Which bolt is best for a brace band?

• A. Fitted bolt
• B. Locked joint
• C. Machine bolt
• D. Carriage bolt

Answer: (D)

When securing a brace band to a wooden post, you want a bolt that won’t spin as you tighten the nut. A carriage bolt fits that need perfectly because it has a smooth, domed head and a square shoulder just beneath the head. The square neck locks into the wood, preventing the bolt from turning while you tighten the nut on the opposite side. That makes for a secure, stable connection between the brace and the post without the bolt head spinning or loosening.

Other options aren’t as well suited. A fitted bolt isn’t the standard choice for this wood-to-wood connection and doesn’t reliably prevent rotation. A machine bolt is more common where you have threaded holes or metal-to-metal assemblies, and in wood it can spin unless you’ve prepared the hole or used a captive nut. A locked joint isn’t a bolt type at all, so it doesn’t describe a reliable fastening method for a brace band.