#concrete foundation j bolts

[fixdex-fastening-technology]

we are in Dubai Big 5 Exhibition now,waiting you!

[coldsongmusic]

Foundation Bolt Manufacturer

A foundation bolt manufacturer specializes in producing high-quality bolts essential for securing structures to concrete foundations. Foundation bolts are engineered for strength, stability, and durability, providing critical support to heavy equipment, industrial machinery, and construction projects. These bolts are available in various types, such as L-type, J-type, and U-type, each designed to meet specific load-bearing requirements. Manufacturers prioritize precision and quality, using premium materials and advanced manufacturing processes to ensure corrosion resistance and long-lasting performance. They offer customization options to match specific project needs, making these bolts suitable for diverse applications in industries like infrastructure, power plants, and telecommunications. With reliable foundation bolts, construction projects achieve enhanced safety, alignment, and structural integrity.

[priyasinghi]

Understanding Foundation J Bolts: Essential Components for Robust Construction

This article helps in Foundation J bolts as, They are a type of anchor bolt shaped like the letter "J". They are embedded in concrete foundations to secure structural components, such as wooden or steel frames, to the foundation itself.

Key Features of Foundation J Bolts:

Material: Typically made from steel, which provides durability and strength.

Shape: The unique J shape allows for excellent anchorage in the concrete.

Variety: Available in different sizes and lengths to meet various construction needs.

These bolts are designed to withstand heavy loads, making them essential for a wide range of construction projects. 

This article also helps in understanding importance of foundation J bolts as,

1. Stability and Strength

Foundation J bolts provide critical stability for structures. They secure the building framework to the foundation, preventing shifting, settling, or collapsing. This is particularly important in areas prone to high winds or earthquakes.

2. Load Distribution

By anchoring the structure to the foundation, these bolts help distribute loads evenly. This reduces stress on any single point, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the building over time.

3. Protection Against Natural Elements

Foundation bolts are resistant to corrosion when properly coated. This resistance helps protect your building against rust and other environmental factors that can compromise structural integrity.

4. Ease of Installation

Foundation J bolts are relatively easy to install compared to other anchoring methods. This can save you time and labor costs during the construction process.

5. Versatility

You can use foundation J bolts in various applications, from residential homes to industrial buildings, making them a versatile choice for many construction projects.

Futher, foundation J bolts requires a regular maintenance to ensure their longevity and effectiveness. Here are some tips to keep them in top shape:

1. Regular Inspections

Periodically check the condition of the J bolts for signs of rust or corrosion.

Look for any loosening of the connections, especially after severe weather.

2. Keep It Clean

Remove debris and dirt around the bolts to prevent moisture buildup.

Clean any rust spots immediately to prevent further corrosion.

3. Re-Tighten Connections

Over time, the connections may loosen. Regularly re-tighten the nuts and washers on the J bolts to maintain a secure attachment.

4. Protect Against Corrosion

If your foundation bolts are not galvanized, consider applying a rust-inhibiting paint or coating to protect them from moisture and chemicals.

5. Monitor the Structure

Keep an eye on the overall condition of the structure. If you notice any shifting or settling, consult a professional immediately.

Understanding the essential role of foundation J bolts in construction is crucial for anyone involved in building or renovation projects. These seemingly simple components are the backbone of structural integrity, ensuring that your buildings remain safe and stable over time.

By choosing the right type of foundation J bolts, following proper installation procedures, and maintaining them regularly, you can enhance the longevity and performance of your structures. So, whether you’re a contractor, a DIY enthusiast, or just curious about construction, I hope this guide has provided valuable insights into the world of foundation bolts.

This guide will equip you with the knowledge to take your garment construction skills to the next level and create clothes that look and feel truly professional.

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Understanding Foundation J Bolts: Essential Components for Robust Construction

[jinnoxbolt]

Bolt Types Explained: Which One Is Right for Your Next Project?

Bolts are one of the most critical components in engineering, construction, and various other industries. Whether you're working on a small home improvement project or a large-scale industrial job, choosing the right bolt is essential for ensuring the safety, stability, and longevity of your project. Each bolt type serves a unique purpose, and understanding their distinctions can make all the difference in your project’s success. In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of bolts and help you determine which one is right for your next project.

The Structure of a Bolt

Before diving into specific bolt types, it’s important to understand the basic anatomy of a bolt. Every bolt consists of three key components: the head, the shank, and the thread.

Head: The part of the bolt that allows a tool to apply torque. Common head types include hex, round, and flat heads.

Shank: The unthreaded section of the bolt that provides the necessary length for the bolt to hold objects together.

Thread: The spiral grooves that allow the bolt to be screwed into a nut or pre-threaded hole.

These components work together to provide the mechanical force needed to secure objects, and the variation in their design allows bolts to be specialized for different applications.

Common Bolt Types and Their Uses

Hex Bolts

Hex bolts are among the most versatile and widely used bolts in construction and machinery. They are recognized by their hexagonal heads and are commonly used for fastening wood and metal. Their versatility makes them a go-to choice for many builders and engineers.

Carriage Bolts

Carriage bolts feature a smooth, rounded head, making them ideal for applications where aesthetics and safety are important, such as in furniture construction. The square section underneath the head prevents the bolt from rotating as the nut is tightened.

Lag Bolts

Lag bolts are heavy-duty fasteners, typically used in wood applications. Their large size and coarse threads make them ideal for projects requiring a strong hold, such as securing beams or posts in construction projects.

Anchor Bolts

Used to attach objects or structures to concrete, anchor bolts are critical in securing foundations. They are often used in applications like building bridges or mounting heavy equipment to concrete floors.

Eye Bolts

Eye bolts feature a looped head, making them perfect for lifting and rigging tasks. These bolts are often used in marine and construction applications where securing ropes or chains is necessary.

Specialty Bolts for Unique Applications

When it comes to unique and highly specialized applications, the standard bolt types often don't cut it. Specialty bolts are designed to meet specific challenges, offering enhanced performance, durability, or functionality in specialized conditions. Let's explore some of the most common specialty bolts and their uses.

Flange Bolts

Flange bolts come with a built-in washer-like flange at the base of the head. This feature helps distribute the pressure of the bolt over a larger surface area, reducing the likelihood of damage to the material being fastened. Flange bolts are particularly useful in automotive and machinery applications where vibration and movement can loosen standard bolts over time. The flange provides a more secure grip, helping to prevent loosening in high-stress environments.

J-Bolts

Named after their characteristic "J" shape, J-bolts are designed to be embedded in concrete or other materials to secure objects in place. Their hooked end makes them ideal for structural applications, such as anchoring walls, columns, and other large structures to their foundations. J-bolts are commonly used in the construction of bridges, buildings, and large-scale infrastructure projects.

U-Bolts

U-bolts are shaped like the letter "U" and are primarily used to hold pipes, tubes, or other cylindrical objects in place. These bolts are particularly useful in plumbing, automotive, and HVAC systems, where they are used to secure pipes to ceilings, walls, or other surfaces. U-bolts can also be found in marine applications, securing boat masts or other cylindrical components.

Leading Grade Bolt Manufacturers in India

One of the top bolts manufacturers in India is Jinnox Bolt. We take great satisfaction in manufacturing premium bolts that meet our customers' diverse needs. Our Bolt Manufacturers are perfect for circumstances requiring maximum grip strength, while our Half Bolts provide a blend of flexibility and grip strength. Along with offering a large assortment of bolt manufacturers, we place a high value on customer satisfaction and prompt delivery. As one of the leading bolt suppliers in India, our team of professionals closely collaborates with clients to understand their particular requirements and offer tailored solutions.

We are the leading bolt manufacturers in India. We provide a large range of high-quality Bolt Suppliers made with cutting-edge technologies and premium materials. Our Bolts are utilized in a variety of sectors, including petroleum, automotive, and construction. We also provide Hex Bolt Manufacturer in India and Allen Bolt Manufacturer in India.

Product: Bolts Manufacturer in India

Website: jinnoxbolt.com.

[jimitjain]

Types of Bolts: A Comprehensive Guide

Ananka Group is the Best Bolt Manufacturer in India. In many different industries, bolt is an essential component of the supply and transportation networks. It is used to link or connect objects together and is simple to assemble and disassemble. High-tensile bolts are important because of their high tensile strength and resistance to compression fitting in the building of steel structures. 

1. Hex Bolts

Hex bolts are named for their hexagonal heads and are one of the most commonly used types of bolts. They come in various grades and materials, making them versatile for different applications.

Uses: Hex bolts are widely used in construction, machinery, and automotive industries. They are ideal for joining wood, metal, and other materials.

Characteristics: They are available in both coarse and fine thread varieties and can be used with a corresponding hex nut or tapped hole.

2. Carriage Bolts

Carriage bolts feature a round, domed head and a square neck that prevents the bolt from turning when the nut is tightened.

Uses: Commonly used in wood-to-wood or wood-to-metal applications such as furniture assembly, fencing, and deck building.

Characteristics: The square neck grips into the material to prevent the bolt from spinning during installation.

3. Lag Bolts

Lag bolts, also known as lag screws, are large, heavy-duty bolts with a hex head.

Uses: Ideal for heavy-duty applications such as securing large timbers, wood construction, and outdoor projects like decking.

Characteristics: They have sharp, coarse threads that provide a strong grip in wood.

4. Eye Bolts

Eye bolts have a looped head that can accommodate ropes, cables, or chains.

Uses: Often used for lifting, rigging, and anchoring applications. They are also used in light fixtures, electrical wiring, and marine hardware.

Characteristics: Available in various materials, including stainless steel for corrosion resistance in marine environments.

5. Anchor Bolts

Anchor bolts are designed to attach structures or machinery to concrete.

Uses: Widely used in construction for securing buildings, bridges, and heavy machinery to concrete foundations.

Characteristics: They come in different types, such as L-shaped, J-shaped, and wedge anchors, each suited for specific applications.

6. U-Bolts

U-bolts are shaped like the letter "U" with threads on both ends.

Uses: Commonly used to secure pipes, conduit, or other round objects to a surface. They are also used in automotive applications to attach exhaust systems.

Characteristics: They provide a strong and stable attachment for cylindrical objects.

7. Flange Bolts

Flange bolts have a built-in washer (flange) under the head that distributes the load and provides a larger bearing surface.

Uses: Frequently used in the automotive industry for securing frames, engines, and transmission systems. They are also used in plumbing and construction.

Characteristics: The flange reduces the need for a separate washer, simplifying installation.

As India's largest Bolt Manufacturer, Our specialty is larger diameter bolts and nuts made of stainless steel with higher tensile strength. They are essential components of many industries, including home goods, construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Also we are India's largest Fasteners Suppliers. We provide fastener grades that satisfy all international and national specifications. We also specialise in stainless steel Hex bolts, nuts, Stud bolts, and other fasteners.

[foundationbolts]

Fondation Bolts

Foundation Bolts: Anchors of Stability

Foundation bolts are unsung heroes in the world of construction, silently playing a pivotal role in ensuring the stability and resilience of structures. These bolts serve as the crucial link between a building and its foundation, anchoring the two together to withstand the test of time and external forces.

Types: Foundation bolts manufacturers come in various types, each designed to meet specific structural requirements. J-type bolts, resembling the letter 'J,' provide a strong hold, while L-type bolts, shaped like an 'L,' offer stability at a specific depth. T-type bolts feature a flat, horizontal base for robust anchoring, and U-type bolts provide flexibility for adjustments during construction.

Materials: Crafted from high-strength materials such as carbon steel or alloy steel, foundation bolts are engineered to endure substantial loads while resisting corrosion. In corrosive environments, stainless steel bolts become the material of choice, ensuring longevity in challenging conditions.

Installation: The installation process of foundation bolts is a critical phase in construction. Positioned strategically during the initial stages, these bolts are embedded into the concrete foundation. Precision in alignment is crucial to ensure the subsequent attachment of structural elements. Once the foundation sets, nuts and washers are fastened onto the exposed ends, locking the bolts securely in place.

Importance: The significance of foundation bolts lies in their ability to provide structural stability, distribute loads evenly, and enhance the overall safety of a building. In seismic-prone regions, these bolts act as essential safeguards, preventing excessive movement and potential structural failure.

In essence, foundation bolts are the anchors that silently contribute to the resilience and longevity of structures. Their installation, often overlooked by many, is a meticulous process that ensures the very foundation of a building is firmly anchored, standing as a testament to their importance in the realm of construction.

[pronto-fabril]

The Hidden Power of Foundation Bolts: Discover the Key to a Rock-Solid Foundation

Introduction: Beneath the surface of every solid structure lies a hidden power, a key element that ensures its unwavering strength and stability: foundation bolts. Often overlooked, these unassuming fasteners play a vital role in creating a rock-solid foundation. From towering skyscrapers to humble homes, understanding the hidden power of foundation bolts unveils their crucial role in constructing structures that stand the test of time.

The Foundation's Backbone: Foundation bolts act as the backbone of any construction project, providing the essential link between the foundation and the superstructure. These robust metal bolts are strategically embedded in concrete or masonry, securing the structure firmly to the ground. By creating a strong connection, foundation bolts counteract the forces of gravity, external loads, and environmental factors that can jeopardize the stability of the building.

Anchoring for Stability: The primary function of foundation bolts is to anchor the structure to the foundation. This anchoring process prevents excessive movement, ensuring that the building remains stable and resistant to forces such as wind, earthquakes, and vibrations. Foundation bolts work in conjunction with the foundation to distribute the loads evenly, minimizing the risk of structural failure and guaranteeing long-term stability.

Types and Configurations: Foundation bolts come in various types and configurations, each designed to suit specific construction requirements. J-bolts, L-bolts, and U-bolts are commonly used, with each type offering distinct advantages in different scenarios. These bolts can be customized in terms of size, shape, and threading, allowing them to accommodate specific load demands and structural designs.

Precision Installation: The installation of foundation bolts demands precision and expertise. During the construction phase, anchor bolt locations are meticulously planned based on architectural and engineering specifications. Once the foundation is ready, the bolts are embedded and aligned precisely. Proper alignment ensures that the superstructure can be securely attached, minimizing any potential structural weaknesses. The bolts are then tightened to the specified torque, guaranteeing a strong and secure connection.

Enhancing Durability: Foundation bolts play a crucial role in enhancing the durability of the structure. Galvanized or stainless steel bolts are often used to provide resistance against corrosion, which can weaken the bolts over time. The selection of appropriate materials and coatings ensures that the foundation bolts remain robust, contributing to the overall longevity and integrity of the structure.

Beyond Buildings: Industrial Applications: The hidden power of foundation bolts extends beyond traditional building construction. In industrial settings, such as manufacturing plants and infrastructure projects, foundation bolts are instrumental in securing heavy machinery, equipment, and structural components. These bolts provide the necessary stability and rigidity to support the operational needs of various industries, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Conclusion: As we admire magnificent structures, it is essential to recognize the hidden power of foundation bolts—the silent heroes that establish a rock-solid foundation. From providing stability and load distribution to enhancing durability, these unassuming fasteners play a vital role in constructing structures that withstand the test of time. Understanding the hidden power of foundation bolts sheds light on the critical elements that contribute to the strength and longevity of our built environment

[theculturedmarxist]

Below is the story of my day touring Tema with Prince Philip, in this chapter from my book “The Catholic Orangemen of Togo”. You may be surprised to read that I rather liked him.

The African Queen

One morning I was sitting in the lounge at Devonshire House, with its fitted wool carpets and chintz sofas. I was drinking the tea that our steward, Nasser, had brought me. I heard movement in a corner of the room, and thought it must be Nasser cleaning there. But looking round, I saw nobody. Puzzled, I got up and walked towards that corner. Rounding a settee, I nearly stood upon a thin, green snake. About four feet long and just the thickness of your thumb, it was a bright, almost lime green colour. There was not much wedge shape to its head, which rather tapered from its neck. Its tongue was flickering toward me, perhaps a foot away, its head raised only slightly off the floor. I took a step backwards. In response it too retreated, at surprising speed, and zipped up the inside of the curtains.

I stood stock still and yelled “Nasser! Nasser!” This brought Nasser hurrying into the living room with Gloria, the cook. “Nasser, there’s a snake in the curtains!” Nasser and Gloria screamed, threw their arms in the air, and ran together into the kitchen and out the back door of the house. This was not altogether helpful.

I remained where I was to keep an eye on the snake, not wanting it to be lurking inside the house unseen. After a while the front door opened and somebody, presumably Nasser, threw in Nasser’s scruffy little dog. The dog was normally banned from the house, and celebrated this unexpected turn of events by immediately urinating against the hall table. Then the dog too ran into the kitchen and out of the back door.

Abandoning my watch, I went out and recruited the reluctant gardeners and gate guards. They armed themselves with long sticks and came in and beat the curtains until the snake fell onto the floor. As it sped for cover under a sofa, Samuel the youngest gardener got in a solid blow, and soon everyone was joining in, raining down blows on the twitching snake. They carried its disjointed body out on the end of a stick, and burnt it on a bonfire.

Everyone identified it as a green mamba. I was sceptical. Green mambas are among the world’s deadliest snakes, and I imagined them to look beefy like cobras, not whip thin and small headed like this. But a search on the agonisingly slow internet showed that indeed it did look very like a green mamba.

The important question arose of how it had entered the house. With air conditioning, the doors and windows were usually shut. Nasser seemed to have solved the mystery when he remarked that a dead one had been found last year inside an air conditioner. The unit had stopped working, and when they came to fix it they found a snake jammed in the mechanism. That seemed the answer; it had appeared just under a conditioner, and it seemed likely the slim snake had entered via the vent pipe, avoiding the fan as it crawled through the unit.

This was very worrying. If anti-venom was available (and we held a variety in the High Commission) an adult would probably survive a green mamba bite. But it would almost certainly be fatal to Emily, and possibly to Jamie.

A week or so later, I was constructing Emily’s climbing frame, which had arrived from the UK. A rambling contraption of rungs, slides, platforms and trampolines, it required the bolting together of scores of chrome tubes. I was making good progress on it and, as I lifted one walkway side into position above my head, a mamba slid out of the end of the tube, down my arm, round my belly and down my leg. It did this in no great hurry; it probably took four seconds, but felt like four minutes.

There was one terrible moment when it tried an exploratory nuzzle of its head into the waistband of my trousers, but luckily it decided to proceed down the outside to the ground. It then zig zagged across the lawn to nestle in the exposed tops of the roots of a great avocado tree. Again the mob arrived and beat it to death with sticks. I persuaded them to keep the body this time, and decided that definite action was needed.

I called in a pest control expert. I was advised to try the “Snake Doctor”. I was a bit sceptical, equating “Snake Doctor” with “Witch Doctor”, but when he arrived I discovered that this charming chubby Ghanaian really did have a PhD in Pest Control from the University of Reading. As Fiona had an MSc in Crop Protection from the same Department, they got on like a house on fire and it was difficult to get them away from cups of tea to the business in hand.

He confirmed that the dead snake really was a green mamba. We obviously had a colony. They lived in trees, and he advised us to clear an area of wasteland beyond the boundaries of our house, and build a high boundary wall of rough brick at the back, rather than the existing iron palings. He also suggested we cut down an avenue of some 16 huge mature trees along the drive. I was very sad, but followed this sensible advice. That removed the mamba problem from Devonshire House. But I continued to attract mambas on my travels around Ghana.

The second half of that first year in Ghana was to be almost entirely taken up with preparations for the State Visit of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in November 1999. A huge amount of work goes into organising such a visit; every move is staged and choreographed, designed for media effect. You need to know in advance just where everybody is going to be, who will move where when, and what they will say. You need to place and organise the media to best advantage. You need to stick within very strict rules as to what the Queen will or will not do. Most difficult of all, you have to agree all this with the host government.

I had been through it all quite recently, having paid a major part in the organisation of the State Visit to Poland in 1996. That had gone very well. The Poles regarded it as an important symbol that communism had been definitively finished. It was visually stunning, and at a time when the Royal Family was dogged with hostile media coverage, it had been their first unmixed positive coverage in the UK for ages. I had handled the media angles, and my stock stood very high in the Palace.

I am a republican personally; I was just doing my job. The Palace staff knew I was a republican, not least because I had turned down the offer of being made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) after the Warsaw visit. I had earlier turned down the offer to be an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) after the first Gulf war.

Rawlings was delighted that the Queen was coming. He craved respectability and acceptance in the international community, which had been hard to come by after his violent beginnings. But he had turned his Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) into a political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and had fought elections in 1992 and 1996 against the opposition New Patriotic Party, which had an unbroken tradition running back to Nkrumah’s opponent J B Danquah and his colleague Kofi Busia. There were widespread allegations of vote-rigging, violence and intimidation, and certainly in 1992 the nation was still too cowed to engage in much open debate.

Even by 1999, social life was still inhibited by the fact that nobody except those close to the Rawlings would do anything that might be construed as an ostentatious display of life, while Rawlings had sustained and inflated the personality cult of Nkrumah still further (he is known as Osagyefo, “the conqueror”.) Open discussion of the disasters Nkrumah brought upon Ghana was almost impossible. It is still difficult for many Ghanaians today, after decades of brainwashing. As Rawlings had gradually liberalised society, the increasing freedom of the media, particularly the FM radio station, was giving a great boost to democracy. But there was still much prudent self-censorship. The media was particularly reticent about investigating governmental corruption.

The NDC government was massively corrupt. There was one gratuitous example which especially annoyed me. A company called International Generics, registered in Southampton, had got loans totalling over £30 million from the Royal Bank of Scotland to construct two hotels, La Palm and Coco Palm. One was on the beach next to the Labadi Beach Hotel, the other on Fourth Circular Road in Cantonments, on the site of the former Star Hotel. The loan repayments were guaranteed by the Export Credit Guarantee Department, at the time a British government agency designed to insure UK exporters against loss. In effect the British taxpayer was underwriting the export, and if the loan defaulted the British taxpayer would pay.

In fact, this is what happened, and the file crossed my desk because the British people were now paying out on defaulted payments to the Royal Bank of Scotland. So I went to look at the two hotels. I found La Palm Hotel was some cleared land, some concrete foundations, and one eight room chalet without a roof. Coco Palm hotel didn’t exist at all. In a corner of the plot, four houses had been built by International Generics. As the housing market in Accra was very strong, these had been pre-sold, so none of the loan had gone into them.

I was astonished. The papers clearly showed that all £31.5 million had been fully disbursed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, against progress and completion certificates on the construction. But in truth there was virtually no construction. How could this have happened?

The Chief Executive of International Generics was an Israeli named Leon Tamman. He was a close friend to, and a front for, Mrs Rawlings. Tamman also had an architect’s firm, which had been signing off completion certificates for the non-existent work on the hotel. Almost all of the £30 million was simply stolen by Tamman and Mrs Rawlings.

The Royal Bank of Scotland had plainly failed in due diligence, having paid out on completion of two buildings, one not started and one only just started. But the Royal Bank of Scotland really couldn’t give a toss, because the repayments and interest were guaranteed by the British taxpayer. Indeed I seemed to be the only one who did care.

The Rawlings had put some of their share of this looted money towards payments on their beautiful home in Dublin. I wrote reports on all this back to London, and specifically urged the Serious Fraud Office to prosecute Tamman and Mrs Rawlings. I received the reply that there was no “appetite” in London for this.

Eventually La Palm did get built, but with over $60 million of new money taken this time from SSNIT, the Ghanaian taxpayers social security and pension fund. Coco Palm never did get built, but Tamman continued to develop it as a housing estate, using another company vehicle. Tamman has since died. The loans were definitively written off by the British government as part of Gordon Brown’s HIPC debt relief initiative.

That is but one example of a single scam, but it gives an insight into the way the country was looted. The unusual feature on this one was that the clever Mr Tamman found a way to cheat the British taxpayer, via Ghana. I still find it galling that the Royal Bank of Scotland also still got their profit, again from the British taxpayer.

So while the State Visit was intended as a reward to Jerry Rawlings for his conversion to democracy and capitalism, I had no illusions about Rawlings’ Ghana. I was determined that we should use the Queen’s visit to help ensure that Rawlings did indeed leave power in January 2001. According to the constitution, his second and final four year term as elected President expired then (if you politely ignored his previous decade as a military dictator). We should get the Queen to point him towards the exit.

Buckingham palace sent a team on an initial reconnaissance visit. It was led by an old friend of mine, Tim Hitchens, Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen, who had joined the FCO when I did. We identified the key features of the programme, which should centre around an address to Parliament. A walkabout might be difficult; Clinton had been almost crushed in Accra by an over-friendly crowd in a situation which got out of control. A school visit to highlight DFID’s work would provide the “meet the people” photo op, otherwise a drive past for the larger crowds. Key questions were identified as whether the Queen should visit Kumasi to meet Ghana’s most important traditional ruler, the Asantehene, and how she should meet the leader of the opposition, John Kufuor. Rawlings was likely to be opposed to both.

The recce visit went very well, and I held a reception for the team before they flew back to London. Several Ghanaian ministers came, and it ended in a very relaxed evening. Tim Hitchens commented that it was the first time he had ever heard Queen and Supertramp at an official function before. It turned out that we had very similar musical tastes.

Planning then took place at quite high intensity for several months. There were regular meetings with the Ghanaian government team tasked to organise the visit, headed by head of their diplomatic service Anand Cato, now Ghanaian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. We then had to visit together all the proposed venues, and walk through the proposed routes, order of events, seating plans etc.

From the very first meeting between the two sides, held in a committee room at the International Conference Centre, it soon became obvious that we had a real problem with Ian Mackley. The High Commissioner had been very high-handed and abrupt with the visiting team from Buckingham Palace, so much so that Tim Hitchens had asked me what was wrong. I said it was just his manner. But there was more to it than that.

In the planning meetings, the set-up did not help the atmosphere. There were two lines of desks, facing each other. The British sat on one side and the Ghanaians on the other, facing each other across a wide divide. The whole dynamic was one of confrontation.

I have sat through some toe-curling meetings before, but that first joint State visit planning meeting in Accra was the worst. It started in friendly enough fashion, with greetings on each side. Then Anand Cato suggested we start with a quick run-through of the programme, from start to finish. “OK, now will the Queen be arriving by British Airways or by private jet?” asked Anand. “She will be on one of the VC10s of the Royal Flight” said Ian. “Right, that’s better. The plane can pull up to the stand closest to the VIP lounge. We will have the convoy of vehicles ready on the tarmac. The stairs will be put to the door, and then the chief of protocol will go up the stairs to escort the Queen and her party down the stairs, where there will be a small reception party…” “No, hang on there” interjected Ian Mackley, “I will go up the stairs before the chief of protocol.” “Well, it is customary for the Ambassador or High Commissioner to be in the receiving line at the bottom of the aircraft steps.” “Well, I can tell you for sure that the first person the Queen will want to see when she arrives in the country will be her High Commissioner.” “Well, I suppose you can accompany the chief up the steps if you wish…” “And my wife.” “Pardon?” “My wife Sarah. She must accompany me up the steps to meet the Queen.” “Look, it really isn’t practical to have that many people going on to an already crowded plane where people are preparing to get off…” “I am sorry, but I must insist that Sarah accompanies me up the stairs and on to the plane.” “But couldn’t she wait at the bottom of the steps?” “Absolutely not. How could she stand there without me?” “OK, well can we then mark down the question of greeting on the plane as an unresolved issue for the next meeting?” “Alright, but our side insists that my wife…” “Yes, quite. Now at the bottom of the steps Her Majesty will be greeted by the delegated minister, and presented with flowers by children.” “Please make sure we are consulted on the choice of children.” “If you wish. There will be national anthems, but I suggest no formal inspection of the Guard of Honour? Then traditional priests will briefly make ritual oblations, pouring spirits on the ground. The Queen will briefly enter the VIP lounge to take a drink.” “That’s a waste of time. Let’s get them straight into the convoy and off.” “But High Commissioner, we have to welcome a visitor with a drink. It is an essential part of our tradition. It will only be very brief.” “You can do what you like, but she’s not entering the VIP lounge. Waste of time.” “Let’s mark that down as another issue to be resolved. Now then, first journey…”

The meeting went on for hours and hours, becoming increasingly ill tempered. When we eventually got to the plans for the State Banquet, it all went spectacularly pear-shaped as it had been threatening to do. “Now we propose a top table of eight. There will be the President and Mrs Rawlings, Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, The Vice President and Mrs Mills, and Mr and Mrs Robin Cook.” Ian positively went purple. You could see a vein throbbing at the top left of his forehead. He spoke as though short of breath. “That is not acceptable. Sarah and I must be at the top table”. “With respect High Commissioner, there are a great many Ghanaians who will feel they should be at the top table. As we are in Ghana, we feel we are being hospitable in offering equal numbers of British and Ghanaians at the top table. But we also think the best plan is to keep the top table small and exclusive.” “By all means keep it small,” said Ian, “but as High Commissioner I must be on it.” “So what do you suggest?” asked Anand. “Robin Cook” said Ian “He doesn’t need to be on the top table.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Neither could Anand. “I don’t think you are being serious, High Commissioner” he said. “I am entirely serious” said Ian. “I outrank Robin Cook. I am the personal representative of a Head of State. Robin Cook only represents the government.”

I decided the man had taken leave of his senses. I wondered at what stage can you declare your commanding officer mad and take over, like on The Cain Mutiny? Anand was obviously thinking much the same. “Perhaps I might suggest you seek instruction from headquarters on that one?” he asked. “Anyway, can we note that down as another outstanding item, and move on to…” I don’t know whether Ian secretly realised he had overstepped the mark, but he didn’t come to another planning meeting after that, leaving them to me and the very competent Second Secretary Mike Nithavrianakis.

The most difficult question of all was that of meeting the opposition. Eventually we got the agreement of Buckingham Palace and the FCO to say that, if the Queen were prevented from meeting the opposition, she wouldn’t come. But still the most we could get from Rawlings was that the leader of the opposition could be included in a reception for several hundred people at the International Conference Centre.

I had by now made good personal friends with several Ghanaian politicians. Among those who I could have a social drink with any time were, on the government side John Mahama, Minister of Information and Moses Asaga, Deputy Finance Minister, and on the opposition side John Kufuor, leader of the opposition, his colleagues Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Shadow Foreign Minister, and Nana Akuffo-Addo, Shadow Attorney General.

In the International Conference Centre the precise route the Queen would take around the crowd was very carefully planned, so I was able to brief John Kufuor exactly where to stand to meet her, and brief the Queen to be sure to stop and chat with him. As he was the tallest man in the crowd, this was all not too difficult.

Once the Queen arrived and the visit started, everything happened in a three day blur of intense activity. Vast crowds turned out, and the Palace staff soon calmed down as they realised that the Queen could expect an uncomplicated and old fashioned reverence from the teeming crowds who were turning out to see “Our Mama”.

The durbar of chiefs in front of Parliament House was a riot of colour and noise. One by one the great chiefs came past, carried on their palanquins, preceded by their entourage, drummers banging away ferociously and the chiefs, laden down with gold necklaces and bangles, struggled to perform their energetic seated dances. Many of the hefty dancing women wore the cloth that had been created for the occasion, with a picture of the Queen jiggling about on one large breast in partnership with Jerry Rawlings jiving on the other, the same pairing being also displayed on the buttocks.

After the last of the chiefs went through, the tens of thousands of spectators started to mill everywhere and we had to race for the Royal convoy to get out through the crowds. Robin Cook had stopped to give an ad hoc interview to an extremely pretty South African television reporter. Mike Nithavrianakis tried to hurry him along but got a fierce glare for his pains. Eventually everyone was in their cars but Cook; the Ghanaian outriders were itching to start as the crowds ahead and around got ever denser.

But where was Cook? We delayed, with the Queen sitting in her car for two or three minutes, but still there was no sign of the Secretary of State or his staff getting into their vehicle. Eventually the outriders swept off; the crowds closed in behind and we had abandoned our dilettante Foreign Secretary. Having lost the protection of the convoy and being caught up in the crowds and traffic, it took him an hour to catch up.

Cook was an enigma. I had already experienced his famous lack of both punctuality and consideration when kept waiting to see him over the Sandline Affair. His behaviour now seemed to combine an attractive contempt for protocol with a goat-like tendency – would he have fallen behind to give a very bland interview to a male South African reporter? He was also breaking the tradition that the Foreign Secretary does not make media comments when accompanying the Queen.

When we returned to the Labadi Beach Hotel, there was to be further evidence of Cook’s view that the World revolved around him. He was interviewing FCO staff for the position of his new Private Secretary. Astonishingly, he had decided that it would best suit his itinerary to hold these interviews in Accra rather than London. One candidate, Ros Marsden, had an extremely busy job as Head of United Nations Department. Yet she had to give up three days work to fly to be interviewed in Accra, when her office was just round the corner from his in London. Other candidates from posts around the World had difficult journeys to complete to get to Accra at all. I thought this rather outrageous of Cook, and was surprised nobody else seemed much concerned.

The port town of Tema, linked to Accra by fifteen miles of motorway and fast becoming part of a single extensive metropolis, sits firmly on the Greenwich Meridian. As far as land goes, Tema is the centre of the Earth, being the closest dry spot to the junction of the Equator and the Greenwich Meridian. You can travel South from Tema over 6,000 miles across sea until you hit the Antarctic.

There was in 1999 a particular vogue for linking the Greenwich Meridian with the Millennium. This was because of the role of the meridian in determining not just longitude but time. Of course, the two are inextricably linked with time initially used to calculate longitude. That is why Greenwich hosted both the Naval Academy and the Royal Observatory.

The fascination with all this had several manifestations. There was a BBC documentary travelogue down the Greenwich meridian. There was a best-selling book about the invention of naval chronometers, Longitude by Dava Sobel, which I read and was as interesting as a book about making clocks can be. There were a number of aid projects down the meridian, including by War Child and Comic Relief. Tema and Greenwich became twin towns. And there was the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Tema.

I think this was the idea of my very good friend John Carmichael, who was involved in charity work on several of the meridian projects. It was thought particularly appropriate as one of the Duke of Edinburgh’s titles is Earl of Greenwich – though the man has so many titles you could come up with some connection to pretty well anywhere. We could make it a new game, like six degrees of separation. Connect your home town to the Duke of Edinburgh.

Anyway, Tim Hitchens had warned me that the Duke was very much averse to just looking at things without any useful purpose. As we stood looking at the strip of brass laid in a churchyard which marks the line of the meridian, he turned to me and said: “A line in the ground, eh? Very nice.”

But we moved on to see a computer centre that had been set up by a charity to give local people experience of IT and the internet (providing both electricity and phone lines were working, which thank goodness they were today) and the Duke visibly cheered up. He was much happier talking to the instructors and students, and then when we went on to a primary school that had received books from DFID he was positively beaming. The genuinely warm reception everywhere, with happy gaggles of people of all ages cheerfully waving their little plastic union jacks, would have charmed anybody.

We returned to Accra via the coast road and I was able to point out the work of the Ghanaian coffin makers, with coffins shaped and painted as tractors, beer bottles, guitars, desks, cars and even a packet of condoms. The Prince laughed heartily, and we arrived at the Parliament building in high good spirits. There he was first shown to a committee room where he was introduced to senior MPs of all parties. “How many Members of Parliament do you have?” he asked. “Two hundred” came the answer. “That’s about the right number,” opined the Prince, “We have six hundred and fifty MPs, and most of them are a complete bloody waste of time.”

The irony was that there was no British journalist present to hear this, as they had all thought a meeting between Prince Philip and Ghanaian parliamentarians would be too boring. There were Ghanaian reporters present, but the exchange didn’t particularly interest them. So a front page tabloid remark, with which the accompanying photo could have made a paparazzi a lot of money, went completely unreported.

On a State Visit, the media cannot each be at every occasion, as security controls mean they have to be pre-positioned rather than milling about while the event goes ahead. So by agreement, those reporters and photographers accredited to the visit share or pool their photos and copy. At each event there is a stand, or pool. Some events may have more than one pool to give different angles. Each journalist can probably make five or six pools in the course of the visit, leapfrogging ahead of the royal progress. But everyone gets access to material from all the pools. The FCO lays on the transport to keep things under control. Organising the pool positions ahead of the event with the host country, and then herding and policing the often pushy media in them, is a major organisational task. Mike Nithavrianakis had carried it off with style and only the occasional failure of humour. But he had found no takers for Prince Philip in parliament, which proved to be fortunate for us.

I should say that I found Prince Philip entirely pleasant while spending most of this day with him. I am against the monarchy, but it was not created by the Queen or Prince Philip. Just as Colonel Isaac of the RUF was a victim of the circumstances into which he was born, so are they. Had I been born into a life of great privilege, I would probably have turned out a much more horrible person than they are.

Prince Philip then joined the Queen in the parliamentary chamber. Her address to parliament was to be the focal point of the visit. I had contributed to the drafting of her speech, and put a lot of work into it. The speech was only six minutes long (she never speaks longer than that, except at the State Opening of Parliament. Her staff made plain that six minutes was an absolute maximum.) It contained much of the usual guff about the history of our nations and the importance of a new future based upon partnership. But then she addressed Rawlings directly, praising his achievements in bringing Ghana on to the path of democracy and economic stability. The government benches in parliament provided an undercurrent of parliamentary “hear hears”.

But there was to be a sting in the tale: “Next, year, Mr President,” the Queen intoned, “You will step down after two terms in office in accordance with your constitution.” The opposition benches went wild. The Queen went on to wish for peaceful elections and further progress, but it was drowned out by the cries of “hear hear” and swishing of order papers from the benches, and loud cheers from the public gallery. There were mooted cries of “No” from the government side of the chamber.

I had drafted that phrase, and it had a much greater effect than I possibly hoped for, although I did mean it to drive home the message exactly as it was taken.

For a moment the Queen stopped. She looked in bewilderment and concern at the hullabaloo all around her. The Queen has no experience of speaking to anything other than a hushed, respectful silence. But, apart from some grim faces on the government benches, it was a joyful hullabaloo and she ploughed on the short distance to the end of her speech.

Once we got back to the Labadi Beach Hotel, Robin Cook was completely furious. He stormed into the makeshift Private Office, set up in two hotel rooms. “It’s a disaster. Who the Hell drafted that?” “Err, I did, Secretary of State” I said. “Is that you, Mr Murray! I might have guessed! Who the Hell approved it.” “You did.” “I most certainly did not!” “Yes you did, Secretary of State. You agreed the final draft last night.”

His Private Secretary had to dig out the copy of the draft he had signed off. He calmed down a little, and was placated further when the Queen’s robust press secretary, Geoff Crawford, said that he took the view that it was a good thing for the Queen to be seen to be standing up for democracy. It could only look good in the UK press. He proved to be right.

The State Banquet was a rather dull affair. Ian Mackley’s great battle to be on the top table proved rather nugatory as, in very Ghanaian fashion, nobody stayed in their seat very long and people were wandering all over the shop. There were a large number of empty seats as, faced with an invitation to dinner at 7.30pm, many Ghanaians followed their customary practice and wandered along an hour or so late, only to find they would not be admitted. This caused a huge amount of angst and aggravation, from which those of us inside were fortunately sheltered.

Mrs Rawlings had chosen a well known Accra nightclub owner named Chester to be the compère for the occasion. His bar is a relaxed spot in a small courtyard that features good jazz and highlife music, and prostitutes dressed as Tina Turner. It was a second home for the officers of the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT).

Chester himself was friendly and amusing, but amusing in a Julian Clary meets Kenneth Williams meets Liberace sort of way. Chester says he is not gay, (regrettably homosexuality is illegal in Ghana) but his presentation is undeniably ultra camp. It is hard to think of a weirder choice to chair a state banquet, but Chester was a particular pet of Mrs Rawlings.

Chester was stood on the platform next to the Queen, gushing about how honoured he was. His speech was actually very witty, but the delivery was – well, Chester. I turned to Prince Philip and remarked: “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen two Queens together before.” To give credit to Chester, I gather he has been telling the story ever since.

High camp was to be a theme of that evening.

Fiona and I accompanied the Royal party back to the Labadi Beach Hotel to say goodnight, after which Fiona returned home to Devonshire House while I remained for a debriefing on the day and review of the plans for tomorrow. By the time we had finished all that it was still only 11pm and I retired to the bar of the Labadi Beach with the Royal Household. The senior staff – Tim and Geoff – withdrew as is the custom, to allow the butlers, footmen, hairdressers and others to let off steam.

The party appeared, to a man, to be gay. Not just gay but outrageously camp. The Labadi Beach, with its fans whirring under polished dark wood ceilings, its panelled bar, displays of orchids, attentive uniformed staff and glossy grand piano – has the aura of a bygone colonial age, like something from Kenya’s Happy Valley in the 1930s. You expect to see Noel Coward emerge in his smoking jacket and sit down at the piano, smoking through a mother of pearl cigarette holder. It is exactly the right setting for a gay romp, and that is exactly what developed after a few of the Labadi Beach’s wonderful tropical cocktails.

We had taken the entire hotel for the Royal party, except that we had allowed the British Airways crew to stay there as always. Now three of their cabin stewards, with two Royal footmen and the Queen’s hairdresser, were grouped around the grand singing Cabaret with even more gusto than Liza. Other staff were smooching at the bar. All this had developed within half an hour in a really magical and celebratory atmosphere that seemed to spring from nothing. I was seated on a comfortable sofa, and across from me in an armchair was the one member of the Household who seemed out of place. The Duke of Edinburgh’s valet looked to be in his sixties, a grizzled old NCO with tufts of hair either side of a bald pate, a boxer’s nose and tattoos on his arms. He was smoking roll-ups.

He was a nice old boy and we had been struggling to hold a conversation about Ghana over the din, when two blokes chasing each other ran up to the settee on which I was sitting. One, pretending to be caught, draped himself over the end and said: “You’ve caught me, you beast!” I turned back to the old warrior and asked: “Don’t you find all this a bit strange sometimes?” He lent forward and put his hand on my bare knee below my kilt: “Listen, ducks. I was in the Navy for thirty years.”

So I made my excuses and left, as the News of the World journalists used to put it. I think he was probably joking, but there are some things that are too weird even for me, and the lower reaches of the Royal household are one of them. I have heard it suggested that such posts have been filled by gays for centuries, just as harems were staffed by eunuchs, to avoid the danger of a Queen being impregnated. Recently I have been most amused by news items regarding the death of the Queen Mother’s long-standing footman, who the newsreaders have been informing us was fondly known as “Backstairs Billy”. They manage to say this without giving the slightest hint that they know it is a double entendre.

The incident in parliament had made the Rawlings government even more annoyed about the proposed handshake in the International Conference Centre reception between the Queen and John Kufuor. My own relationship with Ian Mackley had also deteriorated still further as a result of the Royal Visit. I had the advantage that I already knew from previous jobs the palace officials and Robin Cook’s officials, and of course Robin Cook himself, not to mention the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. All in all, I suspect that Ian felt that I was getting well above myself.

As the party formed up to walk around the reception in the International Conference Centre, Ian came up to me and grabbed my arm rather fiercely. “You, just stay with the Queen’s bodyguards” he said. I did not mind at all, and attached myself to another Ian, the head of the Queen’s close protection team. I already knew Ian also. Ian set off towards the hall and started ensuring a path was clear for the Queen, I alongside him as ordered. Suddenly I heard Sarah Mackley positively squeal from somewhere behind me: “My God, he’s ahead of the Queen! Now Craig’s ahead of the Queen.” If I could hear it, at least forty other people could. I managed to make myself as invisible as possible, and still to accomplish the introduction to John Kufuor. The government newspaper the Daily Graphic was to claim indignantly that I had introduced John Kufuor as “The next President of Ghana.” Had I done so, I would have been in the event correct in my prediction, but in fact I introduced him as “The opposition Presidential candidate”.

As always, the Queen’s last engagement on the State Visit was to say farewell to all the staff who had helped. She gives out gifts, and confers membership of the Royal Victorian Order on those deemed to merit it. Only once in the Queen’s long reign had she ever been on a state visit and not created our Ambassador or High Commissioner a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order – that is to say, knighted him. Ian and Sarah were to become Sir Ian and Lady Sarah. This seemed to me to mean the world to them.

The day before, Tim Hitchens had turned to me as we were travelling in the car: “Craig, I take it your views on honours have not changed.” “No, Tim, I still don’t want any.” “Good, you see that makes it a bit easier, actually. You see, the thing is, we’re trying to cut down a bit on giving out routine honours. The government wants a more meritocratic honours system. We need to start somewhere. So, in short, Ian Mackley is not going to get his K.” I was stunned. Tim continued: “And as well, you see, it hasn’t exactly escaped our attention that he has … issues with the Ghanaians, and some of his attitudes didn’t exactly help the visit. Anyway, if you were to want your CVO, then that would be more difficult. Ian Mackley is going to have one of those. So that will be alright.”

No, it won’t be alright, I thought. You’ll kill the poor old bastard. For God’s sake, everyone will know.

I wondered when the decision had been taken. The kneeling stool and the ceremonial sword had definitely been unloaded from the plane and taken to the hotel: that was one of the things I had checked off. When had that decision been reached?

We were lined up in reverse order of seniority to go in and see the Queen and Prince Philip. I queued behind the Defence Attaché, with Ian and Sarah just behind me. She was entering as well – nobody else’s wife was – because she was expecting to become Lady Mackley. Tim was going to tell them quickly after I had entered, while they would be alone still waiting to go in.

You may not believe me, but I felt completely gutted for them. It was the very fact they were so status obsessed that made it so cruel. I was thinking about what Tim was saying to them and how they would react. It seemed terribly cruel that they had not been warned until the very moment before they were due to meet the Queen. I was so worried for them that I really had less than half my mind on exchanging pleasantries with the Queen, who was very pleasant, as always.

If you refused honours, as I always did, you got compensated by getting a slightly better present. In Warsaw I was given a silver Armada dish, which is useful for keeping your Armada in. In Accra I was given a small piece of furniture made with exquisite craftsmanship by Viscount Linley. Shelving my doubts about the patronage aspect of that (should the Queen be purchasing with public money official gifts made by her cousin?) I staggered out holding rather a large red box, leaving through the opposite side of the room to that I had entered. Outside the door I joined the happy throng of people clutching their presents and minor medals. Mike Nithavrianakis and Brian Cope were Ian Mackley’s friends, and they were waiting eagerly for him. “Here’s Craig” said Mike, “Now it’s only Sir Ian and Lady Sarah!” “No, it’s not, Mike”, I said, “He’s not getting a K” “What! You’re kidding!” It had suddenly fallen very silent. “Ian’s not getting a K, he’s only getting a CVO.” “Oh, that’s terrible.” We waited now in silence. Very quickly the door opened again, and the Mackleys came out, Ian with a frozen grin, Sarah a hysterical one beneath the white large-brimmed hat that suddenly looked so ridiculous. There was a smattering of applause, and Sarah fell to hugging everyone, even me. We all congratulated Ian on his CVO, and nobody ever mentioned that there had been any possibility of a knighthood, then or ever.

Personally I don’t understand why anyone accepts honours when there is so much more cachet in refusing them.

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An L-Bend Single point Bolt is normally used throughout structural purposes

　　Precisely what L Form Bolts?

　　An L Form Bolt is a bent point bolt. It really is used to require plate customers to real. These single point bolts have got a 90-degree bend within the bottom conclude, which inhibits them by being pulled apart up over the concrete. There are several uses for this sort of anchor bolt. You can get these mounting bolts in numerous industries, as well as construction, farming, and creation. The subsequent are just many of the applications pertaining to an L Bolt.

　　An L-Bend Single point Bolt is normally used throughout structural purposes. This form of anchor bolt is anchored inside concrete walls and columns to guide a steel beam. The actual L-shaped conclusion provides highest possible capacity. It can be purchased in a various sizes and materials, including s / s. These bolts may also be custom-sized. On the other hand, it is essential to notice that the capacity is definitely limited because of the size in the thread.

　　An L Pattern Bolt is commonly used around construction. It is just a versatile plus highly long-lasting anchor bolt that is definitely suitable for several different applications. A L-Bend anchor bolt is definitely an ideal decision for affixing a light-weight posting base to a foundation. You'll find it meets the actual prescriptive requirements belonging to the National Creating Code involving Canada 2015. Such a anchor bolt is also popular around light-weight structures and in cellular towers.

　　A good L-Bend Single point Bolt, sometimes labelled as a J-Bolt, can be a specialized bolt that will fastens a new structure in order to its groundwork. It is usually embedded throughout columns as well as concrete walls and is used regarding supporting metal beams. The L-shaped stop provides highest possible capacity and enters in an array of materials. The L-Bend point bolt can be a valuable expense for building projects.

　　An L-Bend Single point Bolt is generally known as a foundation bolt. It truly is commonly used to support structural members which is often embedded in to concrete outer surface or posts. It can be used to be a support to get steel cross-bow supports. The L-Bend anchor bolt delivers maximum strength and is available in custom measurements and supplies. A standard L-Bend bolt offers three numerous lengths: one inch, a couple inches, in addition to six inches.

　　The L-Bend point bolt is a popular anchoring device. It is needed to affix a developing or column to its footing. It may be used to secure light-weight posts and various components. Additionally, it is usually used to be able to secure bridges and also other structures, including roads signs and mobile phone towers. The L-Bend anchor bolts can be customised to fit your distinct needs. The L-Bend is an inclusive piece of many buildings.

　　L-shaped point bolts may be used within construction in addition to engineering. They're a common L Shaped Bolts Suppliers style of anchoring apparatus. They have a very threaded end including a plain L-shaped second end. They're used in order to secure quite a few structures, including light posts and highway signs. They also come in different sizing's. When it is advisable to attach them with a structure, you need to use the L-shaped lift anchor bolt. It is a universal fastening device, which can be fastened in other ways.

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How to build a solid foundation for your storage shed@|how to build a concrete slab for a garden shed@|https://www.rona.ca/documents/ronaResponsive/SpecialPages/Projects/assets/images/template-diy/build-a-storage-shed-foundation/FB_Assemble-Storage-shed-foundation-backyard.jpg@|21

Prepare the site

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1 – Use wood stakes and string to mark off the shed perimeter.

2 – Use a line level to level the string.

3 – Measure the distance between the wood stakes and ensure the diagonal measurements are the same length.

4 – Excavate to a depth of 4″.

5 – Cover the surface with a geotextile membrane.

6 – Fill in with 4″ of gravel and compact with a mechanical compactor.

On-grade foundation: concrete pavers

Pros :

Simple and economical

Doubles as the shed floor

Ideal for level, compact ground

Cons :

Shed structures must be light and pre-assembled floors are excluded.

1 – Pour a 1″ layer of dry cement and sand mix (one part cement to eight parts sand) on top of the gravel. Level.

2 – Lay down concrete pavers inside the perimeter. Start at one corner and leave a 1″ gap between pavers.

3 – Level and adjust each paver as necessary using a piece of wood and a rubber mallet.

Pro tip

When building a backyard shed, level a foundation on a sloping grade using a combination of concrete blocks, pavers and gravel or insert a piece of 4″ x 4″ to elevate the structure.

On-grade foundation: timber frame

Pros :

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Simple and quick to install

Ideal for compact and level ground

Enables various flooring options

Cons :

Suitable for lightweight structures

Floor construction is required

1 – Cut 4″ x 4″ pieces of pressure-treated wood to the dimensions of the shed.

2 – Join the pieces of wood by means of lap joints, or simply stack the pieces. Fasten together with landscaping spikes or lag screws.

3 – Square the pieces of wood and level with shims.

4 – Fill the space with gravel, concrete pavers, or any other filler material.

5 – Compact.

On-grade foundation: concrete blocks and lumber

Pros :

Easy to install and floor construction is simplified

Ideal for small structures on compact soil

Can accommodate gently sloping ground by inserting pieces of 4″ x 4″ to elevate the structure

Suitable for ground with low probability of frost heave

Cons :

May sag if soil is poorly-drained

1 – Set concrete blocks in each corner, aligned with the string.

2 – Add concrete blocks to form three rows of three blocks. Add more blocks for a larger shed or if heavy equipment will be stored.

3 – Ensure the blocks are square.

4 – Lay 2″ x 6″ joists on each row of concrete blocks to form a frame.

5 – Level each block independently, then all blocks with each other. If one block is too high, remove some material underneath; if it is too low, add some gravel.

6 – Screw joists together to close the frame.

7 – Ensure that it is level and adjust if necessary.

Pro tip

An asphalt shingle makes for an excellent shim that holds up well to moisture and temperature changes.

Permanent foundation: concrete piers and lumber

Pros :

Permanent, frost-proof foundation

Ideal for most types of soil and sloped terrain

Resistant to freeze-thaw conditions

Enables heavy equipment storage

Cons :

Floor construction is required

More expensive and longer to install

Digging below the frost line is required

1 – Determine the exact location of the concrete piers so the outside edges of the 4” x 4” timbers are aligned with the string. As with the on-grade foundation with concrete blocks, at least 8 piers plus one in the center will be necessary. Therefore, provide for a minimum of 9 piers.

2 – Use a posthole auger to dig holes 10” to 12” in diameter and approximately 54” deep, depending on the area.

3 – Pack the bottom of each hole and add a 6” layer of 0-¾” crushed stone for drainage.

4 – Insert a cardboard form tube in each hole and cut to leave 6” above ground level.

5 – Ensure that the form tubes are level with each other. Measure diagonal lengths to verify the foundation is square.

6 – Backfill the exterior of the tubes.

7 – Pour concrete into the form tubes.

8 – Insert a steel bar into every form tube to reinforce the pier and minimize structural damage due to frost.

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9 – Insert the rods of the hangers in the center of each pier and 1” of thread above the surface.

10 – Level all hangers or J-Bolts to the same height.

11 – If you used a J-Bolt: when the cement has dried, secure the post base hanger by orienting the side plates so that the pressure-treated 4” x 4” sits on top.

12 – Repeat these steps for each pier in order to complete the foundation.

Permanent foundation: concrete slab

Pros :

Suitable for larger structures installed on level ground

Solid floor for storing heavy equipment

Cons :

Prone to move or crack due to seasonal freeze and thaw conditions

More expensive and complicated to install

1 – Mark off the shed perimeter with wood stakes and string.

2 – Use a line level to level the string.

3 – Measure the distance between the wood stakes and verify that the diagonal measurements are of the same length.

4 – Excavate to a depth of approximately 15″. Do not cover with a geotextile membrane or gravel.

5 – Build a solid and straight form-work around the perimeter using plywood and 2″ × 3″ pieces of lumber.

6 – Nail a 2″ x 4″ foundation sill directly to the frame to be flush with the concrete slab.

7 – Compact a bed of sand at the bottom of the form-work. Maintain a depth of at least 10″ and width of 18″ inside the perimeter. Gradually reduce to a depth of 5″ at the center of the slab. Use gravel for drainage, if necessary.

8 – Cover the surface with plastic sheeting.

9 – Cover the surface with a steel mesh to reinforce the concrete. Raise from the ground with pieces of concrete or rocks so that the reinforcing mesh will be imbedded in the center of the concrete layer. When the concrete has been poured and has dried, the steel rods will be permanently sunk.

10 – Pour concrete over the entire surface.

11 – Level the surface by dragging a straight 2″ x 4″ over the concrete.

12 – Push a bull float across the concrete to smooth the slab .

13 – Smooth the edges of the slab with an edger and use a trowel for a smooth finish on the slab.

14 – Use a groover to form control joints on the concrete surface to prevent cracks.

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source https://livingcorner.com.au/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-your-storage-shedhow-to-build-a-concrete-slab-for-a-garden-shedhttps-www-rona-ca-documents-ronaresponsive-specialpages-projects-assets-images-template-di/

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foundation j bolts

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Grades of Foundation J Bolts & Foundation Bolts | Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to construction, foundation bolts are the unsung heroes. Whether you’re securing machinery or erecting a building, the strength of the foundation often rests on these bolts. In this guide, I'll walk you through the various grades of foundation J bolts and foundation bolts, helping you choose the right one for your project.

Table of Contents:

What Are Foundation J Bolts & Foundation Bolts?

Importance of Bolt Grades in Construction

Applications of Different Grades

Choosing the Right Grade for Your Project

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Foundation J Bolts & Foundation Bolts?

Foundation bolts, including J bolts, are anchor bolts used to fix structures to their foundations. As their name suggests, J bolts have a distinctive "J" shape, while standard foundation bolts come in straight or L-shaped varieties. These bolts are embedded into concrete foundations to provide stability for heavy machinery, columns, and steel structures.

Importance of Bolt Grades in Construction

When you're working on a construction project, the grade of a foundation bolt plays a significant role in determining the bolt's strength, durability, and suitability for a given application. The grade is essentially the bolt’s classification based on the material's tensile strength.

Think of it like choosing the right ingredients for a recipe. You wouldn't use the wrong flour for baking, and the same applies here — you need the right bolt grade for the job to ensure safety and longevity.

The higher the grade, the more strength the foundation bolt can bear. A lower-grade bolt might not withstand the tension in heavy-duty projects, leading to potential safety risks. That’s why it’s crucial to know what grade your project needs.

Applications of Different Grades

Now that you’re familiar with the different grades, let’s dive into some practical applications for each.

Grade 4.6: Ideal for projects like home-based fixtures, lightweight installations, or temporary structures.

Grade 5.8: Great for small-to-medium industrial equipment or smaller building structures.

Grade 8.8: Perfect for infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and large-scale buildings.

Grade 10.9 & 12.9: These grades are essential for projects that involve large machines, energy plants, or where high loads and forces are applied continuously.

Choosing the Right Grade for Your Project

Selecting the right grade of foundation bolt can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options. But it’s simpler than it seems. Here’s a quick checklist to guide you:

Understand the Load Requirements: What are you anchoring? Heavier structures like bridges or industrial machinery will need higher grades like 8.8 or 10.9.

Factor in Environmental Conditions: Will the foundation bolts be exposed to harsh weather, moisture, or chemicals? Opt for corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel bolts.

Consult Design Codes: Depending on your region, you might have specific codes that dictate the required bolt grade for certain projects. Always double-check!

Budget: You don’t want to overspend on high-grade bolts for light-duty projects. Find a balance between quality and cost.

The right foundation bolt ensures long-term stability and safety for your structure.

Conclusion

I hope this guide helps you better understand the grades of foundation J bolts and foundation bolts. By choosing the right grade for your construction project, you're ensuring both strength and safety for the long haul.

[archinsights]

Making of the Round-House

Why round, you might ask? Well, why not round, I might ask back! A round house has distinct advantages in terms of thermal insulation, and structural stability. Given that the winters here are cold, and I want to keep the house comfortably warm using only the power my microhydro plant can deliver, I need excellent insulation. That alone is reason enough to make the house round.

Here the building site has been staked out, with the height of the stakes marking the horizontal plane.

This machine dug the platform in about 10 hours. The earth was deposited 40 meters away, behind that tree that's behind the machine, where it does not cause trouble.

The trenches for the foundations are 110cm deep. This rather large depth was thought necessary, because the ground is very soft. The wall foundations will be 50cm wide, and the pillars will rest on square pads varying in size according to the load on each pillar.

After installing the moulds (with round shape and all) around the steel, it was back to concrete pouring.

The concrete was mixed on site, because the place is too far away from a city to bring in ready-mixed concrete. The mixer got a brand new gasoline engine, because its existing electric motor did not run with our 2kW generators, and my water turbine is still not online!

The seventeen thousand bricks have arrived!

The bricks walls are standing, now the concrete pillars have to be filled.

This form was made from plywood supported on thick pine beams, which were mounted on wooden pillars, much cheaper then renting steel structures. The same wood parts will be re-used for the concrete ceiling.

It took two days to do this job, but after working into the night and then starting early the next day, the concrete should still set as one piece. The low temperature helps in this, as it slows down the setting. In this photo, the job is almost done!

The finishing touches. Later on, a finishing layer of fine concrete will be added over this coarse and rough structural layer.

So, slowly, three brick layers at a time, all around, the house is growing, and it resisted the next two storms...

And a view out of the other living room window, onto a roble tree in autumn colors.

Finally poured concrete after a tiring day.

The eight main beams will be joined at the midpoint. For this purpose, a steel star was needed.

The area under the roof will not be used, at least for now.

All main beams are in place, and the flag is flying, fulfilling an old tradition for newly built houses! In this way, the vertical tube of my steel star got its first use.

The roof structure is being filled out with the secondary beams. Note the wet walls. While most photos were made in good weather, most of the work progressed during rain, storm, icing, and at temperatures around the freezing point. It's mid winter.

When the roof was fully covered, metal straps were installed along the joints. These might help with waterproofing when there is high wind, but the main reason for them is some degree of lightning protection.

Omega-shaped profiles were installed in vertical orientation, at 60cm distance between them. They were bolted to J-bolts embedded in the mortar of the brick walls, and their tops were bolted to a support angle attached to the roof.

The window and door cutouts got fibercement planks screwed onto metal angle stock as a finish. The roof overhang was also finished with this material.

Source: Ludens Cl

[jimitjain]

Introduction to Bolts: Types and Applications

Bolts are fundamental components in construction, manufacturing, and various other industries. They play a crucial role in holding together different parts of a structure or machinery, ensuring stability, strength, and safety. Bhansali Fasteners is one of the leading Bolt Manufacturers in India. Several prominent bolt manufacturers in India are well-known for producing high-quality products with a broad market reach. LPS Bossard, a joint venture with Switzerland's Bossard, produces precision fasteners.

Types of Bolts

Hex Bolts

Description: Hex bolts are characterized by their hexagonal heads and are one of the most common types of bolts used in various applications.

Applications: These bolts are widely used in construction, machinery, and automotive industries due to their strength and versatility. They are suitable for fastening wood, steel, and other construction materials.

Carriage Bolts

Description: Carriage bolts have a rounded, dome-shaped head with a square section underneath the head. This square section prevents the bolt from turning when a nut is tightened.

Applications: Commonly used in wood applications, such as securing wooden panels or beams, carriage bolts are also found in metalwork and construction projects where a smooth, finished appearance is desired.

Lag Bolts

Description: Lag bolts, also known as lag screws, are large, heavy-duty fasteners with coarse threads. They have a hexagonal head and are designed for use with a wrench or socket.

Applications: These bolts are ideal for heavy-duty applications, such as securing heavy wood beams, wooden structures, and large machinery. They provide strong, reliable fastening in both wood and masonry.

Anchor Bolts

Description: Anchor bolts are used to attach structures to concrete. They come in various shapes, including L-shaped, J-shaped, and straight rods with threads on one end.

Applications: Widely used in construction for securing foundations, columns, and heavy equipment to concrete bases, anchor bolts are essential for ensuring stability and safety in buildings and structures.

U-Bolts

Description: U-bolts are shaped like the letter "U" with threads on both ends. They are used to secure pipes, tubes, and other round objects to a surface.

Applications: Commonly used in plumbing, automotive, and construction industries, U-bolts are essential for fastening pipes, exhaust systems, and other cylindrical objects.

Eye Bolts

Description: Eye bolts feature a loop (or eye) at one end and threads on the other. They are designed for attaching ropes, cables, or chains.

Applications: These bolts are used in rigging, lifting, and suspension applications. They are commonly found in construction, marine, and industrial settings where secure attachment points are needed.

Materials and Coatings

Bolts are manufactured from various materials, each offering different levels of strength, corrosion resistance, and durability. The most common materials include:

Steel: The most widely used material for bolts due to its strength and affordability. Steel bolts are often coated with zinc or galvanized to enhance corrosion resistance.

Stainless Steel: Known for its excellent corrosion resistance and strength, stainless steel bolts are ideal for outdoor and marine applications.

Brass: Provides good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity, making brass bolts suitable for electrical and decorative applications.

Titanium: Lightweight and extremely strong, titanium bolts are used in aerospace, medical, and high-performance applications where weight and strength are critical.

Applications of Bolts

Construction Industry

Bolts are used extensively in construction for assembling structural steel frameworks, securing foundations, and attaching heavy components. Hex bolts, anchor bolts, and lag bolts are particularly common in this industry.

Automotive Industry

In the automotive sector, bolts are used to assemble engines, chassis, and other vehicle components. Carriage bolts, hex bolts, and U-bolts are often used to secure parts and ensure the integrity of vehicles.

Manufacturing and Machinery

Bolts are crucial in manufacturing for assembling machinery, equipment, and industrial components. Eye bolts, hex bolts, and lag bolts provide the necessary strength and reliability for heavy machinery and industrial applications.

Marine Industry

In marine applications, stainless steel bolts are preferred for their corrosion resistance. These bolts are used to secure components on ships, docks, and offshore structures.

DIY and Home Improvement

Bolts are commonly used in DIY projects and home improvement tasks, such as building furniture, installing shelves, and constructing outdoor structures. Carriage bolts and hex bolts are popular choices for these applications.

Bhansali Fasteners is one of the major Bolt Suppliers in India. Bolts Suppliers in India.low-maintenance, sustainability benefits, and adaptability for fluid transportation in industries such as oil and gas, chemical, food, pharmaceuticals, and construction. They provide reliability and safety. Bolt Suppliers in India is known for its industrial fasteners, which include high-quality bolts, nuts, screws, and washers. 

[yes-lazystudentconnoisseur-fan]

Usage of Anchor Bolt

SUMMARY

Anchor bolts are mainly used to connect structural and non-structural elements to the concrete. The connection is formed by an assembling of different components for example: anchor bolts (which is also named as fasteners), steel plates and stiffeners.

Picture Courtesy:- Home Depot

Different types of loads are transferred through anchor bolts: tension forces and shear forces.A connection between the structural elements can be represented by steel column which are attached to reinforced concrete foundation

Anchor bolt is a fastener which are generally used to attach objects or structures to concrete. These are of many types consisting of designs that are mostly branded to the manufacturing of the companies. All consist of a threaded end, along which a nut and washer can be attached very well to the external load. These are enormously used for all types of projects, from standard buildings to dams and nuclear power plants. They can also be used to firmly affix embed plates for a concrete foundation when it is used with the structural steel element.

One of the simplest anchor bolts is a cast-in-place anchor. There are many designs, some consisting of a bent bolt with a hook on the end, or many different sorts of bending such as V, U, J, L. Cast-in-place anchor bolts are very strongest type of fastener, but the casting is very difficult, and they are generally used for heavy machines which are mounted on poured concrete floors. Another use is to connect the concrete foundation of a building by its walls. Hence with this, the building is more resistant to earthquakes. Nowadays, there are many devices to assist in holding and in placing anchor bolts so that it can set in the concrete.

A concrete nervous is another way of attaching things to concrete that has already been poured and set.

Function Of Anchor Bolt:-

The main characteristic of anchor bolts is to transfer masses to the brickwork from attachments which inclusive of ledges, sills, and also bearing plates. Both the shear and anxiety are been transferred via anchor bolts so that it can sustain the layout forces which include uplift due to the wind on the pinnacle of a column or wall or vertical gravity hundreds on ledgers which are supporting joists or trusses. The consequence of these loads differs significantly with the use.

How to Install Anchor Bolt??

You need to keep the anchor bolt and template attached rigidly in function throughout the concrete placement. You can also use timber templates or any another positive way to make certain accurate positioning of anchor bolts.

Anchor Bolt Tightening system: –  Tighten the anchor bolts for site visitors sign poles, roadway

illumination poles with shoe bases, excessive mast illumination poles, and also some overhead sign assist structures.

You need to Coat the threads of the Anchor bolt with some electrical lubricant.

Install the lowest nuts at the bolts, 1 on every bolt.

You can use the top template as a guide, level the pinnacle template by adjusting the bottom nuts so that the template can rests on each nut.

Remove the template.

Coat the bearing surfaces of the bottom nuts and washers with lubricant.

Set up1 washer and 1 top nut on each bolt so that it can turn the top nuts onto the bolts in order that everyone is hand-tight in opposition to the base plate.

The use of a twist, flip every bottom nut to a snug tight situation.

By preventing the rotation of the nut in the situation of all top nut tightening.

[pronto-fabril]

Foundation Bolts vs. Anchor Bolts: Understanding the Differences and Applications

Introduction

When it comes to construction projects, two types of bolts play a vital role in ensuring the stability and structural integrity of various structures: foundation bolts and anchor bolts. While they may appear similar, understanding their differences and knowing when to use each type is crucial for a successful and secure construction project. In this article, we will explore the disparities between foundation bolts and anchor bolts, shedding light on their unique characteristics and applications.

Foundation Bolts

Foundation bolts, as the name suggests, are specifically designed to provide a strong connection between a structure and its foundation. These bolts are typically embedded into the concrete foundation during the initial construction phase, ensuring a secure and stable base. Foundation bolts are often used in applications such as:

Building Construction: Foundation bolts are extensively used in the construction of buildings, where they securely connect the building's structural components to the foundation. This helps in distributing the weight of the structure and resisting external forces like wind and seismic loads.

Machinery Installation: Foundation bolts are crucial for installing heavy machinery, such as generators, turbines, or large equipment. These bolts anchor the machinery to the foundation, preventing movement or vibrations that could affect the machine's performance or cause damage.

Bridge Construction: Bridges require a solid connection between their substructure and the foundation. Foundation bolts are used to secure bridge piers, abutments, and other components to ensure stability and load-bearing capacity.

Anchor Bolts

Anchor bolts, on the other hand, are designed to provide a secure attachment point to concrete or masonry structures. Unlike foundation bolts, anchor bolts are typically installed after the concrete has cured or the masonry has been laid. They serve various purposes, including:

Structural Attachments: Anchor bolts are commonly used to attach structural elements to concrete or masonry, such as steel columns, beams, walls, or partitions. These bolts ensure a strong and stable connection, allowing the structure to resist vertical and lateral loads.

Equipment and Machinery: Anchor bolts are crucial for securing equipment and machinery to concrete floors or foundations. They are often used in industrial settings, such as manufacturing plants, where heavy machinery needs to be firmly anchored to prevent movement during operation.

Fixtures and Installations: Anchor bolts are employed to secure fixtures like handrails, guardrails, signposts, and parking bollards. These bolts provide a solid foundation, ensuring safety and stability in public spaces, commercial buildings, and outdoor structures.

Distinguishing Factors

While both foundation bolts and anchor bolts serve the purpose of providing stability and security, there are notable differences between them:

Installation Timing: Foundation bolts are installed during the initial construction phase, embedded directly into the concrete foundation. In contrast, anchor bolts are installed after the foundation or concrete has cured.

Embedment Depth: Foundation bolts are typically embedded deeper into the foundation to achieve a secure connection, while anchor bolts may have varying embedment depths depending on the specific application.

Design and Shape: Foundation bolts often have a straight, L-shaped, or J-shaped design, depending on the requirements. Anchor bolts can have a wide range of shapes, such as L-shaped, J-shaped, U-shaped, or wedge anchors, to accommodate different structural needs.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences and applications of foundation bolts and anchor bolts is essential for any construction project. Foundation bolts provide a solid connection between a structure and its foundation, while anchor bolts serve as secure attachment points for various structural elements, equipment, and fixtures. By selecting the appropriate type of bolt and employing them correctly, construction professionals can ensure the stability, safety, and longevity of their projects.

As a leading construction supplier, Prontofabril offers a wide range of high-quality foundation bolts and anchor bolts to meet the diverse needs of construction professionals. Our experienced team is ready to assist you in selecting the right bolts for your project, ensuring optimal performance and reliability