1 September 2022

Bolt Vs Screw | Difference | Comparison

For some projects, both screws and bolts are required. Even though they are comparable to one another, there are still situations where a bolt or screw would be preferable. Keep reading if you are unsure if the work at hand calls for bolts or a screw. We have all the information you could possibly need and more to help you choose which one to use and when. So here, In this article, you can check out the Bolt Vs Screw to better understand this topic.

What is Bolt?

A bolt is a type of fastener with threads and a head that is used in conjunction with nuts to be inserted. Bolts aren't designed to hold themselves into a material, instead, they rely on the nut to supply the necessary holding strain. To be secured, a bolt must protrude from the opposite side of the material. Screws are less frequently used with washers than bolts. 

What Screw?

A screw is a type of mechanical fastener used to attach pieces with threads that has a cylindrical or tapered shaft with threads. Self-threading screws have threads that cut into the material as the screw is rotated. These screws have tapered shafts. Screws have a threaded shaft throughout. The force that maintains the components firmly connected is the friction at the threads. For machine screws, this friction is caused by the applied torque, whereas for self-tapping screws, the radial expansion of the hole is mostly responsible. 

Bolt Vs Screw | Difference between Bolt and Screw:

  • Both bolts and screws can have tapered shafts, although bolts often have partially threaded, uniform cross sections. Therefore, the cross-section may change depending on how long the screw is. Additionally, the full length of screws is threaded.
  • Every time a bolt is used, A nut is also used. Screws are always utilized on their own.
  • Bolt is always used in pain like nut and bolt. Screws are always used by themselves. 
  • Bolt is used with unthreaded components. The screw can be used with threaded or un-threaded components.
  • In the bolt cross uniform section. In screw can have a non-uniform cross-section.
  • Bolts are reliable, Screw is less reliable.
  • Bolts are larger in size. Screws are smaller than bolts.
  • The threads are spiral in shape, while in a screw, threads are helical in shape.
  • Bolts don't have a tapered shank. While the screw has a tapered or pointed shank.
  • Bolts are always fixed at a single position with the use of a tool. The screw has to be turned every time it has to be assembled.
  • These bolts mostly require wrenches and spanners for tightening and loosening purposes. Mostly screwdrivers are needed to tighten and loosen screws.
  • Bolt is often used in the making of bolted joints. While screw can't be involved in the bolted jointed making due to the presence of at least one thread. 
  • A bolt is tightened by rotating the tool clockwise and is usually used for joining materials that do not have existing holes in them. A screw is an externally threaded faster capable of being inserted into holes in assembled parts, mating with a preformed internal thread or forming its own thread, and of being tightened or released by torquing the head. 
  • Larger-size bolts are used to achieve higher load-carrying capacity. Screws are not available in a very larger size. They are generally used for low-load carrying applications. 
  • Bolt are apply compression on the parts that they join. While screws don't apply compression on the parts that they join.
  • The example of bolts are anchor bol, t head bolt, toggle bolt, u bolt, j-bolt, eyebolts, hexagon bolt/tap bolt, machine bolt, carriage bolt, elevator bolt, flange bolt, hanger bolt, plow blot, lag bolt, sex bolt, shoulder bolt, square head bolt, stud bolt, plow bolt, timber bolt, etc. While the example of screws is seld drilling, socket screw, eye lag, mating screw, thread screw, machine screw, sheet metal screw, wood screw, eye large, socket screw, set screw, etc. 
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