The Difference Between Hex Bolts And Outer Hex Bolts

Hex bolts and outer hex bolts are very common fasteners, which play a very important role in many industries. Some may wonder, what is the difference between the hex bolt and the outer one?

As a professional fastener manufacturer, XINCHI will analyze the characteristics of both from the dimensions of shape, fastening tools, cost effectiveness, respective advantages and disadvantages, as well as the most suitable application environment.

Appearance difference between Outer hexagon bolt and Hexagon socket bolt

The outer hex bolt/screw, as the name suggests, has a hexagonal plane on its head, which is intuitive and universal; The design of the hex bolt is more unique, its head outer ring is round, with embedded hexagonal groove, common such as cylindrical head hex, in addition to pan head, countersunk head, flat head and other forms, as well as headless screws and other special design, enrich the use of the scene.

Fastening tool of Outer hexagon bolt and Hexagon socket bolt

For outer hexagon bolts, commonly used fastening tools include adjustable wrenches, box wrenches, etc., the head of these tools is matched with the bolt and are easy to operate. In contrast, hex socket bolts need to be equipped with a unique “L” wrench, which allows the long end to provide leverage and tighten more efficiently.

Cost of Outer hexagon bolt and Hexagon socket bolt

In terms of cost, the outer hexagon bolt because of its simple structure, the production cost is relatively low, about half of the cost of the hexagon socket bolt.

Strengths and weaknesses of Outer hexagon bolt and Hexagon socket bolt

The advantages of the outer hexagon bolt are good self-locking, wide pre-tightening contact surface, wide bearing length range of the whole thread, and can be positioned through the hinged hole to withstand transverse shear force. Hexagon socket bolts are known for their ease of tightening, space-saving, aesthetics and load-bearing capacity, especially for situations requiring countersunk head treatment.

In terms of disadvantages, the outer hexagon bolt occupies a large space and is not suitable for compact space; The hex socket bolt has limited preload due to the small contact surface, and the use of a special wrench increases the difficulty of maintenance.

Applications of Outer hexagon bolt and Hexagon socket bolt

The outer hexagon bolt is more suitable for large-scale equipment assembly, high load or low precision requirements. On the contrary, hex socket bolts show an irreplaceable value in precision machinery, limited space layout and strict requirements for appearance.

In summary, the outer hex bolt and the inner hex bolt each have advantages and disadvantages. In practical applications, it is not a single choice of a fastener, but the need to flexibly match various types of fasteners according to specific needs to achieve the best fastening effect and economic benefits. In the world of fasteners, various choices mean a wider range of applicability and higher efficiency.

XINCHI is a trustworthy fastener company, especially in furniture nuts. We have a factory,  founded in 2007. And we are the designated fastener supplier to“STAPLE”. As a trusted fastener supplier,  XINCHI can offer a wide range of high-quality fasteners, including nuts, screws, bolts, rivets, washers, etc. If you want to know more about fasteners or want to wholesale fasteners, please feel free to contact us. And then our experienced and expert service team will reply to you as soon as possible.