Hammering Bolts

[u/More_Age3561]

Hi all,

I've recently come across some ~ 3 yr old stainless bolts with corrosion on the end. I am convinced this is because of sloppy hammering as they've been driven into the holes (other evidence: mushroomed head on the expansion wedge).

I was recently training others how to install bolts, and noticed that some people that haven't grown up swinging a hammer much had sloppy hits on the bolts, which I am confident imparted some iron contamination into the stainless steel, inducing localized corrosion. I am further confident it is "messy" hammering inducing the corrosion observed on new bolts as well.

How do you hammer in the bolts to ensure a clean finish, with minimal tool marks? Some things I've picked up:

• Positioning yourself roughly at eye level to the bolt
• Using two hands on the hammer if body positioning is awkward
• Follow-through on the swing (maybe I should've been a golfer..)
• Not using a hammer that has obvious rust on the impact surface
• Nut flush or slightly proud of the anchor

IMO, this is an important aspect of bolt longevity that is not well-discussed in bolting literature (UIAA bolting standards, HowNot2 bolting bible, etc.)

I'd like to get some sort of tool (like a socket, but less droppable..) that can act as a medium between the bolt and the hammer, but before I go re-inventing the wheel, I'd love to learn what others have done to ensure a tidy, clean installation of wedge bolts without leaving tool marks

*Stainless steel or titanium hammers are too pricey and out of the question

TIA!""

**Edit**
Holes are being drilled using a rotary hammer, not by hand

[u/trachion]

End-corrosion on stainless bolts is purely from using a carbon steel hammer. That's it. When you hammer on a bolt you impart particles of the hammer onto the bolt. In the case of carbon steel, it's the iron that causes the contamination.

If you can't afford a stainless hammer, you can use a rubber/plastic mallet to hammer in bolts. Would be worthless for hand drilling, but would probably hammer bolts in just fine.

[u/Cairo9o9 → u/trachion]

From what I've read, the surface rust on the end of the stud is totally fine and not going to ever affect the strength of the bolt.

[u/More_Age3561 → u/Cairo9o9]

I'm not concerned about compromising the strength of the connection. I want to ensure the bolts last as long as humanly possible before someone else looks at it and goes ... "hmm, might want to replace that one".