How to Keep Carriage Bolts From Spinning
Carriage bolts are a particular type of bolt that is used in heavy-duty construction projects. The carriage bolt consists of a steel shaft and a large hexagonal head with an unthreaded shank below the head. The design of this type of bolt makes it ideal for when you don’t want the nut and washer to spin during installation, but what happens when they do?
Luckily there are several ways to prevent this from happening just follow the simple steps mentioned in these blog posts on how to keep carriage bolts from spinning. First, use a center punch to mark the locations where you will drill your pilot holes into each piece that you’re fastening together. Then drill out those holes so they’re exactly as deep as the length of your carriage bolts; if they aren’t deep enough, be sure to drill them deeper. Once you have done this, tap the carriage bolt into place with a hammer and then set it with a torch if necessary. Read on to know more information!
Summary: There are a few ways to keep carriage bolts from spinning when tightening them. One is to use a wrench that has a long handle, or to put the wrench on the opposite side of the bolt from the handle. Another is to hold the bolt with a pair of pliers while tightening it.
10 Ways on How to Keep Carriage Bolts From Spinning:
1. Use Lock Washers:
Carriage bolts are threaded at both ends, so after you insert them in the holes and hand-tighten them with a wrench or socket set, they should stay put. If not, use lock washers to keep the bolt from turning and backing out. Lock washers have an interlocking pattern that presses against the nut to keep it from turning.
2. Countersink the Holes:
If you’re working with softer wood than the bolt, such as pine or basswood, countersinking the holes is a quick and effective way of preventing any spinning. Your carriage bolts will have a flat bottom, so drill your countersink hole a little deeper than the length of the bolt. Bolt manufacturers recommend a countersink bit that’s 1/16″ larger in diameter than your fastener, but this may vary from one manufacturer to another.
3. Use a Solid Surface:
If you don’t have a countersink bit, you can use a larger, solid surface in its place. This could be a rubber backing from the hardware store, an eraser, wood putty, or even some smashed-up chewing gum. A flathead screwdriver will usually suffice on softwood, especially if it’s smaller than your carriage bolt head.
4. Use a Reamer:
Reamers are designed to remove material from a hole. So after you drill the countersink, ream the hole slightly larger than the diameter of your carriage bolt head. This will prevent it from spinning, and because there’s a little friction between the bolt and the reamed hole, you’ll still be able to tighten it down with a wrench.
5. Use Loctite:
If you’re working on an outdoor project, you can use construction adhesive to keep your carriage bolts from spinning. Others have reported success with silicone or polyurethane caulks as well. Just clean the hole out before applying the adhesive, place your bolt in it, and let it cure.
6. Use a Hex Nut:
If you’re working with metal, get some hex nuts that are slightly larger than the head on your carriage bolt and place them over the exposed threads of the bolts after they’re installed in your project. This will prevent them from spinning while still allowing them to be tightened down with a wrench or socket set.
7. Use a Spacer:
If you’re working with metal, use a piece of rubber, plastic, tape, or anything else that’s slightly larger than the head of your carriage bolt to keep it from spinning while you’re threading it into the wood. If the hole is countersunk and reamed properly, the spacer should be flush with the surface of your project.
8. Use a Rubber Pad:
Secure a rubber pad or washer over the head of your carriage bolt before tightening it into the drywall, sheetrock, hardboard, masonite, plywood, exterior wall-board paneling, etc. This will help keep it in place while you work on your project, but you should still be able to loosen the bolt to take your project apart when you’re done.
9. Use Penetrating Oil:
If your carriage bolt is spinning and you can’t remove it, try spraying penetrating oil around the circumference of the bolt. This should make it easier to remove. Another option is to heat the bolt with a torch and then spray the area around the threads and between the sheaves with penetrating oil. Let it soak for a while, and then try removing it with a wrench or socket set.
10. Drill It Out:
If you’ve tried everything else, your carriage bolt is probably stuck in place pretty tight. If this is the case, you can drill it out with relative ease if you use a combination of lubricants (penetrating oil, dish soap, laundry detergent, cooking oil, etc.). Let the lubricant soak into it for a while before you start drilling. If there are metal shavings in your hole (or on the top of your carriage bolt), use WD-40 to clean them out first. This should allow you to drill right through it without any trouble.
Precautions and Safety Measures:
What you do from the time you enter a work area until you leave can have a considerable safety impact on your project. For example, when drilling holes for carriage bolts, keep the following safety tips in mind to protect yourself and others:
- Always wear eye protection. It is too easy to lose an eye when working with power tools.
- Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught in the drill, saw, or other tools. Loose ties, long sleeve shirts with hanging sleeves, bracelets, and dangling necklaces are all risks to be aware of.
- When drilling wood, always clamp your workpiece down securely before you start drilling. Be sure to clamp your wood down in a way that allows you to drill without the workpiece moving around on you.
- If possible, remove any nails from the wood before drilling. The force of a rotating drill bit can drive the nail through your workpiece, creating a much larger issue than you would have had if you’d put in a carriage bolt without removing it.
- Make sure that all power cords are out of your way and not draped over any benches or other work surfaces where tools could damage them.
You Can Check It Out To Change Bolt Pattern Without Adapters
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they called carriage bolts?
Carriage bolts are bolts that are used to secure the carriage of a vehicle to the frame. They are also known as wheel nuts, axle nuts, or U-bolts. They are most commonly used on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Carriage bolts are usually made from steel or alloy and have a hexagonal head that is threaded on one end and has a washer and nut on the other end.
Are coach bolts stronger than screws?
Coach bolts are typically stronger than screws because they have a hexagonal head that resists shear forces. This means that the bolt will hold its shape better in the event of torque or compressive force being applied to it.
Can you countersink a carriage bolt?
Yes, you can countersink a carriage bolt. However, it is important to use the correct tool for the job and to follow the instructions that come with the tool.
Conclusion:
Carriage bolts are a standard fastener used in construction. These large, round-headed screws have been around for over 100 years and were invented to solve the problem of how to keep carriage bolts from spinning when they were tightened down with a wrench or screwdriver. However, there are some ways you can prevent this from happening.
We have already discussed them in these blog posts. So be sure to check them out! We hope this article has given you some insights on how to keep carriage bolts from spinning. If not, feel free to contact us for more information about this topic. Thank you for reading!
