How a Bolt is Made - Portland Bolt & Manufacturing

Take a quick tour of our shop and follow an order of large anchor bolts through the manufacturing process. This video includes shearing, hot forging, threading, and galvanizing. Find out what it takes to make an order of large, custom bolts.

[@Thunderstixx77]

I can't tell you how many of your bolts I have used through the years. I'm just glad you are still here in the USA !!!

[@ramonlopes6629]

Bandaz

[@graveytrain5113]

Lol

[@cjw7924]

@Paul Reed well said I was beginning to think I was a voice in the wilderness, thank you

[@cjw7924]

@Paul Reed well said thank you

[@Reziac]

Wow, this is so cool. Very glad to see a real product still being Made In USA.

[@painmagnet1]

Many years ago, I serviced the forklifts for Portland Bolt. At the time, they stood out to me as a top quality organization. Glad to see that they are still making a quality product in the time honored American tradition.

Dude we have pubs that have been serving pints since before your continent was discovered. There's fuck all time honoured in the US.

[@CoolKoon]

Seán O'Nilbud You sound like you've been consistently drinking those pints served ever since....

[@Mikael5732]

@@CoolKoon I was just thinking the same thing! LOL

[@chloehennessey6813]

Seán O'Nilbud And thanks to newly discovered continent those pubs still serve and speak in your native language and not German. 🙂

[@agentorange153]

Or Russian, or Arabic (in the latter case they wouldn't be serving AT ALL!)

[@johnnymitz]

Way to go you, Portland Bolt. It's damn nice to see an American manufacturer still going. I hope you prosper forever. By the way, I am engineer (also have my own shop where I fabricate things), and I will remember your company. Thank you.

[@TomsChevelle]

Interesting, you guys look like you make quality bolts. Thanks for posting.

[@techsysengineer5135]

I love watching how items are made. So often we take for granted common items, or the parts of a complex piece of machinery. Very interesting.

[@bobgarr6246]

Like most blue collar guys I love this stuff. It's always good to know the how's and why's of the products and tools of the trade one works with. Great job, the video and your production facility.

[@pdoggy10inch]

Very interesting and thank you for taking us on a tour!!

[@DesertDigger1]

Great to see an American company still in business after all these years.

[@rbeehner2]

I have recently retired as a mechanical engineer working in Detroit. I must say that Portland Bolt was a fabulous go to whenever it came to bolts, grades, codes, specs and materials. Their website is chock full of good information.

[@pdxbolt]

Richard Beehner, Jr. - Thank you for the kind words.

[@FredFlintstone21]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@desertmulehunter]

That's a beauty of a bolt, I would love to have one for my wall.

[@not2fast4u2c]

Thanks for posting this I enjoy watching how things aremade

[@samrasmussen304]

Fantastic video! Thanks for posting!

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

Really nice video. Thanks! I met some of your competition: a farmer up Highway 8, north of Hamilton, Ontario, has a $500,000 four-axis machine out in the barn, spends a few hours a day carving bolts out of raw stock, custom-made for customers like Hydro-Quebec. "Gotta have something to do while the cows are in the field."

[@Greenlightandgo]

0:55 my guy just yeets the last bar outta there! I love videos like this.

[@pdxbolt]

+Austin Washburn - No, all the machinery we have is designed for short run and hot formed specials. Larger production runs are typically handled by companies that have the cold forming machinery you mentioned.

[@kakarthikeyan6597]

Is it required to rethread after hot dip galvanisation? And thank you very much for sharing.

[@snowfall5171]

Awesome! These bolts are really durable and well made.

[@godbluffvdgg]

I hope these guys catch the infrastructure rehab...I hope they can expand and give raises to everyone working there...Replace every bolt on every bridge nationwide...:)...That'll keep ya busy for a century or so...:) Nice to see old school small manufacturing...

[@timlynch3696]

I makes sense

[@popiscoolnow]

And here I thought Portland was just full of nuts! Who knew.😃

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

It takes a bolt to screw a lose nut!

[@billville111]

Pop lol

[@giancarlomoscetti215]

Oh, there's lots of nuts, as we see on the daily news...but none of them are the hard-working men manning these factories.

[@brian.7966]

that's funny very funny very funny ...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..

[@brandonnorris1026]

@Concerned Citizen Tweakers do this willingly.

[@sanbillings832]

Thank you! That was very informative.

[@TheLightningStalker]

Very interesting. I was doing a little pickling of my own the other day.

[@AS-fn3qk]

Amazing Thanks for all your hard work

[@davidcarruthers5850]

Way cool, just love this stuff. I use fasteners a lot in my job.

[@PilotVBall]

In Europe that factory would be spotless and modern.

[@spax420]

In America it is efficient and profitable. Function over form. Similar to the way teens are concerned with their appearance whereas a mature adult is more concerned with how well they can perform in place of vanity.

[@brianmuhlingBUM]

I thought the factory looked modern and clean, especially the galvanizing area which is a dirty job, with acrid fumes from the salamoniac in the galvanizing tank. 😊

[@chuckvan1568]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you!

[@lowellmccormick6991]

I'm a steel detailer and use the reference info on Portland Bolt's website all the time and have for a lot of years on a lot of projects. Thank you for that.

[@johnjohannemann1220]

I found this video to be very interesting and informative. Thank you. Looking forward to the next one.

[@TralfazConstruction]

Fascinating inside look at one of the products (production processes too) which built this country and literally help hold it together.

[@terrystephens1102]

Great to see quality manufacturing processes such as these. 😃👌👌👏👏👏👏

[@antoleyo3857]

Obviously seen you make bolts with your heart. Hats off

[@felixcat9318]

Excellent video of craftsmen manufacturing specialised bolts for industry. Quality, engineering excellence and pride of workmanship. Subscribed.

[@charlesrobertson3997]

I used Portland Bolt as a vendor from the late 60's until the mid 80's when I left the industry and they were my most reliable supplier. I doubt he's still there, but kudo's to Craig, the best ever.

[@montwolfman]

Thanks for posting.

[@emdman1959]

Nice video, very interesting.

[@kckcmctcrc]

"That's not a Bolt; now THIS, is a Bolt", says Al.

[@CannedHam6]

I think you are mistaking Al for Tim.

[@BruceBusby]

Great to see American made with pride

[@freeheelman]

Cool operation!

[@3dw3dw]

kudos to you Portland bolt. glad you remain competitive. it's a damned shame more people don't have faith in domestic products.

[@johnnymitz]

Indeed. I always wonder about that too. So many American companies willing to work, and so many of them are small Mom-n-Pop shops that can offer high quality.

[@tonyromano6220]

Not about faith, it is about cost.

[@davidschwartz5127]

They have their faith connected with in the price.

[@stusmith1074]

Enjoyed your video very interesting process's thank you for sharing 👍🏼

[@vwaudiwelder]

SPECIFICITY: The language of engineers. This is remarkable. Thanks.

[@inoy0]

Nice video, thanks!

[@SpookyMcGhee]

We've got one of those Landis threaders at our shop, all around great machines.

[@pdxbolt]

They are fantastic!

[@pavanpatel4150]

This is pretty neat. I live an hour south of Portland and I specify the products you make every day at work (I'm a bridge designer)

[@rigginsconst]

That's a great video!

[@davesstuff1599]

Nice work there...

[@albertfranqui3598]

Looks like healty place to work

[@brandonfuller2254]

I have wondered for some time how the hex heads where done.. thanks for the video.

[@Barzins1]

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@marklogsdon4735]

You'd have a hard time stripping one of those bolts. Thanks for the show. Made in the USA

[@thedolphin5428]

Depends on the handle length of your spanner! (see Archimedes).

[@phi9249]

good luck Portland, such a beautiful city once upon a time.

[@SixPointsWoodWorks]

We bought our drift bolts here for the Sea Dreamer Project. Great quality.

[@pdxbolt]

@Six Pint Wood Works - Thank you for the positive feedback! We appreciate your business. Please let us know how we can assist with any future projects that require nonstandard construction fasteners.

[@DLKHAY]

as a Boilermaker I've seen your products here in Canada

[@pdxbolt]

DLK HAY - Thank you for the comment. Even with a not-so-favorable exchange rate, we still do a lot of work in Canada. In 2018, we shipped 286 orders to 12 provinces and territories. A few of the Canadian projects we participated in during 2018 include: Eglinton Crosstown LRT - Langley, BC, Canada - October 26, 2018, Fernie Arena - Fernie, BC, Canada - October 19, 2018, Propane Dehydrogenation Plant Project - Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada - October 2, 2018, Nipawin Bridge - Nisku, AB, Canada - September 18, 2018. Here is a link to more information about the shipments we send to Canada: www.portlandbolt.com/technical/faqs/does-portland-bolt-ship-to-canada/. Here is a link to a map showing these destinations: www.portlandbolt.com/about/shipment-destinations/#last.

[@donnebes9421]

DLK HAY I chugged quite a few boilermakers when I was young.

[@stevenbiars6212]

Fascinating process.

[@MoSportsUSA]

I spent 30+ years in manufacturing from literally sweeping floors to upper management. I always love watching manufacturing process steps. To me, this is the colloquial backbone of American business and economic strength.

[@MyS10Rocks]

Awesome video!

[@ryanburbridge]

Thanks for posting

[@robertdeen8741]

Most interesting. I worked in a plant for a short time that did pretty much the same thing in New Westminister BC.

[@toddburgess6792]

I made a bolt and nut in shop class in junior high, but we didn't have such bigazz machinery. I had to affix my hex stock onto my shank. It stayed put for the grade, but as soon as it was put to use, it was done-for. Actually, I figured you started out with hex stock. Boy was I wrong. :-)

[@cliffrevalde8150]

thank for sharing your video.

[@mcroley591]

Great video! American made!

[@timtravasos2742]

Amazing!

[@doright6461]

Cool video. Turned thousands of bolts manually and CNC. Mazatrol and G-Code. Never did the forging. Thanks

[@MrDingle77]

God Bless your Company. Prayers for Many years of prosperous operation. Made in the USA!!

[@balunshu3966]

We can also provide this device. Please check the following website. www.lhinduction.com htttp://lihuachina.en.alibaba.com or whatsapp:[phone]

[@Rutmanharley]

Very nice. Interesting how they make those big bolts. Made in America. Right on ! Thx.

[@zhongqiaofastnermachinery]

Great job

[@dougnickerson7145]

Great vid

[@harveylgordonusa]

Nice video!

[@EssexDrumHandling]

Awesome video

[@zoesdada8923]

Beautiful machinery

[@Pat21617]

Thanks!

[@grampabadger]

My degree is in machine tool and die design and this equipment is intriguing.

[@deckiedeckie]

Worked in a pile driver boat (USCGC Hatchet construction tender) used bolt similar to these....to hold the platform where later the channel light was placed....on the previously punched pylon into the floor of the channel.

[@faizaabouzeid2987]

Nice and good information

[@Verifraudreports]

My grandpa used to buy from you guys before he bought a couple oster threaders.. i hated running that X1 we had one Landis head they are so much better... now i am an aerospace engineer. i miss the nuts and bolts game

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Cool video , thanks

[@bradjunes1610]

Great video. It's inspiring me to perhaps get some videos out of thing we produce here in USA also. Thanks.

[@HML2004]

I love when people think something is so "simple" but then learn how technical and detail oriented a process is. It makes me giggle like a little school girl.

[@GartWilliamsColorado]

That's Nuts!

[@skunkhead2007]

left school at 15 first job making hand rails on a forge similar but larger than that-3 dyes in the end a round ball drilleed with tubing .... in the uk

[@tompinto7921]

An interesting video.

[@techworksinfo]

Good work bro

[@teamidris]

The head forming machine is mint :o) I though it might take three operations when I clicked on?

[@lordofelectrons4513]

Good Vid! These guys don't screw around when they make bolts.

[@347chas]

I cant believe 452 dont like it!!, Why......been goin since 1912 & now in Al's hands, gotta be doin somthing right......cracking job.

[@thephilpott2194]

That would be people pointing out the difference between hot dip zinc coating, and (electric current) galvanizing..!

[@MrJohnnyb42]

I used to do this in Vegas @ Non ferrous bolt and manufacturing company. Ran a hot header.

[@davealias4861]

Made right here in the great Northwest!

[@KennyInVegas]

Awesome video! Thanks so much for sharing....I wanted to learn how the threads on a 3" x 1/4" stainless steel lag bolt are derived....stamped or cut...

[@pdxbolt]

Hey Ken! We do not make fasteners that small. We cut threads on all the lag screws we make from 1/2" diameter and larger. On a lag screw that small in diameter, the threads are likely rolled.

[@billcoley8520]

Thanks for no music busting our ears,

[@gregsturgill3610]

Wow I did maintenance on all this machines at paintsville bolt and mfg. crush rolled threads. Used landis machines to shave rebar for threading. Rebuildt upsetters, landis roll threaders. Man those were the days!

[@CuriousEarthMan]

What happened to those plants and machines, dare I ask? Who uses threaded rebar? Was glad to read your comment!

[@richardmyhan8755]

Good stuff

[@theonlybuzz1969]

It's great to see companies who still have a passion for the products they make, that's why I try to buy American or British after that I tend to look at Germany and such like, even though it would be cheaper from China, would it be as good as the premium brands, i think not as much but I (like many others) choose "proudly made in America" products first because, they are just exactly that, God bless....

[@MAgaSUXX]

I didn't know it was LEGAL for Americans to build stuff??? holy cow!! Please keep up the great work.

[@davidouellette6833]

Pickled was thinking soaked in beer HAHA just a kidder good job guys

[@pdxbolt]

David Ouellette - We are in the microbrew capital of the world!

[@rayoneill8126]

Very interesting video from someone who is not in engineering. If you ever make another video or an update to this one, might I suggest that you include an approximate timeframe of how long it takes to make one of these bolts from start to finish. Also, maybe show a side by side sample of the bolts from each stage of the pickling process too? Cheers

[@pdxbolt]

Ray O'Neill - Thank you for the feedback and suggestions. At some point in the future, we intend to update this video and will take your comments and suggestions info consideration at that time.

[@codyosborn4525]

Awesome I want a job there.

[@awashbowler]

I am a cold form tooling design engineer at a header shop. This was quite an interesting video. Ive seen bolts similar to these but much shorter done in 5 and 6 station cold formers. Do you guys have any partsformers or nutformers that produce large quantities of parts in you operations?

[@billcoley8520]

When I worked for power companies ( IRBY construction) we would run out of certain sizes of long bolts and we had no idea how long it would be until they showed up. Now I get some idea why.

[@chuy0720]

I worked for 16 years for big bolt corp. in chicago and also made those bolt and up to 3"x 8' and then sent them to heat thread and the quality control department made them the test of stretching their head to know how much it was the resistance they endured to know if he passed the test

[@leewatkins1610]

that machine for forming the head is old.i mean 1940!but I am proud that they haven't scrapped it.American ingenuity is a great thing.

[@pdxbolt]

You are correct! The National Upsetters we use to hot-forge heads on bolts were probably manufactured between 1930 and 1950. Many components of these machines have been rebuilt throughout the years, but with a little TLC, they should run for another 75 years.

[@bretsk2500]

a lot times, really specialized machines just aren't made anymore unless you're talking a full custom build for foolish $$...

[@stinkycheese804]

?? How is it ingenuity to keep using something that works? Makes no sense.