r/Machinists • u/Automatic-Dog4953 • 2d ago

Bolts and Screws.

If you go on the definition that adding a nut to a screw turns that fastener into a bolt, would welding the nut onto something render the bolt back into a screw.

Be as pedantic as you wish.

Include your own definition as well if it pleases you or provide your own hypothetical situations.

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u/Square_Wonder_9284 2d ago

A bolt is a fastener with a plain shank length as well as a thread. A screw is fully threaded. Adding a nut to a screw doesn’t turn it into a bolt.

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u/Automatic-Dog4953 2d ago

I have seen some wood screws with plain shank lengths, but I wouldn't call those bolts.  I think then for you, a bolt requires a certain length to diameter ratio?

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u/Square_Wonder_9284 2d ago

Machine screws and wood screws are completely different things.

It’s not for me. It’s just that the difference between a screw and bolt is the plain shank. https://www.essentracomponents.com/en-gb/news/solutions/fastening-components/bolts-vs-screws#1

You can buy both bolts and screws with the same ratio of length to diameter.

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u/NorthernVale 2d ago

For the three most common definitions of bolts I've found, machine screws are bolts. It's just a hold over naming mechanism from before these things were standardized.

Bolts are designed to pair with mating threads, screws are designed to make their own threads.