STAINLESS STEEL BUMAX HEXAGON BOLTS

Bumax Hexagon Bolts — A hexagon-head bolt with a plain, unthreaded shank below the head, following the general pattern of a standard partially threaded hexagon bolt, and manufactured in Bumax's high-tensile A4/316 stainless to strength levels equivalent to grade 8.8/10.9 carbon steel. The plain shank is the key difference from the fully threaded Bumax hexagon set screw: it gives a smooth, accurately sized bearing surface through the clamped material, which matters in shear-loaded joints — structural connections, machinery mounts, transport and marine structures — where the fastener needs to locate precisely in a clearance hole and resist lateral movement, not just clamp the joint together. Where the joint is instead tapped and the fastener needs full thread engagement regardless of grip length, a fully threaded set screw from the same range is usually the better fit. As with the rest of the Bumax range, the combination of carbon-steel-equivalent strength and A4/316 corrosion resistance is worth its premium specifically for structural or mechanical assemblies that face a marine, chemical, or outdoor corrosive environment under significant load; for dry, sheltered, lightly loaded work, a standard grade 8.8 carbon steel bolt or an ordinary A2 stainless bolt is usually the more economical choice. Sizing needs to account for both thread diameter and grip length: the plain shank should span the thickness of the clamped material so that the shear-bearing surface, rather than the thread root, sits within the joint, with the threaded portion beginning at or below the joint face — specifying too short a shank can leave threads bearing in the shear plane, reducing the joint's shear capacity. Bumax's no-galling manufacturing allows the bolt to be tightened to full torque against a mating nut without seizing, and specific structural applications should always be checked against the relevant design standard, with formal certification confirmed directly with PTS where required.

FAQs
Are Bumax hexagon bolts suitable for structural applications?
Their carbon-steel-equivalent strength grade makes them suitable for demanding structural and mechanical assemblies, but the specific application should be checked against the relevant design standard, and formal certification confirmed directly with PTS where required.

How do I decide between a Bumax hexagon bolt and a Bumax hexagon set screw for a joint?
Choose the bolt where the joint is a clearance-hole assembly needing an accurate shear-bearing surface through the clamped material; choose the fully threaded set screw where the fastener engages a tapped hole or grip length varies between assemblies.

Do Bumax hexagon bolts resist galling against a mating nut?
Yes, the no-galling manufacturing across the range allows the bolt to be tightened to full torque against a stainless nut without the thread seizing, which is otherwise a risk in stainless-to-stainless structural connections.