krappy bolts or????

carl reitnauer · May 25, 2015

Last week bought 20 3/8 lag screws from TSC to bolt some PT yellow pine together. drilled 1/4 inch pilot holes,used a 3/8 ratchet to twist them in.
nearly half twisted up before getting seated. Were the pilot holes too small? ALL the bolts twisted off under the head where the threading ended. It
was typical yellow pine;nails drove in comfortably. What went wrong???????

JD Seller · May 25, 2015

Cheap bolts made in the land of almost right. US made hardware is just about impossible to find anymore unless you order it.

Janicholson · May 25, 2015

JD is correct they are probably old roofing material and buick sheet metal. US made can be found on the net, and from Fastenall Jim

Steve@Advance · May 25, 2015

Lag bolts and carriage bolts are typically not very strong, some worse than others, hard to tell what you getting until you try to use them. Drilling the pilot holes larger would have helped, especially in wet PT lumber.

An alternative, but more expensive, is the blue screws made for concrete. They won't need a pilot hole unless splitting is an issue, just power them in.

Eldon (WA) · May 25, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:02:27 05/25/15) Last week bought 20 3/8 lag screws from TSC to bolt some PT yellow pine together. drilled 1/4 inch pilot holes,used a 3/8 ratchet to twist them in.
nearly half twisted up before getting seated. Were the pilot holes too small? ALL the bolts twisted off under the head where the threading ended. It
was typical yellow pine;nails drove in comfortably. What went wrong???????

I would have drilled clearance holes in one of the boards....

Bryce Frazier · May 25, 2015

Agreed!

We have a Fastenall guy that delivers to Sandpoint. I try to buy all of my "odd" stuff from him. Lags, Carridge, BIG/Strength bolts. Their American Made "2's" are about the same strength as the chinese "5's"....

Cheaper too....

mite-help · May 25, 2015

I still have some used hardware left from scrapped out items. real fond of my bolts that say 'CAT' on the head. only wish I'd took the time to save more.

notjustair · May 25, 2015

And galvanized lags twist off unless you hold your tongue just right. And your neighbor and his uncle do the same. Just saying...

showcrop · May 25, 2015

I have had the same situation. I redrilled the outer piece to 3/8 leaving the inner at 1/4.

phil_n · May 25, 2015

I think the hot-dipped galvanized are very weak - always go for the ones that look like chrome.

Bryan inIowa · May 26, 2015

SPAX is the way to go. Pricey but very strong .

NoNewParts · May 26, 2015

ya, lag screws are weak.
probably not supposed to, but I lube em to keep them
from twisting off.
out in the field, just one.....spit on it.
final tightening I use a 1/4" drive 3 " long ratchet to cut down on the muscle.

JML755 · May 26, 2015

yeah, I've had a few snap in new treated lumber even when I drill a pilot hole. I attributed it to the wetness of the wood, figuring the holes closed up a little after I pulled the drill out. I just oversized the bit a hair and redrilled the first ones, then used the up-sized bit for the others, problem gone. BTW, I was using an impact wrench to drive them.

MarkB_MI · May 27, 2015

I've given up on hardware-store lag screws, which are invariably made in China and apparently to no specification. Even if you drill a generous pilot hole, if you have to take them out they're almost always work-hardened and will snap off. I now use so-called "construction screws", such as the "SPAX" brand sold at HD. Most do not require pre-drilling and I have never twisted one off.

krappy bolts or????

carl reitnauer

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JD Seller

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Janicholson

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Steve@Advance

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Eldon (WA)

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Bryce Frazier

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mite-help

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notjustair

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showcrop

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phil_n

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Bryan inIowa

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NoNewParts

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JML755

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MarkB_MI

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