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Bolts · ASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH

A2 (304) Stainless Steel Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod

Mechanical properties, corrosion behaviour and the full dimensional range for this grade.

A2 Stainless Steel Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod are supplied to ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70. Corrosion behaviour is good general corrosion resistance, the material is largely non-magnetic, and the usable service range is approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint. In practice this grade is the most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners.

Grade
ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70
Corrosion resistance
Good general corrosion resistance
Magnetic response
Largely non-magnetic
Service temperature
approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint

Property values are typical for the grade. Certified mechanical test data is available on request for production orders.

A2 (304) Stainless Steel Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod reference image

A2 Stainless Steel (ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70) is the most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners. When inch left-hand fully threaded rod are specified in this grade, the dimensions remain per ASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH; the material determines corrosion behavior (good general corrosion resistance) and the service temperature range (approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint). Both are covered below with the size table.

Why Choose A2 Stainless Steel for Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod

The most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners. For inch left-hand fully threaded rod, this matters when good general corrosion resistance is the primary requirement.

Mechanical & Physical Properties

Grade designationISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70
Magnetic responseLargely non-magnetic
Service temperatureapprox. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint
Corrosion characteristicGood general corrosion resistance

Galvanic & Galling Considerations

Two important notes for stainless inch left-hand fully threaded rod: (1) stainless can gall on stainless threads under load — use a thread lubricant or anti-galling compound, especially for M6 and below; (2) when joined to aluminum or galvanized steel, stainless can drive galvanic corrosion of the less-noble metal in wet service — isolate with a coating or sleeve where appropriate.

Comparable Grades

For Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod, the alternative stainless grade is A4 (316). A2 (304) suits general indoor and outdoor service; A4 (316) adds molybdenum for marine and chloride environments. Where higher strength matters more than corrosion, switch to plated alloy-steel class 8.8 or 10.9.

Using Stainless Fasteners in Aluminum

Stainless steel is more noble than aluminum, so in the presence of an electrolyte — rain, condensation, salt spray — the aluminum becomes the anode and corrodes at the joint. The effect is driven by the area ratio: a small stainless fastener in a large aluminum section is normally acceptable, while a large stainless fastener in thin aluminum is not. Where the joint is wet, isolate the two metals with a coated or nylon washer and a sealant, or specify an aluminum or coated fastener instead.

Sizes of Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod Available in A2 Stainless Steel

Nominal sizeThread handThread classStandard lengths (in/ft)Material optionsReference standard
6-32left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
8-32left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
10-24left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
1/4-20left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
3/8-16left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
1/2-13left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH

Technical Drawing

Customize the parameters below — every spec field is editable, and the drawing redraws to match the values you choose. Changing the size will snap the other fields to that size's standard values; you can then override any individual value.

Sends the selected values to the quote form below.

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Specification
Business Information

Dimensions & Specifications (ASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH)

Nominal sizeThread handThread classStandard lengths (in/ft)Material optionsReference standard
6-32left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
8-32left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
10-24left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
1/4-20left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
3/8-16left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH
1/2-13left-hand2A12 / 24 in and 3 ftzinc-plated steel / 18-8 stainless / 316 stainlessASME B18.31.3 and ASME B1.1 LH

Applications & Industries

Where Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod are used, and what decides the specification in each case. Stocked from 6-32 to 1/2-13 (screw size).

Industries that specify Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod

  • Opposed adjusters Left-hand and right-hand rod pairs used to change length without disconnecting the joint.
  • Rotating equipment Threaded adjustments arranged to resist self-loosening in service.
  • Machine fixtures Inch adjustment rods where the thread hand is part of the mechanism.
  • Repair and fabrication Replacement rod matched to existing left-hand nuts and couplers.
  • Pressure equipment & flanges Studs and nuts on flanged joints, where both ends are tightened and the assembly is inspected.
  • Plant & machine installation Anchoring and levelling machines onto bases and frames.

Typical applications

  • providing a left-hand threaded member for an opposed adjuster
  • matching the rod to a left-hand nut rather than a standard right-hand nut
  • holding a threaded adjustment against rotation in a paired mechanism
  • specifying inch thread class, hand, length and material together
  • clamping a joint from both ends where a headed bolt will not fit
  • suspending services from a soffit on threaded rod

Service conditions to specify against

Marine and coastal
Available in A4 (316) stainless for chloride exposure — coastal structures, pool halls, water treatment and deck hardware, where A2 will eventually pit.
High load
Supplied in ISO 898-1 property classes, so the joint can be designed to a stated proof load and tightened to a calculated torque rather than by feel.

Where to use something else

  • Do not pair a left-hand rod with an ordinary right-hand nut; the threads will not engage correctly.
  • Not for a joint that must be tightened from one side only — there is no head to hold.

Full application guide: where Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod are used, how to specify them, and the cases they are wrong for

Inside the plant

Manufactured in our own plant

This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided.

  1. Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine
    01

    Cold heading

    Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail.

    Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift.

  2. Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads
    02

    Thread rolling

    Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch.

    Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g.

  3. Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment
    03

    Heat treatment

    Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it.

    Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1.

  4. Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket
    04

    Surface treatment

    Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list.

    Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can A2 Stainless Steel Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod be used with aluminum?

Yes, but stainless drives mild galvanic corrosion of aluminum in wet service — isolate with a coating, sleeve or paint, or accept the trade-off if the joint is dry and indoor.

What's the service temperature limit for A2 Stainless Steel?

The practical service range is approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint.

Can A2 Stainless Steel replace plated alloy steel structurally?

Only at the standard strength classes — A2-70 / A4-80 are roughly equivalent to class 7 steel; A4-100 reaches class 8.8. For class 10.9 or 12.9 strength, plated alloy steel is required.

Are A2 Stainless Steel Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod magnetic?

A2 Stainless Steel Inch Left-Hand Fully Threaded Rod are largely non-magnetic.

How do I request a quotation?

Use the technical drawing on this page to pick the exact configuration, then submit it with the quote form. We respond within one business day.