Types of screw and bolt and their uses

Both screws and bolts have an exterior thread. When a part of an assembly, bolts are frequently prevented from turning and must be loosened by providing torque to the nut. However, screws have the ability to pierce materials and can be inserted into pre-tapped holes. By exerting torque on the screw head, they are frequently secured to the materials.

They have been special types of joints used in almost all applications to put parts together. They are fasteners made from metal having a head at one end, and a point at the other end. Although the bolt is not point-ended and it may require a nut to tightly lock. Screws and bolts are commonly used on woodworking and metalworking projects.

So, with further explanation, The term “screw” refers to a small, pointed metal tip with a long, slotted shaft and helical threads that are used to twist items together. Using tools like hammers or screwdrivers, screws are a type of fastener that are used to fasten materials. while steel, iron, and other types of metals, as well as wood and plastic, are used to make bolts. To work properly during installation, bolts need a nut and an already-existing hole. Bolts consist of a head at the top, a shank in the middle, and a chamfer at the bottom. The head provides a foundation for tools to either produce or endure torque. The bolt’s longest component, the shank, houses the threads. The chamfer also enables the bolt to be placed into a nut or pre-tapped hole.

Well, in this article, you’ll get to know the various types of screws and bolts, their differences, and their uses.

Read more: Understanding screw and bolt

Types of screw and bolt

The followings are the most common types of screws and bolts with the distinction in their head, thread, or tip:

1. Carriage bolts
2. Fillister head screws
3. Hex cap screws
4. Hammer drive screws
5. Lag screws
6. Machine screws
7. Shoulder screws
8. Sheet metal screws
9. Socket-head screws
10. Masonry screws
11. Oval head screws
12. Pan-head screws
13. Particle board screws
14. Square head bolts
15. Self-drilling screws
16. Thread cutting screws
17. Washer-faced screws
18. Wood screws
19. Weld screws
20. Tamper-proof screw
21. Set screws
22. Decking screws
23. Double ended screws
24. Drywall screws
25. Eyebolt screws
26. Framing screws

Carriage bolts

Carriage bolt types are used to fasten wood to metal or metal to metal. Its shank is rounded all the way around, and its shallow mushroom head sets it apart from other bolts. The carriage bolt’s domed head is made to prevent slipping from one side. Additionally, the bolt cannot be dragged through the wooden structure due to the larger screw head. A domed head nut is used to stop the carriage bolt from loosening from the side that isn’t secured.

Fillister head screws

Slotter head machine fasteners with enormously large heads are called fillister head screws. They are employed to fasten wood or metal to metal. They are also known as “cheese head screws” and resemble pan head machine screws but have a taller side profile. These types of screw heads fit counterbored holes well.

Hex cap screws

These types of screws are large-sized bolts with a hexagonal head, just as they are named. They are used to join wood or metal to wood and they feature a flat washer under the screw head and provide precise applications. Hex screws consist of tiny threads that make them ideal for interior home improvement projects or stainless-steel exterior tasks.

Hammer drive screws

These screw types fall into the self-tapping screw group. Typically, the heads of these screws are rounded and without slots. Nameplates and wall signs can be hung with hammer drive screws, and they can also be used to seal drain holes. They are also very helpful for tubular structures that resist corrosion. In order to facilitate quick assembly, screws serve a similar purpose as nails by being hammered into the holes using a hammer or mallet. To correctly install them, a small pre-drilled hole is necessary before beginning.

Lag screws

Lag screws are intended for high-impact applications and have hexagonal heads. The sidewalls of desks and wood-retaining structures frequently use them. These types of screws are incredibly strong, long-lasting, and sturdy. They have a high-carbon steel core and an exterior layer of galvanized zinc, which guards against rust and corrosion. Since no moisture nor air can get inside of them, they are also rust-resistant.

Machine screws

A machine screw is used to attach components that can be twisted with a screwdriver thanks to a socket in the head. They are frequently used to retain machine parts in sectors including electronics, engineering, and manufacturing machinery.
These types of screws are used to use a nut to secure a tapped hole to the surface. Tensile loads hold the components together while the screws are stretched during tightening. Their pointy tips are typically utilized to join metal components. They can now be found in practically any material, such as nylon, brass, stainless steel, and carbon steel.

Shoulder screws

This type of screw enables a freely spinning pin joint connection in one part and fits into the other. Just below the head, there is a large diameter shank that tapers down to a smaller diameter for the threaded length. The other half has axial clearance and can be securely fastened to one part without locking it. By serving as a shaft for rotating objects like shoulder bearings, these screws offer flexibility.

Modified truss screws

Modified truss screws are self-tapping screws that are referred to as round washer heads or wafer heads. Different industries like HVAC, sheet metal, and woodworking. The screws can be used to attach the air conditioner’s ductwork parts or for insulation installation on wood and metal surfaces. They can also be used for simple metal or aluminum framing work. A larger truss head provides a bigger bearing surface area for fastening metal frames.

Sheet metal screws

These kinds of screws can be used to join sheet metal pieces with tubing or other kinds of metal. The different styles of sheet metal screw heads that are available include flat, hex, and round. These slotted screws are made of pure steel and have an aluminum or stainless steel coating for weather resistance. These screws are used in the welding industry.

Socket-head screws

Screws with socket heads, when a fastener must be positioned below the surface of a material, socket-head screws are the best choice. They are highly resistant to corrosion and extremely strong, reliable, and durable. Additionally, they have a nice finish and are appealing.

Masonry screws

Heavy-duty screws are known to be masonry screws and they are used to secure brick, mortar joints, concrete, CMU, and other sturdy materials in place. They come with or without a rust treatment and are constructed of carbon steel or stainless steel. A small hole must first be pre-drilled with a carbide bit or hammer drill before the masonry screw can be fitted. There are two types of masonry screws: those with a flat head for countersinking and those with a hex washer head to rest on top of the material’s surface.

Oval head screws

In order to enable a longer thread grip, oval head screw types are designed to have their heads undercut or trimmed with shorter screw lengths. The countersunk is shallower on screws with oval undercut heads. They are perfect for concealing switches since the oval countersunk screw head has an attractive rounded finish top. They are also great options when the finished product needs to be attractive. These types of screws are strong and durable.

Pan-head screws

A typical non-countersunk screw head used in wood is the pan head screw. Self-drilling, self-tapping, and machine screws are also included in this screw type. Wide heads, flat bearing surfaces, and flat heads with rounded sides that rest on top of the material they fasten to are all features of these fasteners.

The drive slot is deeper and has a wider diameter and higher edges, allowing for more torque while lessening the possibility of screw damage. Any screwdriver will work with pan-head screws that have single cuts in their slotted heads. These screws are mostly used to secure metal pieces of industrial and automobile engines.

Particle board screws

Full-length threaded screws are what are used for particle boards. These screw types have the advantage of a larger thread that results in better engagement and pulling power. This kind of screw is intended for composite wood, such as craft-wood or laminated particle board. also used in household and commercial joinery by cabinet makers. Similar to drywall screws, particle board screws come in shorter lengths than typical drywall screws. They are lightweight, making them portable and simple to handle. Cabinet makers utilize these screws in both residential and commercial joinery.

Square head bolts

These types of bolts are very much similar to hexagonal-shaped cap screws. Only that, they have a 4-sided square head instead of a 6-sided hex head. The square head allows a better wrench grip during fastening. These types of bolts are also referred to as screws and are designed to be driven using a grip wrench. They are often used for aesthetic purposes, such as adding character to a new structure or matching the existing bolts in older buildings.

Self-drilling screws

These types of screws tap their own thread. In their installation, the hole must be drilled slightly smaller than the screw’s diameter. Once drilled, the self-tapping screw can then be driven in. The thread of the screw will dig into the wood in the right diameter of the screw keeping it secure. Note, they are used on soft materials like wood. Self-tapping screws can be used in all kinds of materials like metal and brick, not just wood. However, on harder surfaces, it may be best to choose the self-tapping screws that have pointed tips on their thread to cut into the material.

Thread cutting screws

These machine screw types consist of sharp edges which is why the depth hole should be a litter longer than the screw. This will avoid the material from getting trapped inside the device. The purpose of thread-cutting screws is to minimize the creation of internal device stresses, making them ideal for extremely stiff materials.

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Washer-faced screws

These kinds of screws reduce the gap between the nut and the screw head by acting as springs. There are numerous types and sizes of washer-faced screws. In general, some varieties have teeth that enter the workpiece’s surface and secure the screw head inside. The washer face is just below the head in this style, offering a smooth bearing surface for simple tightening.

Wood screws

These types of screws consist of a threaded shaft and are used to join wood to wood. They have different thread times and are available in a range of different heads. Wood screws are also used to attach thin materials to wood. Apart from the regular screw made from stainless steel or brass, there are flat and round heads. The flat-head screws are highly useful for securing hinges.

Weld screws

Weld types of screws are welded to metal or aluminum surfaces to create a shaft for the components that are to be fitted or fastened. This can be achieved by using a washer and nut. The tabs of weld screws extend from the head so that hole drilling will not be required. The welding stud will then be fastened to a metal piece. These types of screws are frequently used in the automotive, industrial, marine, construction, cookware, and aerospace industries.

Tamper-proof screw

When fitted, tamper-proof screws are made difficult or impossible to remove. These are ideal for usage as a technique of regulating or preventing destruction in structures or locations that are open to the public. These types of screws are the safety screws that are distinguishable by the unusual drive that makes them harder to tamper with or disassemble. These screws are generally used in jails to fasten items like grill bars, gutters, and license plates.

Elevator bolts

Elevator bolts are widely used in various applications, they can secure any type of flooring, level wooden furniture legs. They are also common on skateboards and snowmobiles. In their design, the thread is standard right-hand and they can be long or short lengths that are fully threaded. The head of these types of bolts can be countersunk flat, shallow conical, square neck under the head, or a unified thread, and others.

Hanger bolts

These types of bolts are headless screws used mainly for wooden material to provide an additional external thread. They are also used to create an internal fastening joint. In their design, one side of the hanger bolt thread together with a self-tapping lag screw, grips into the wood. While the other side of the bolt has machine screw threads for a nut. This is why hanger bolts are very useful in storm shutter applications. although they are also common in furniture making, framing, and flooring joints.

Set screws

This type of screw is used to fasten an object to or against another object. For instance, a gear or pulley is secured to a shaft using a set screw. Set screws are fully threaded without a head sticking out. Also, they are available in different shapes and sizes. The most common variation includes flat set screws, knurled cup screws, and cup point screws. All these screws have different purposes.

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Decking screws

Deck screws are specialized fasteners used largely for outdoor applications to join decks (flat, roofless buildings). Decking screws are comprised of carbon or stainless steel and are created primarily to connect boards made of wood or composite materials. These types of screws are designed in such a way that they can survive corrosion and coatings like rust, which allows them to withstand wet weather conditions. They come in wrapped threads with pointed tips and sharp edges.

Double ended screws

Threaded fasteners known as double-ended screws are utilized to create a joint that is typically below the object. These are typically utilized with two pieces of wood or two moving parts. They have two pointed ends that can be used to create a concealed joint by inserting them into two surfaces. These types of screws are known as headless screws with revolving threads at both ends that can be made of a combination of wood screws or machine screws. Double-ended screws are simple to use since they are simple to attach to or remove from the user.

Drywall screws

Drywall screws are standard fasteners for securing partial or full sheets of drywall to the wall or ceiling joist. They are available in two types including coarse drywall screws mostly used for wood studs. They are widely threads, effective in gripping into the wood. On the other hand, fine drywall screws are self-threading, which makes them perfect for metal studs. They have double threads for easier and more practical self-starting.

Read more: List of best drywall anchors

Eyebolt screws

A bolt with an eye-shaped loop at one end and threading on the screw’s shank at the other is known as an eye bolt. These types of bolt screws are used to secure a secure eye to a system or structure, making it simple to knot cables or ropes. They are made of metal and are very lightweight, providing stability and strength so that an object may be taken out or hoisted with ease using a rope. Standard applications for eyebolt screws include anchoring, pulling, pushing, and hoisting.

Framing screws

Framing screws are seen as multi-use fasteners for sheet metal, wood, laminate, composite decking, and cement fiberboard applications. they are designed to countersink into many different materials like hardwood flooring and brittle composite. These types of screws work very similarly to circular saw blades as they prevent the sawdust from getting to the edge of the screw hole. This allows the hole to be sealed without damaging the surface of the material.

U-bolts

U-bolts are industrial fasteners designed in the shape of a U with two threaded legs or arms to provide a bent base. The threaded legs or arms are designed to be used with screws and washers. These bolts can also be used with a crosspiece for a more secure result. These types of bolts can be inserted in pre-drilled or punched holes. They are commonly used in plumbing, industrial, and construction works.

That is all for this article, where the various types of screws and bolts are discussed.  I hope you get a lot from the reading, if so, kindly share with other students. Thanks for reading, see you next time!