Lag bolts that don't break?

[Muhammad]

I've been renovating my new house for the past few months and I've noticed that all of the lag bolts I've been buying are snapping off at the neck of the bolt. Not all of them obviously but out of 40 bolts today, about 8 of them the snapped.

I also had this happen with different sets of bolts, including galvanized bolts from lowes, and now stainless bolts from home depot as well as galvanized bolts from home depot (maybe they're using the same supplier?).

Anybody have a good lag bolt I can try next time around?

 

[MossRoad]

Are you pre-drilling the holes?
Use a bar of soap and rub the threads on it before you screw it in.

 

[MossRoad]

Also, eat less Wheaties.

 

[bcp]

I had a lot of 1/4 inch lag bolts break. Solved it by changing to 5/16.

Bruce

 

[workinonit]

I don't buy hardware from Lowes and HD. Try getting what you need from Fastenal or a good fastener distributor. The quality is much better.

 

[MossRoad]

I agree with Fastenal having good quality items. However, looks like the nearest one to him is up in L.A.

 

[bcp]

For more serious applications, I've been using this style.

CTX Construction Lag Screws

Bruce

 

[s219]

It would be unusual for that many different varieties/suppliers to all have bad bolts. On the other hand, driving a lag into a tight hole creates an awful lot of friction and will surely increase the chances of failure. I am guessing that you're not drilling a large enough hole. I pick a bit that is the same diameter (err on the large side) as the inner diameter of the bolt.

Stainless will be a little weaker but I used a lot of stainless lag bolts on my pier and don't recall any failures.

 

[pmsmechanic]

GRK Fasteners | Home I haven't used these but have friends who have.

Structural Wood Screws Hidden Fastening Systems Timber Fasteners Look for the LOK line of screws. I have an assortment of these.

GRK uses a Torx driver and Fastenmaster uses a spline drive. I can't speak for the GRK but the LOK are very nice to use. The spline drive does not strip the way a robertson screw driver does in an impact driver. I no longer purchase lag bolts for use in wood.

Edited to add that I just looked through the Fastenmaster web site and it looks like they now use Torx drivers also.

 

[newbury]

What are you driving them with?
Are you just using a wrench? Or are you using a power tool?
I've occasionally done projects with lot's of lag bolts and usually used a predrilled hole and then a socket on a 1/2" electric drill. If I was to do it today I'd use my DeWalt 20v Max impact driver to drill the hole and then drive the bolt.

I've bought most of my lag bolts from TSC because they were selling them by the pound.