distinct differences between bolt and screw?

Answer 1

My feeling, based only on common usage, is that screw is a more generic term that includes both machine screws (constant-diameter constant-pitch threads) and other screws such as wood, sheet-metal and specialized screws. And that a bolt is a kind of machine screw that typically has a head designed to be turned by a wrench (i.e., hex or square, Allen/hex key, torx, etc.) rather than by the usual screwdriver types (flat and Philips). It needn't have a nut specifically, just a female thread to work with. There may also be an implication of larger size in the term bolt. I know that exceptions to these generalities abound, hence an eye bolt can be of either type thread, etc.

Answer 2

I believe the main difference is that a screw has a slot or other indentation in the head, whereas a bolt has a hexagonal (usually) head so it can be driven by a spanner. Hence, bolts can be efficiently tightened with the spanner used as a lever, whereas screws are inefficiently tightened by a screwdriver twisted directly above.

Additionally, bolts have the optional nuts on the far end of the thread, allowing both ends to be tightened - perhaps simultaneously. Screws are usually only tightened at one end, and rely on the tension between the thread and the environment in which the thread is embedded to hold the screw in place.

Answer 3

Both the bolt and screw are threaded fasteners.
The bolt has a constant diameter and the screw has an increasing diameter, usually beginning with a point.

Additionally, a bolt is designed to enter a threaded hole and a screw is designed to enter either a non threaded hole or to make its own hole upon use. Some screws are pointed with a drill that cuts the hole to size as the screw is turned.

Holes drilled for bolts are measured to the outside diameter of the bolt threads. Holes drilled for screws are sized to the inside diameter of the screw threads.

;-D Now, that is one screwed up answer!

Answer 4

A bolt has a flat end and a nut to hold it in place. A screw is made to go directly into what you are working on and has a small tip to give it a starting point. A bolt has to go into a hole precut for it in some manner. A screw can make it's own hole.

Answer 5

A bolt is made to be fitted into something else to provide compression (such as a nut). A bolt is also cylindrical. A screw is made to dig into the material and anchor itself directly into the material. A screw is conical.

Answer 6

a bolt is secured with a nut that you screw onto its end, screws are secured by whatever you screw them into. so a bolt you'd use for something very hard like metal, that the bolt goes all the way through

Answer 7

A bolt has a threaded, straight shaft which threads into a matching not or a threaded hole.

A screw has a threaded, tapered shaft that cuts its own threads when it is screwed into a material.

And then there's the self-tapping bolt which was invented just to confuse the issue.

Answer 8

Bolt does have have the indent in the center so cannot be turned using the screw driver.

Answer 9

a bolt has no grove on the top and a screw either has a one slit grove called a flat head or a cross type grove called a Philips head which you would use a flat head screw driver or a Philips head screw driver to screw it. A blot would need a wrench or a socket to loosen or tighten it.
hope this explains it to you

Answer 10

a bolt is the term used for a threaded fastener with a head designed in conjunction with a nut.
a screw is a threaded fastener that is designed to be used in conjunction with a free fodrmed internal thread or alternatively fodrming its own thread.