1/2in all thread for tree bolts

[Mt Archer]

Has anybody tried or know of any reason not to use 1/2in. all thread rod cut in 6in. lengths for tree bolts?

 

[DMTJAGER]

If you are speaking of standard non hardened construction grade steel galvanized all thread then
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have used threaded rod for over 20 years in sizes from 1/4" up to 2" and literally thousands of feet of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" treaded rod and every thread structurally weakens the rod significantly to any flexure and shear forces when applied to the threaded rod.

Threaded rod is meant by design to withstand tension forces or forces that pull mostly straight down or straight up and are very poorly suited to and not designed or intended to withstand shearing forces caused as a result of side pressure or side to side flexing. This fact is absolutely true of a single section of threaded rod, granted multiple threaded rods when installed in conjunction with each other in an application of mutual support of an object can withstand shearing or flexing forces rather well but individual stand alone sections of rod are very week and prone to failure when subjected to minimal shearing or flexing forces. The chances of a single section of threaded rod failing under side pressure or flexing is at its greatest when a length of the rod is supported and can not be subjected to side pressure or flexing and the unsupported length of rod is subjected to side pressure or flexing. A perfect example is when I would use a drop in anchor to anchor a 1/2" piece of threaded rod into a concrete ceiling to act as one of several supports of a extremely heavy pipe run or piece of very large and heavy equipment equipment like a transformer weighing from 500-2000lbs. Used in such a application where the rod is usually only exposed to pulling forces as created by gravity even 1/4 threaded rid is immensely strong, but even a single 1/2" threaded rod secured in this manner that easily will withstand thousands of pounds of tensional, pulling or downward force will quite easily snap in two when subjected to very little shear force, as an example a decently strong man using only his hands could easily snap off a 12" long section of 1/2" threaded rod secured to a concrete ceiling while standing on a ladder when that same rod could easily support a hanging 1500lb transformer as along as that transformer didn't start swaying even a minimal distance for any sustained period of time..

And keep this last fact in mind. When threaded rod snaps off it almost always leaves a sharp edge, sharp hooked burr or both on one or both halves, and one halve that WILL have a sharp edge will still be in the tree awaiting various parts of your bodies impending very hard gravity driven contact with it.

In my experienced based opinion using threaded rod as a tree bolt, you are risking at the vary minimum being very seriously injured, quite possible permanently, and life altering possibly fatally injured, as you will not only be dealing with injuries from the impact trauma of falling but also from more likely than not the very significant chance of suffering a very serious laceration and the equally serious bleeding that results.

Stick with high quality certified made in USA grade 8 bolts for climbing trees. Your well being is well worth the minimal cost to do so.

 

[Mt Archer]

If you are speaking of standard non hardened construction grade steel galvanized all thread then
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have used threaded rod for over 20 years in sizes from 1/4" up to 2" and literally thousands of feet of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" treaded rod and every thread structurally weakens the rod significantly to any flexure and shear forces when applied to the threaded rod.

Threaded rod is meant by design to withstand tension forces or forces that pull mostly straight down or straight up and are very poorly suited to and not designed or intended to withstand shearing forces caused as a result of side pressure or flexing. This fact is absolutely true of a single section of threaded rod, granted multiple threaded rods when installed in conjunction with each other in an application of mutual support of an object can withstand shearing or flexing forces rather well but individual stand alone sections of rod are very week and prone to failure when subjected to shearing or flexing forces. The chances of a single section of threaded rod failing under side pressure or flexing is at its greatest when a length of the rod is supported and can not being subjected to side pressure or flexing and the unsupported length of rod is subjected to side pressure or flexing. A perfect example is when I would use a drop in anchor to anchor a 1/2" piece of threaded rod into a concrete ceiling to act as one of several supports of a extremely heavy pipe run or piece of very large and heavy equipment equipment like a transformer weighing from 500-2000lbs. Used in such a application where the rod is usually only exposed to pulling forces as created by gravity even 1/4 threaded rid is immensely strong, but even a single 1/2" threaded rod secured in this manner that easily will withstand thousands of pounds of tensional, pulling or downward force will quite easily snap in two when subjected to very little shear force, as an example a decently strong man using only his hands could easily snap off a 12" long section of 1/2" threaded rod secured to a concrete ceiling while standing on a ladder when that same rod could easily support a hanging 305ci V8 engine.

And keep this last fact in mind. When threaded rod snaps off it almost always leaves a sharp edge, sharp hooked burr or both on one or both halves, and one halve that WILL have a sharp edge will still be in the tree awaiting various parts of your bodies impending very hard gravity driven contact with it.

In my experienced based opinion using threaded rod as a tree bolt, you are risking at the vary minimum being very seriously injured, quite possible permanently, and life altering possibly fatally injured, as you will not only be dealing with injuries from the impact trauma of falling but also from more likely than not the very significant chance of suffering a very serious laceration and the equally serious bleeding that results.

Stick with high quality certified made in USA grade 8 bolts for climbing trees. You well being is well worth the minimal cost to do so.

That’s the kind of info I was looking for. You appear to be an expert in the metal properties of threaded rod. Thank you for the info and responding to my post.

 

[DMTJAGER]

That’s the kind of info I was looking for. You appear to be an expert in the metal properties of threaded rod. Thank you for the info and responding to my post.

You are most welcome, and I am only recalling what I was taught long ago.
By no means am I an expert by any definition but have used threaded rod to hang some immense pipe runs of up to 50 or more 3" and 4" rigid conduits and also quite a few absolutely huge pieces of equipment weighing several tons that required the use of IIRC 3" threaded rod and a structural engineer (a team of them actually) that was hired by the customer we were working for as an on site quality assurance engineer(s) who's job was to inspect every individual support rods in all of our systems we used to support the largest equipment and pipe runs to insure we used only the specified and approved methods and components and per contractual agreement actually gave us a mandatory attendance class on how to properly install the supports systems that were mandated we use per specification and he as incidental information explained to us how such support systems could withstand immense tension forces but were not actually designed to or were well suited to withstanding shearing or flexing forces. To essentially eliminate the affect of potential flexing or shearing forces we had to also install stand offs every so may feet on the largest pipe runs and also on the largest equipment. The facility we were working in was subject to a significant amount of vibration as a result of the manufacturing process they used.

 

[neonomad]

That’s the kind of info I was looking for. You appear to be an expert in the metal properties of threaded rod. Thank you for the info and responding to my post.

That was an interesting read! I figured threaded rod would be weakener and the threads set up nice spots for failure but would never have guessed 1/2” is that easy to snap off.

 

[Mt Archer]

That was an interesting read! I figured threaded rod would be weakener and the threads set up nice spots for failure but would never have guessed 1/2” is that easy to snap off.

I ordered a drill bit for a cordless drill and bolts from treehopper this morning so I won’t have to worry about it. Thanks for all the responses.

 

[JC3]

Alfa Tools makes a nice 3/8" x 4" short auger bit with 1/4" hex shank # AUG61373
I have used these for a long time with great results.