The other day, a bunch of coworkers and I were arguing about the difference between a bolt and a screw.

I always thought that a bolt used a nut and a screw used a threaded part.
A coworker started declaring it having to do with the length of the threaded portion, etc.

The more I looked on the web, the less I believed anything I read.

Anyone know from an authoritative source what the difference is?
Or pure conjecture, as long as it is stated

 

I'm no expert, but I think of a screw as something that "bites" into the material it goes into, while a bolt is inserted into something already threaded to match.

my .02

David

 

A screw holds by its thread in the material it has penetrated.
A bolt "usually" has a nut on the opposite side of the material it goes through and this is what keeps it from coming back out.
And to add a further complication:
A bolt can be a screw but a screw can't be a bolt. (eg. Lag bolts.)

 

Oh, and it sounds kinda silly to tell someone to go "bolt" themselves!

 

Another way to look at it (always exceptions of course) is that if you have to use a screwdriver on it it is a screw. If you use a wrench or socket, its a bolt.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]A screw holds by its thread in the material it has penetrated.
A bolt "usually" has a nut on the opposite side of the material it goes through and this is what keeps it from coming back out.
And to add a further complication:
A bolt can be a screw but a screw can't be a bolt.

 

A screw has a pointy end, a bolt doesn't. Also, bolts use nuts... literally, this kind of screwing doesn't involve nuts

 

Additionally, you can eat "nuts and bolts"!

 

screw eats thru materal when the thread cuts it.example would be putting a screw to hand something in wall.


bolt would be the bolt thing so u can hold ur front bumper on. bolt requires a nut n usually has washer to go with it.

 

That is an interesting choice of words, remember kids the difference between a screw and a bolt is...
a screw eats thru material when the thread cuts it and a bolt...

How about this: screws are self-tapping, while a bolt is not.