FAQ
Remember to check with your engineer or manufacturer instructions before beginning a project or ordering anchor bolts. The answers supplied on this F.A.Q. are for informational purposes only, and reflect common questions we receive from customers.
What is Hot Dip Galvanizing?
Hot-dip galvanizing is a process of coating steel or iron with a layer of zinc to protect it from corrosion. The process involves cleaning the steel or iron and then immersing it in a bath of molten zinc. As the steel or iron is submerged in the zinc, a chemical reaction occurs, creating a bond between the zinc and the steel or iron.
This process provides a protective coating that is much thicker and more durable than other forms of zinc coating, such as electroplating. The zinc coating acts as a barrier between the steel or iron and the environment, preventing rust and corrosion. The coating is also metallurgically bonded to the steel, providing a more effective barrier against corrosion.
Hot-dip galvanizing is used for a wide range of applications, including structural steel, guardrails, highway sign supports, transmission towers, and more. It is also commonly used on fasteners such as anchor bolts, as the zinc coating provides a strong barrier against corrosion.
Do you need Domestic material and Certifications?
All of our steel bolts are made in the USA from Domestic material. We have chemical and physical certs for all of our grade A36, grade 55 and 105. We will let you know if certs are not available for any item. It is always best to ask for certs with the original order. We can certify any stainless bolt we make but some of our stainless is imported. We can use domestic if requested. We charge $25.00 for certs ordered with the parts and $50.00 if they are requested at a later date.
Most of our nuts, washers, and other hardware are imported. Some customers require domestic bolts but can live with imported hardware because some domestic items are becoming hard to get. We can get domestic in a day or two if you request them and we do stock some domestic nuts and washers. Sadly there are some items we can’t get in the USA anymore at all. We are a manufacturer so we can produce almost any hardware in house with enough time and money. Some customers don’t care if it is domestic but they need certs for everything. Domestic will normally be a little more expensive. We can provide full certs on domestic hardware if requested but we can only provide a Certificate of compliance on imported hardware.
If you are working on a highway project, railroad, government or military building, power plant you will probably need certifications and you may need domestic.
Roll Thread vs. Cut Thread
Note: Most of our Anchor bolts are roll threaded.
Roll threading an anchor bolt produces a stronger thread and weighs less than a cut threaded anchor bolt. The threads are stronger because roll threading is actually forming the threads and cold working the metal. It pushes the root of the thread down and the crest up. Rolled threads are clean and smooth and don’t create any waste in the form of shavings.
The material diameter of Rolled anchor bolts is normally about the same as the pitch size of the thread. The pitch is the midpoint between the bottom and the top of the thread. A 1” round A36 anchor bolt will measure about .910 diameter. We can provide cut thread bolts if you need them. Please specify if it is important what type of thread you get. Most of the time either cut thread or rolled thread will work equally for any anchor bolt project.
Can I buy grade 36 or B7 at my local hardware?
Most anchor bolts for sale at the local hardware are imported and can’t be certified. Our anchor bolts are certified to meet grade A36, grade 55, Grade 105, or B7 steel and have full chemical and physical certifications and will meet any of the USA specs like F1554.
Does standard all thread rod that my local distributor stocks meet the requirements of F1554 grade 36?
NO, threaded rod is made from untested wire. Most commercial threaded rod is imported and can’t be certified. Threaded rod was never intended to be used as an anchor bolt. If you want to get an F1554 anchor bolt make sure to ask for the certs. A36 and grade 55 are tested for all mechanical properties like tensile, yield and elongation.
Can I galvanize F1554 anchor bolts?
Yes, we can galvanize any of the steel bolts we make. We have an extensive stock of galvanized standards or we can make specials of any shape or size. Most of the galvanized stock we have are in F1554 grade 55. Because F1554 grade 55 exceeds F1554 grade 36 it will work for either F1554 grade 55 or F1554 grade 36.
What is tensile strength?
The force it takes to pull a material until it breaks. Anchor bolts grades are listed not by tensile but by yield strength.
What is yield strength?
Yield is the force it take to deform a part plastically. That is the place where when you pull it won’t spring back to shape when let go. Bolts will stretch to a point but when they hit the yield point they are permanently deformed. The F1554 grades are defined by minimum yield. F1554 grade 36 is 36,000 PSI minimum yield. F1554 grade 55 is 55,000 PSI minimum yield and grade 105 is 105,000 minimum yield. All our bolt material is tested for yield and certs are available.
Will my anchor bolt rust?
Any steel will eventually rust. Rusting can be slowed by hot dip galvanizing or painting. We regularly supply bolts that have been epoxy painted or galvanized to stop rust. We also can supply A588 steel bolts that are designed to rust to a point on the surface then stop. A588 can be used unpainted outside for many years. A588 is also known as weathering steel or Cor-ten. A good question is will rusting bolts hurt my project? Most bolts that hold up interior walls will never rust enough to matter but that is a question for your engineer to answer.
Can I use stainless steel instead of regular steel?
You can as long as your engineer approves its use. Stainless has different tensile and yield properties. Because stainless is more expensive I would only use it if is needed for its corrosion resistance. The typical uses we see for stainless bolts are medical facilities, food production, projects in or near salt water.
Can I weld to F1554 anchor bolts?
We regularly weld nuts, washers and plates to F1554 grade 36 and F1554 grade 55 bolts. We don’t recommend welding to grade 105 steel.
Is there a standard size anchor bolt?
There are no national standard sizes but we do have a long list of stock and semi-stock sizes.
What kind of bolts do I need for a light pole?
The only correct answer is whatever your engineer or product instructions say you need. We sell lots of Light pole anchors and most are 1” x 36” long bent hot dip galvanized grade 36 or 55, but only an engineer can tell you for sure what you need to hold up your light pole. We do normally stock the most popular light pole sizes.