Have you heard of bolt snaps? They are typically used to connect and secure chains. Bolt snaps aren’t ordinary fasteners, though. While available in different types, bolt snaps feature a unique design that distinguishes them from other types of fasteners. What are bolt snaps exactly, and how do they work?
Overview of Bolt Snaps
Also known as snap hooks, bolt snaps are fasteners that feature a manually operated latching mechanism. Most bolt snaps feature a ring-shaped opening or loop at the top. On the side of this opening or loop is a moveable bar. The bar is raised by default so that the opening or loop remains closed. Pressing the notch at the bottom of the bar, however, will lower it. With the bar lowered, the loop will become open.
Bolt snaps are manually operated. You can operate a bolt snap by pressing the notch at the bar of the bar. As previously mentioned, pressing this notch will lower the bar so that the loop becomes open at the top. You can insert the loop through a chain, gate or other supporting parts. Upon releasing your finger from the notch, the bar will rise back to its original position, thereby closing the opening at the top of the bolt snap. That’s essentially how bolt snaps work.
The Different Types of Bolt Snaps
There are different types of bolt snaps. The most common type of single end. Single-end bolt snaps live up to their namesake by featuring a connecting mechanism on a single end. In other words, they have a single ring-shaped opening or loop, which can be found on one end. Other types of bolt snaps have a connecting mechanism on both ends. Known as double-end bolt snaps, they feature the same ring-shaped opening or loop on both ends.
Another common type of bolt snap is swivel. Swivel bolt snaps are characterized by their swiveling action. They still feature the same ring-shaped opening or loop at the top, and they are still operated by pressing a notch on the bar. Swivel bolt snaps, though, are able to spin freely in 360 degrees. Other types of bolt snaps don’t support this swiveling action. Instead, they are fixed, making them unable to turn in either direction. These are a just a few of the most common types of bolt snaps.