Hex Screws: What is it? Uses, Sizes and Much More!

Mechanically the bolt is an organ which function is to turn a movement of rotation around its axis into a translational motion according to this axis. The screw system is formed by two pieces that molds perfectly to each other: the screw itself, and the nut.

The screw, being a construction item or accessory of machines, can work as:

a) a connecting piece;
b) kinematic mechanism, as motion transformer;
c) a multiplier of efforts.

Its head can present diverse forms: hexagonal, square, conical, clip.

Hex Screws uses

This type of screw has its name because of the six sides head. These screws are wider and hex headed wood "classic" screws. Mainly used to join pieces of wood (whenever the union should be robust and when its appearance doesn't mind). Tighten them with a wrench or pipe.

Hex Cap Screws for Furniture

In General, the hex screws needed for mounting of furniture kits come included in them. To tighten hex head bolts, it may require a proper key. This key is adjusted to the hexagonal slot of the screw head and then rotated. If it doesn't come with the product you can purchase a set with various sizes, at an affordable price.

For light work bushings made of lead, plastic or fiber can be used to attach the screws, and these materials are very sturdy.

The masonry screws and bushings work by the same principle of the hex bolt; a plastic bushing placed into the hole expands when the screw is tightened.

Hex screws sizes

Determines the maximum torque according to the size and degree of the bolt (nut). Always consult the manufacturer's instructions or engineering recommendations when making bolted connections.

Caution: sizes shown in the tables below serve only as a guideline. Individual sizes should be checked before specifying any equipment.

IMPERIAL SYSTEM
Size of the Thread D (inches)	Size of the Hexagonal S * (inches	Size of the Hexagonal J (inches)
5/8"	1 1/16"	1/2"
3/4"	1 1/4"	5/8"
7/8"	1 7/16"	3/4"
1"	1 5/8"	3/4"
1 1/8"	1 13/16"	7/8"
1 1/4"	2"	7/8"
1 3/8"	2 3/16"	1"
1 1/2"	2 3/8"	1"
1 5/8"	2 9/16"	-
1 3/4"	2 3/4"	1 1/4"
1 7/8"	2 15/16"	1 3/8"
2"	3 1/8"	1 5/8"
2 1/4"	3 1/2"	1 3/4"
2 1/2"	3 7/8"	1 7/8"
2 3/4"	4 1/4"	2"
3"	4 5/8"	2 1/4"
3 1/4"	5"	2 1/4"

Hex Screws Extractors Tools

The following tools are commonly used to fix, extract or tighten the hex cap screws.

Spanner or Open-end wrench

The wrench or key called spanner (or open-end) is used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts of square or hexagonal types. It can have one or two mouths with measures expressed in millimeters or inches. The following figures show a spanner with a mouth and a spanner with two mouths.

Hex Key or Allen Wrench

The Allen wrench, also known as Allen key or Hex key, is used to fix or loosen screws with internal hex.

The best known Allen wrench type has a body with an L shape, which enables the leverage effect during the tightening or loosening of the screws.

Before using an Allen key, you should verify if the hexagon socket of the screw is free from paint or dirt. Paint and dirt prevent the perfect docking of the key and can cause accidents to whoever is handling it.

Hexagonal screwdriver

It's a tool used in mechanics for tightening and loosening of big screws when the use of too much strenght is required. With the hexagon on the stem, the operator can, using a spanner wrench, increase the torque of the tool without needing greater effort.