Uses of Lag Bolts

Lag Bolts are used for heavier materials because they can withstand a lot of weight. They are of the strongest and toughest screws in the market and are commonly known as Lag Screws. Their general use is to connect heavy lumbers and materials. Lags are not used with a nut or fasteners, they work by burrowing the coarse threads to create a type of joint friction. In simpler words, lag bolts are screws with a wrench head and wood screw threads that are terminating at one point.

Lag bolts are known for their incredible strength. A single quarter-inch lag bolt can hold up to 13,000 pounds. An eighth-inch lag bolt has the strength of holding up over 3000 pounds.

How to Install a Lag Bolt

The installation process begins by aligning the materials that need to be screwed together. This prevents mistakes by making sure everything is in place before the installation begins. After everything is lined up the second step is to clamp everything in place so it stays there. Then with the help of a diameter smaller than your lag bolt, drill a hole through the material. By making a pilot hole you create a guide which makes bolting the screw in a lot easier and it’s even easier to drive the screw in with a power drill or a screwdriver.

Lag bolts are thicker and longer in size as compared to regular screws which makes them extraordinarily strong and durable. This is why they are so blindly trusted by most people in the manufacturing industry. They are ideal for working with wood and other heavy materials that need to be joined together. They are called “lag screws” as they were originally created to secure wooden lags.

Concrete Lag Bolts

Installing lag bolts into concrete is definitely possible as they were made to be used with masonry materials which include concrete. To install lag bolts into concrete requires the same procedure. Drill a hole into concrete with a diameter that is slightly smaller than the bolt itself and install the bolt by tapping it in. These bolts are self-tapping.

Square Head Lag Bolts

Square Head bolts have been a standard in the industry for a long time. They are also known as carriage bolts. Nowadays they are used more for a more aesthetic look rather than installations. The square head provides a rustic look which gives a worn-out feel to a new structure. This works well with the pre-existing fasteners in the structure and doesn’t ruin the overall aesthetic of the product.

Lag Bolts for Wood

Lag bolts can be easily used for wood as well. They were originally created to be used to wood lags which is why they are called lag bolts. To install lag bolts in wood requires the same process which is to drill a hole using a smaller diameter than the bolt itself. After a pilot hole is created to tap the screw into the hole and fasten it. This installs the bolt in the wood securely.