Selecting the appropriate carriage bolts requires a comprehensive consideration of application scenarios, base materials, environmental conditions, and regional standards. A well-matched selection ensures fastening reliability, service life, and cost-effectiveness. Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide to choosing carriage bolts:
1. Determine the Application Scenario and Base Material
The core design of carriage bolts (round head + square neck) makes them ideal for soft or semi-rigid materials. Clarify the following key factors first:
For wooden structures (decks, pergolas, log cabins, garden furniture): Prioritize bolts with a square neck size that matches the pre-drilled square holes of the wood. The square neck should fit tightly into the wood to prevent rotation during nut tightening, avoiding damage to the wood fiber.
For light steel or metal components (roof trusses, guardrails, machinery brackets): Choose bolts with high dimensional precision to ensure the square neck can be embedded into the pre-punched slots of metal plates, ensuring stable load-bearing without slipping.
For outdoor or public facilities (park benches, playground equipment): Focus on corrosion-resistant performance and safety— the smooth round head prevents accidental scratches, making it suitable for high-traffic areas.
2. Choose the Right Material and Surface Treatment
Material selection is directly linked to the service life of carriage bolts, especially in corrosive environments.
Carbon steel
Application scope: Dry indoor environments or mild outdoor environments with low humidity.
Surface treatment options:
Electro-galvanizing: Basic corrosion resistance, cost-effective, suitable for short-term indoor use.
Hot-dip galvanizing: Thick zinc coating provides excellent anti-rust performance, ideal for outdoor construction, agricultural machinery, and municipal infrastructure.
Performance grades: Common grades include 4.8 and 8.8. Grade 8.8 is recommended for heavy-load applications.
Stainless steel
A2 stainless steel (equivalent to 304): Good corrosion resistance, suitable for humid indoor environments, coastal areas with low salt content, and food processing equipment.
A4 stainless steel (equivalent to 316): Added molybdenum element enhances resistance to pitting and seawater corrosion, ideal for marine engineering, coastal construction, and chemical equipment.
3. Match Regional Standards and Thread Specifications
Carriage bolts comply with different international standards based on target markets, which directly affect thread size, head dimensions, and compatibility.
Global/export markets: Select bolts manufactured to ISO 8677:2016 (metric threads M5–M20). This standard is widely recognized and compatible with most international projects.
North American market: Follow ANSI/ASME B18.5 standards, which specify inch threads (1/4"–1"). Pay attention to the rounded head contour and square neck size required by this standard to match local assembly tools and workpieces.
European market: Choose bolts that meet DIN 603 standards (metric threads M5–M24). This standard has strict requirements for dimensional tolerance and surface smoothness, suitable for high-precision machinery and construction projects.
Chinese domestic market: Comply with GB/T 12-1985 standards, which are aligned with ISO specifications and ensure seamless integration into domestic supply chains.
4. Confirm Additional Key Parameters
Shank length: Measure the total thickness of the fastened workpieces and add an allowance (usually 1–2 cm) to ensure the nut can be fully tightened and locked.
Head size: Ensure the round head diameter is compatible with the installation space—avoid oversized heads that cannot fit into narrow gaps or affect the appearance of finished products.
Non-standard customization: For special scenarios (e.g., ultra-long shanks, customized square neck sizes), communicate with manufacturers to confirm mold availability and production lead times.
Selecting the appropriate carriage bolts requires a comprehensive consideration of application scenarios, base materials, environmental conditions, and regional standards. A well-matched selection ensures fastening reliability, service life, and cost-effectiveness. Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide to choosing carriage bolts:
1. Determine the Application Scenario and Base Material
The core design of carriage bolts (round head + square neck) makes them ideal for soft or semi-rigid materials. Clarify the following key factors first:
For wooden structures (decks, pergolas, log cabins, garden furniture): Prioritize bolts with a square neck size that matches the pre-drilled square holes of the wood. The square neck should fit tightly into the wood to prevent rotation during nut tightening, avoiding damage to the wood fiber.
For light steel or metal components (roof trusses, guardrails, machinery brackets): Choose bolts with high dimensional precision to ensure the square neck can be embedded into the pre-punched slots of metal plates, ensuring stable load-bearing without slipping.
For outdoor or public facilities (park benches, playground equipment): Focus on corrosion-resistant performance and safety— the smooth round head prevents accidental scratches, making it suitable for high-traffic areas.
2. Choose the Right Material and Surface Treatment
Material selection is directly linked to the service life of carriage bolts, especially in corrosive environments.
Carbon steel
Application scope: Dry indoor environments or mild outdoor environments with low humidity.
Surface treatment options:
Electro-galvanizing: Basic corrosion resistance, cost-effective, suitable for short-term indoor use.
Hot-dip galvanizing: Thick zinc coating provides excellent anti-rust performance, ideal for outdoor construction, agricultural machinery, and municipal infrastructure.
Performance grades: Common grades include 4.8 and 8.8. Grade 8.8 is recommended for heavy-load applications.
Stainless steel
A2 stainless steel (equivalent to 304): Good corrosion resistance, suitable for humid indoor environments, coastal areas with low salt content, and food processing equipment.
A4 stainless steel (equivalent to 316): Added molybdenum element enhances resistance to pitting and seawater corrosion, ideal for marine engineering, coastal construction, and chemical equipment.
3. Match Regional Standards and Thread Specifications
Carriage bolts comply with different international standards based on target markets, which directly affect thread size, head dimensions, and compatibility.
Global/export markets: Select bolts manufactured to ISO 8677:2016 (metric threads M5–M20). This standard is widely recognized and compatible with most international projects.
North American market: Follow ANSI/ASME B18.5 standards, which specify inch threads (1/4"–1"). Pay attention to the rounded head contour and square neck size required by this standard to match local assembly tools and workpieces.
European market: Choose bolts that meet DIN 603 standards (metric threads M5–M24). This standard has strict requirements for dimensional tolerance and surface smoothness, suitable for high-precision machinery and construction projects.
Chinese domestic market: Comply with GB/T 12-1985 standards, which are aligned with ISO specifications and ensure seamless integration into domestic supply chains.
4. Confirm Additional Key Parameters
Shank length: Measure the total thickness of the fastened workpieces and add an allowance (usually 1–2 cm) to ensure the nut can be fully tightened and locked.
Head size: Ensure the round head diameter is compatible with the installation space—avoid oversized heads that cannot fit into narrow gaps or affect the appearance of finished products.
Non-standard customization: For special scenarios (e.g., ultra-long shanks, customized square neck sizes), communicate with manufacturers to confirm mold availability and production lead times.