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Lag bolts

Started by Hale87, July 22, 2016, 08:53:38 AM

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Hale87

I was going to buy 1/2 x 8" lag bolts to put the braces on this pavilion I'm planning on building. My question is do you think I can get away with 3/8" X 8"? Considering they are half as much as the 1/2 and I need some where around 400-500 the savings is pretty substantial. I can't find any real specs on it. The post and braces are 8x8. I realize I could go to using three rather than the two 1/2" but of course the added time putting them in and added expense of another lag bolt would nullify the little bit of savings.

Thanks for your help...
2002 LT40HD sawmill, WM single blade edger, 23hp Kubota tractor, 2011 Kawasaki Mule, 2002 Honda Foreman, 1983 Case 480D backhoe

PC-Urban-Sawyer

Why not use pegs? Should be cheaper and as strong or stronger if you do it right. Properly drawbored the pegs would pull the joints tighter. And you don't have to worry about the pegs corroding and making a mess and also loosening as the wood expands and contracts due to moisture changes.

Herb

VictorH

I'm going to assume that you did not mortise and tenon your braces and are planning to lag "bolt" screw them in place.  If I'm right are your plans engineered?  If they are you will have to use what is specified in the plans or you might not pass inspection and may have trouble getting the building insured.  If you don't have engineered plans and don't need them I would look at using a Timber Screw.  They are much easier to install as they won't need to be pre-drilled,  they have a smaller shaft and likely not split your brace.  I personally think they would look better too.

Victor

florida

Don't know anything about cabin building but I'd suggest using TimberLok screws rather than lags. They are engineered for structural connections. Also, don't buy your lags at HD or the hardware. Find a specialist bolt store and buy from them. I get lags from my supplier for less than half of the HD price.
General contractor and carpenter for 50 years.
Retired now!

Justin Bailey

The local Lowes near me used to carry T40 torx head GRK timber screws, but I had to go to another one 20 mi. away to get them, they have a lot of t35 head ones that just didn't cut it in my opinion.  I also doubled up some 1-3/8 OD x 1/2 ID thick washers that came with my concrete anchors that I didn't need there with regular thinner fender 1-1/2 OD x 1/4 ID that I stacked, drilled and enlarged to fit under the head.  I like the headlock vs, timberlok, because of the larger head, I am using them for the smaller rafters in my construction.  I was only dealing with a 20 count.  I paid something like $2.60 a piece for the GRK 3/8x10" ones but there are yet other suppliers that offer a larger T50 head with an almost 1" diameter (they may be 7/8") but they wanted $4.90 a piece for them.  I don't know weather to use 2 or four at each end of my small rafters because they are twisted as I want to wrench them down and flat and I can also utilize the over strapping to add security to the placement.

Hale87

Thanks for everyone's help.
I decided to go with 8in Timberloks. They claim they are stronger than a 3/8 lag, so they should be sufficient.
2002 LT40HD sawmill, WM single blade edger, 23hp Kubota tractor, 2011 Kawasaki Mule, 2002 Honda Foreman, 1983 Case 480D backhoe

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