tasks, they may not always be the most effective.
Once you’ve decided on which type of fastener you’re using, it’s important to look at the size. The length and diameter of screws will have a major impact on how much weight they can support and how secure the joint is. Consider the depth of the material and whether or not the fastener will penetrate it properly.
