Nuts and Bolts

Nuts are hexagon shaped metal objects with a threaded hole through them so that they can be attached to bolts. Bolts are cylindrical objects with "threads" on the outside of them which enable them to be threaded into nuts. The hexagon shaped end classifies a "bolt". A "bolt" without an end is classified as a "lug" or "stud." Most bolts have what is termed as a "right-handed" thread. This is a spiraling thread. If you were inserting a right-handed threaded bolt into a threaded hole, you would turn it clockwise. Some bolts have "left-handed" threads. When inserting this type of bolt, you turn it counter clockwise. There are many "grades" of nuts and bolts. Grades depend on the quality of the materials and the tolerances observed during the manufacture of the nuts and bolts. The ends of bolts and the faces of nuts are almost always marked with symbols denoting their quality standards. Unfortunately, in recent years it has become apparent through various government investigations, that unscrupulous individuals have been importing nuts and bolts with symbols printed on them that falsely denote a higher quality bolt. In other words, these individuals import and sell lead with gold stamped on it. This doesn't sound particularly dangerous, but in the cases of certain airplane and amusement park incidents, it has been proven that such a business deal, in conjunction with an innocuous object such as a nut or a bolt, can lead to tragedy. Nuts and bolts are often separated by washers. Washers have many shapes and sizes, but serve one purpose. This purpose is to give the nut and the bolt a firm hardened surface for bedding against. The parts that you put together with nuts and bolts are usually not as strong as the nuts and bolts themselves. The washers allow the nuts and bolts to be fully tightened down, providing a wider area to spread out the force of the tightening. Washers keep the nuts and bolts from digging into the material when they are tightened. Washers shaped like a broken section of a coil are called "lock washers." They are designed to prevent the nut from rattling loose. "Allen" bolts have socket heads, or a recessed hexagon shaped hole in the top. You need Allen keys or wrenches to tighten or loosen the Allen bolts.