Lag or carriage bolts can be used to attach two pieces of wood together; the distinction is in the thickness of the bolt. Cost, durability, and intended application are three things to bear in mind when choosing the proper bolt for your project. After carefully weighing all of the pertinent aspects, you will be able to select the ideal bolt for your needs using the information provided here.
When choosing the appropriate bolt, there are numerous things to consider. Among these, safety is definitely the most important. Your efforts shouldn’t be wasted, of course. A nut must be placed on each side of the carriage bolt before it is inserted because the bolt is not threaded and needs to be tightened after installation. By adding an extra nut to the bolt’s head, you can avoid yourself from using excessive effort if a carriage bolt breaks free while it’s in operation. Threads are present on both ends of lag bolts, which are resistant to this issue.
Lag bolts have threaded ends, so this is not a problem. They won’t unthread as easily because their greater thread length has more holding ability. When choosing between lag bolts and carriage bolts, the available space must also be taken into account. As their name suggests, lag bolts are used to connect two items that are facing the opposite directions without the usage of an anchor. When used independently, carriage bolts may require an anchor hole or another support component since they can only be threaded on one end.
Either lag bolts or carriage bolts are excellent choices when a long service life is absolutely necessary. Lag bolts are known for their strength, whereas carriage bolts are known for their sturdiness and resistance to the elements. Whatever you decide, whether it’s one of those things or something completely different, it will last for a very long time. Lag bolts may be challenging to install, but this is basically their only disadvantage. Although easier to install than other fasteners, carriage bolts may not be as waterproof.
Compared to lag bolts, carriage bolts are less expensive, but a hole must first be bored for them. Although they are more expensive, lag bolts can be driven into the wood without first drilling a hole in it. Thus, carriage bolts can be the most practical choice from a cost standpoint. A set of lag bolts is required if you wish to drive your bolt in with only one blow of the hammer. Lag bolts’ protruding hex heads make them simple to tighten using a wrench.