How to Install Lag Bolts (Screws)

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For those of you lot who don't know what lag bolts are, these are kind of like a combination between a normal bolt that uses a nut and a normal screw. In terms of the wait of it, it looks like a very big and fat screw that has a hex-shaped caput.

In other words, it'southward almost like a big bolt with a thread on it for screwing. Now you might exist wondering what these fasteners are used for and how you would install i. Well, this is exactly what we are here to teach you today.

When Should You Utilise Lag Bolts?

Yep, at that place are many dissimilar types of bolts and screws out there, which means that you lot might exist confused in terms of when a lag bolt is used. Well, a lag bolt is used when yous demand to connect pieces of forest to very large and heavy materials that need to bear intense loads and weight.

So, for instance, if you are building a roof out of solid timber and you're connecting the roof joists to each other, a lag bolt makes for the perfect candidate, equally the threading allows it to take hold hands, the nut on the end keeps everything tight and secure, and the bolt or screw is thick and durable enough to handle extreme loads and pressures.

More often than not speaking, lag bolts are used to connect lumber and other heavy materials that are required to deport large loads. On the other mitt, yous wouldn't apply them to connect a pair of 2x4s that do non need to bear whatsoever load.

How to Install Lag Bolts

This might all sound quite complicated, but the reality is that installing lag bolts is actually very uncomplicated. It's really just a big screw with a caput of a bolt.

Pace 1: Get the Lag Bolts

The outset thing that you need to practice is to go your lag bolts. In terms of choosing the size, the dominion of thumb is that the lag bolt should be 1/4-inch shorter than the accumulated width of the ii pieces being attached. Moreover, for about general-purpose projects, lag bolts that are 5/sixteen-inch in diameter should be more than than plenty. However, in that location are also much larger lag bolts out there used for super heavy duty construction purposes, ones as wide as one-1/4-inch in bore.

You may want to do some research for the specific chore that y'all are looking to accomplish, just to make certain that you choose the best size of lag bolt for the task at hand.

Lag Bolts

Pace 2: Line Upward the Materials and Mark

At present, just line upwardly the 2 materials that you want to fasten together with the lag bolt and make a marker on the spot where the lag commodities is to exist inserted. If you want to be extra careful, mensurate both of the items being fastened, make individual markings where the lag bolt will be inserted, and so brand sure that they line up.

An onetime dominion of pollex in construction is to measure twice and cut once, something we recommend adhering to hither.

Step 3: Drill a Pilot Hole

One affair that you lot need to exist aware of here is that lag bolts have hex heads, which means that you cannot just stick them inside of a drill similar you would with a screw. In other words, yous can't just attach the lag bolt to the drill so blast it into the woods. You demand to first drill a pilot hole.

So, the size of the bit you used to drill the pilot hole that directly depends on the size of the lag bolt. To make things easier for you here we have included a few examples that illustrate exactly what the thread bore of the pilot hole needs to be in accordance with the size of the lag commodities:

  • 3/eight-inch bolt bore: fifteen/64-inch airplane pilot hole
  • 1/2-inch bolt diameter: 5/16-inch pilot hole
  • 5/8-inch commodities diameter: 13/32-inch pilot hole
  • ane-inch bolt bore: 23/32-inch airplane pilot hole
  • 1-1/iv-inch commodities diameter: 15/16-inch pilot hole

Once you accept selected the proper drill bit, utilise your power drill to make a pilot pigsty through both of the materials existence attached. While the hole should exist deep enough to exist able to suit the bolt, make sure non to drill through completely or to make the hole too deep.

Step 4: Insert the Lag Bolt

Using your fingers, insert the lag bolt into the pilot pigsty that was drilled in the previous step. Although you can use a ratchet or hex wrench to insert it, at this point, you should be able to do it by hand. All you demand to practise at this point is make certain the lag commodities is inserted straight and that it is holding steady in the wood, ready to exist tightened.

Typically, you will also desire to put a washer between the screw head and the wood.

Lag Bolt with a Washer

Step 5: Tighten

For this, you will need an touch driver or an touch on wrench with the right bit. The fundamental is to tighten the lag bolt enough to be holding the two pieces of wood tightly just not to overtighten them.

While it might seem like the more you tighten the two pieces the better, if yous overtighten, you will put stress on the woods and potentially damage information technology. Every bit such, you should stop the moment the washer stops moving.

Nuts Driver Bits

Mistakes to Avert, Tips & Tricks

With all the above in mind, here are a few more than tips on how to brand the procedure smoother:

  • Always follow proper safety procedures when working with power tools.
  • When using drills, vesture eye protection.
  • Don't brand the mistake of thinking that the pilot hole needs to be the same size as the lag bolt (it needs to be a bit smaller than the bolt). If the pilot pigsty is the same size as the bolt, so the threading becomes useless.

Summary

There you lot take it people, everything y'all need to know about how to utilise a lag commodities. As you tin can see, it'south really quite easy!