Carriage bolts are most commonly used in deck building as these bolts are purposed for wood with stainless steel adding years of maintenance free enjoyment to your wooden deck or boat dock they are typically the number one choice for applications where smoothness is desired as they can add a finished look to any surface
Stainless steel carriage bolts have a round head that gives a wide load bearing surface with out the need for washers as well as a finished appearance when installed for metal applications it is advisable to add a washer and nut on the other side for improved fastening
When joining pieces of wood together using a carriage bolt the square head on the bolt can become stripped in the hole making them hard to tighten to solve this problem insert a few finishing nails in the hole beside the bolt before hammering the bolt into place
The smooth domed head and square neck below prevent the carriage bolt from being unlocked from the insecure side
It is commonplace though to use them on bare timber, the squared section giving enough grip to prevent rotation
Carriage bolts are extensively used in security fixings where the bolt must only be removable from one side