Different types of screws and bolts have an exterior thread. Often, an assembly prevents bolts from turning, necessitating the application of torque to the nut to loosen them.
However, screws can penetrate materials and fit into pre-tapped holes. The materials frequently secure the screw head by exerting torque on it.
A “screw” is a small, pointed metal tip with a long, slotted shaft and helical threads used to twist items together. Screws, a type of fastener, fasten materials using tools like hammers or screwdrivers.
Bolts are made from steel, iron, wood, and thermoplastic.
There 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, it may require a nut to tightly lock. Woodworking and metalworking projects commonly use screws and bolts. Well, in this reading, we’ll explore the various kinds of screws and bolts.
Let’s begin!
Different Types of Screws and Bolts
The different types of screws and bolts include carriage bolts, fillister head screws, hex cap screws, lag screws, machine screws, shoulder screws, sheet metal screws, socket-hand screws, masonry screws, oval head screws, pan-head screws, etc.
Below are the different types of screws and bolts with their distinction in head, thread, and tip:
1. Carriage Bolts
The purpose of carriage bolt types is to secure wood to metal or metal to metal. The carriage bolt distinguishes itself from other bolts with its rounded shank and shallow mushroom head. The domed head of the carriage bolt prevents slipping from one side.
Additionally, the larger screw head prevents the bolt from dragging through the wooden structure. We use a domed head nut to prevent the carriage bolt from loosening from the unsecured side.
Fillister head screws refer to slotter head machine fasteners with extraordinarily large heads. We use them to secure wood or metal components to one another.
They are also known as “cheese head screws” and resemble panhead machine screws but have a taller side profile. These types of screw heads fit counterbored holes well.
3. Hex Cap Screws
As their name suggests, these screws are large-sized bolts with a hexagonal head. They serve the purpose of joining wood or metal to wood, boasting a flat washer beneath the screw head for precise applications.
Hex screws consist of tiny threads that make them ideal for interior home improvement projects or stainless-steel exterior tasks.
4. Hammer Drive Screws
These screw types fall into the self-tapping screw group. These screws typically have rounded heads without any slots. Hammer drive screws not only hang nameplates and wall signs but also seal drain holes. They are also very helpful for tubular structures that resist corrosion.
To speed up the assembly process, hammer a screw or mallet into the holes, just like you would with nails. To correctly install them, a small pre-drilled hole is necessary before beginning.
5. Lag Screws
Hexagonal heads equip lag screws for high-impact applications. 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 neither moisture nor air can get inside of them, they are also rust-resistant.
6. Machine screws
A socket in the head of a machine screw allows for the twisting of components with a screwdriver. Industries such as electronics, engineering, and manufacturing machinery frequently use them to retain machine parts.
We use these types of screws to secure a tapped hole to a surface. As the screws tighten, tensile loads hold the components together. Metal components typically utilize their pointy tips to join together.
Practically any material, including nylon, brass, stainless steel, and carbon steel, now contains them.
7. 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.
One part can securely fasten the other half, which has axial clearance, without locking it. By serving as a shaft for rotating objects like shoulder bearings, these screws offer flexibility.
8. Modified Truss Screws
Self-tapping screws, also known as round washer heads or wafer heads, refer to modified truss screws. Various sectors such as HVAC, sheet metal, and woodworking utilize these screws.
You can use the screws to attach the ductwork parts of the air conditioner or to install insulation on wood and metal surfaces.
They are also useful for basic metal or aluminum framing tasks. A larger truss head provides a bigger bearing surface area for fastening metal frames.
9. Sheet Metal Screws
You can use these screws to join sheet metal pieces with tubing or other types of metal. The different styles of sheet metal screw heads that are available include flat, hex, and round.
The weather resistance of these slotted screws comes from their pure steel construction and their aluminum or stainless steel coating. The welding industry uses these screws.
10. Socket-Head Screws
Socket-head screws are the best choice when positioning a fastener below the surface of a material. They are highly resistant to corrosion and extremely strong, reliable, and durable. Additionally, they have a lovely finish and are appealing.
11. Masonry Screws
Masonry screws, also known as heavy-duty screws, hold brick, mortar joints, concrete, CMU, and other sturdy materials in place.
They come with or without rust treatment and are constructed of carbon steel or stainless steel. Before fitting the masonry screw, you must first pre-drill a small hole using a carbide bit or hammer drill.
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.
12. Oval Head Screws
Oval head screw types have their heads undercut or trimmed with shorter screw lengths to enable a longer thread grip. 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 excellent options when the finished product needs to be attractive. These types of screws are strong and durable.
13. Pan-Head Screws
The panhead screw is a common non-countersunk screw head in wood. This screw type also includes self-drilling, self-tapping, and machine screws.
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.
Industrial and automobile engines primarily use these screws to secure their metal components.
14. Particle Board Screws
Particle boards use full-length threaded screws. These screw types have the advantage of a larger thread that results in better engagement and pulling power.
Composite wood, such as craft wood or laminated particle board, is the intended use for this type of screw. Cabinet makers also use this type of screw in their household and commercial joinery.
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.
15. Square Head Bolts
These types of bolts are very similar to hexagonal-shaped cap screws. The only difference is that these bolts feature a 4-sided square head, rather than a 6-sided hex head. The square head allows a better wrench grip during fastening.
Using a grip wrench, you can drive these types of bolts, also known as screws. People often use them for aesthetic purposes, like adding character to a new structure or matching the existing bolts in older buildings.
These types of screws tap their own thread. To install these screws, drill a hole slightly smaller than the screw’s diameter. After drilling, drive the self-tapping screw into the wood.
The screw’s thread will penetrate the wood at the appropriate diameter, ensuring its security. Keep in mind, these screws work best on soft materials such as wood.
You can use self-tapping screws in all kinds of materials, not just wood, such as metal and brick. 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.
17. Thread-Cutting Screws
These machine screw types consist of sharp edges, which is why the depth hole should be a little longer than the screw. This will avoid any material entrapment within the device.
The purpose of thread-cutting screws is to minimize the creation of internal device stresses, making them ideal for extremely stiff materials. Learn about the types of fasteners here!
18. 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.
19. Wood Screws
These screws, which feature a threaded shaft, serve to connect wood to wood. They have different thread times and are available in a range of different heads. We also use wood screws to secure thin materials to wood.
Besides the standard stainless steel or brass screws, there are also flat and round-headed varieties. The flat-head screws are highly useful for securing hinges.
20. 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. You can achieve this by using a washer and nut. The tabs of weld screws extend from the head so that hole drilling will not be required.
We will then fasten the welding stud to a metal piece. The automotive, industrial, marine, construction, cookware, and aerospace industries frequently use these types of screws.
21. Tamper-Proof Screw
Tamper-proof screws make it difficult or impossible to remove them once installed. These are ideal for usage as a technique of regulating or preventing destruction in structures or locations that are open to the public.
These screws, known as safety screws, are distinguished by their unique drive, which makes them more difficult to tamper with or disassemble. Jails typically use these screws to secure items such as grill bars, gutters, and license plates.
22. Elevator Bolts
Elevator bolts find widespread use in diverse applications, serving to secure various types of flooring and level the legs of wooden furniture. They are also common on skateboards and snowmobiles.
The design features a standard right-hand thread, available in both long and short lengths that are fully threaded. These bolts can have a countersunk flat head, a shallow conical head, a square neck under the head, or a unified thread, among other variations.
23. Hanger Bolts
These types of bolts are headless screws used mainly for wooden material to provide an additional external thread. They also serve to establish an internal fastening joint. In their design, one side of the hanger bolt threads together with a self-tapping lag screw, which grips the wood.
The bolt’s other side features machine screw threads designed for a nut. This is why hanger bolts are very useful in storm shutter applications. However, they are also commonly used in furniture manufacturing, framing, and flooring joints.
24. Set Screws
A set screw secures an object to or against another object. For instance, a set screw secures a gear or pulley to a shaft. Set screws fully thread without protruding a head.
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.
25. Decking Screws
Deck screws are specialized fasteners used largely for outdoor applications to join decks (flat, roofless buildings). Carbon or stainless steel composes decking screws, which primarily 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.
26. 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. By inserting the two pointed ends into two surfaces, one can create a concealed joint.
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.
27. 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 threaded and effectively grip 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.
28. 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 bolt screws secure an eye to a system or structure, simplifying the process of knotting cables or ropes.
Made of metal and very lightweight, they provide stability and strength, allowing for easy removal or hoisting of an object using a rope. Standard applications for eyebolt screws include anchoring, pulling, pushing, and hoisting.
For applications such as sheet metal, wood, laminate, composite decking, and cement fiberboard, framing screws serve as versatile fasteners. 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 enables the sealing of the hole without causing any harm to the material’s surface.
30. 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. We design the threaded legs or arms to work with screws and washers. You can also use these bolts with a crosspiece for a more secure outcome.
You can insert these types of bolts into pre-drilled or punched holes. Plumbing, industrial, and construction works commonly use these bolts.
31. T-Bolts
These types of bolts have a T-shaped head in order to be held by a wrench or to be easily fixed in place. Provides a long-lasting connection. They are used in buildings, instruments, furniture, automobiles, etc.
32. Timber Bolts
Timber bolts are sometimes referred to as mushroom head bolts or dome head bolts. Treated lumber, marine applications, and wood construction.
33. Toggle Bolts
Toggle bolts are sometimes called butterfly anchors. Full threaded shafts with a nut in the shape of an expanding wing. They are used for hanging heavy elements in plaster and drywall.
34. Flange Bolts
Flange bolts are washers on the underside of a hex head. They help in the distribution of force from the bearing load. Also referred to as frame bolts. flange types of bolts are used on frame applications such as truck and bed frames.
35. Hanger Bolts
Hanger bolts do not come with a bolt head. This is to say, both ends of the bolt are threaded. One of the ends is in the shape of a wood screw. Hanger types of bolts are used in overhead applications and fastening metal to wood.
36. Hex Bolts
Hex bolts are bolts that are fully or partially threaded with six-sided heads. Their broad range of use includes the construction and repair of bridges, docks, highway elements, and buildings.
37. J Bolts
J bolts shape like a letter J. A non-curved section is threaded Structural applications such as fastening walls to concrete.
38. Lag Bolts
Lag bolts are one of the toughest types of fasteners. It creates its own thread when it penetrates the wood and other soft material. These types of bolts connect heavy materials that are bearing extreme loads.
39. Machine Bolts
Machine bolts consist of square heads paired with a semi-cone point and a fully threaded shaft. They can be used to fasten wood to wood, wood to metal, and metal to metal. They can also be used in general hardware.
40. Plow Bolts
Plow bolts are similar to carriage attachments. They have a countersunk flat head followed by a square undercut and a threaded shaft. plow types of bolts are used in applications where the top surface of where the bolt is fastened needs to be smooth.
They are often used in the manufacture of plows in the early days.
41. Roof Bolts
Roof bolts are made of a shaft that is to be placed in a pre-drilled hole. They are used in tunneling and underground mining. These types of bolts can also provide support to the roof.
42. Anchor Bolts
bolts having an L-shaped part that isn’t threaded on one end and a threaded portion on the other. commonly seen with a washer and a nut. designed to withstand corrosion.
These types of bolts are used to anchor equipment to concrete as well as to hold light poles, structural beams, and other objects.
43. Eye Bolts
The eye bolts are rod-shaped fasteners with threads on one end and bent into a loop on another. They are suitable for lifting applications such as wire and rope in light rigging.
44. Shoulder Bolts
Shoulder bolts are also known as shoulder screws. They consist of a long, unthreaded, cylindrical shank that helps the rotation of attached moving parts. They are used in pulleys, moving engine parts and mechanical assemblies, gears, and rolling wheels.
45. Square Head bolts
Square bolts have square heads, followed by a smooth shank and a machine screw thread. They can also be fully threaded in the absence of a smooth shank. The design of the head facilitates easier wrench grip when tightening.
These types of bolts are used in all kinds of industrial, agricultural, and construction applications.
46. Step Bolts
The shank of a step bolt may be plain or textured. It is a high-strength, threaded bolt used as steps for climbing on steel communication and electrical transmission towers.
47. Structural Bolts
Structural bolts are similar to the standard hex head bolts but have shorter thread lengths in order to be used in structural applications. These types of bolts can be used in all types of structural connections.
