Hex Nuts in Hot Dip Galvanized Steel

Standard Hexagonal Nuts For General Applications

Hex nuts, or hex finish nuts, are the most common type of finish nut used. The hexagonal shape makes these nuts easy to grasp with a wrench or pliers. These nuts are often used with screws and bolts when mechanically joining materials together. They are installed on the opposite side of the materials being fastened. With the bolt head or machine screw head on the other side, they compress the materials together for a secure fit.

Hot Dip Galvanized Steel

Hot-dip galvanizing is done by submerging the fastener in molten zinc to provide a corrosion protecting finish. Essentially, the added zinc that's applied through the galvanization process serves as a "sacrificial" layer of protection to keep the steel underneath from degrading or being damaged.

You'll find hot-dip galvanized fasteners frequently used in situations where corrosion resistance is needed without the cost of stainless steel. It is considered superior to stainless steel in terms of cost and life-cycle. For applications where the fastener will constantly be exposed to corrosive materials, you'll want to use stainless steel instead.

Note: hot-dip galvanized fasteners tend to be a little larger, with thicker threading, because of the added layer of zinc. To compensate, hot-dip galvanized nuts are tapped larger to be thread effectively on hot-dip galvanized bolts. You will have difficulty trying to fasten non-hot-dip galvanized nuts to hot-dip galvanized bolts, screws, or all thread.

FAQs

What are hex nuts?

Hex nuts are hexagonal blocks of material, typically metal, with a hole punched through that is threaded. Hex nuts, or hex finish nuts, are the most common type of finish nut used. The hexagonal shape makes these nuts easy to grasp with a wrench or pliers. These nuts are often used with screws and bolts when mechanically joining materials together.

What is a hex nut used for?

Hex nuts are used alongside machine threaded fasteners to complete a secure assembly. The head of the screw or bolt clamps down on the material while the nut clamps down on the opposite side. This effectively "sandwiches" the assembly securely together.

How does a hex nut work?

Hex nuts work jointly with machine threaded fasteners such as bolts, anchors, and machine screws to effectively clamp down on both sides of the fastened material. The bolt and nut threading causes friction against each other, allowing a secure fit for general applications. A lock nut is used instead if the application would be subject to high amounts of vibration.

What is hot-dip galvanized steel?

Hot-dip galvanized steel is steel submerged in a molten zinc bath to give the steel a protective corrosion resistant coating.

Can I use a hot-dip galvanized hex nuts with bolts of a different metal?

No. The hot-dip coating applied to the nuts adds an extra layer to the steel. It may be difficult to fasten a bolt of a different metal to the nut because of the threading's slightly larger size.