What to Send When You Ask for a Custom Bolt Quote: A Complete Checklist

A non-standard bolt cannot be priced from a photo and a quantity alone. Every custom fastener quotation starts with a technical review, and the review can only work with what you send. Send too little, and the first reply you get is a list of questions — days lost before anyone talks about price. Send a complete package, and the first reply can be a quotation.

This checklist is the exact set of information a custom fastener manufacturer needs to review and price a non-standard bolt, in the order the reviewer looks for it.

1. A drawing, a sample, or at least the key dimensions

The single most useful thing you can send is a dimensioned drawing (PDF, DWG, or even a clear hand sketch with measurements). If no drawing exists, a physical sample works too — an existing part can be measured and reverse-engineered.

Whichever route you take, the reviewer needs these dimensions:

• Thread specification — nominal diameter (for example M10), pitch, thread length, and whether the thread runs the full length of the shank
• Shank and head dimensions — shank length, head type (hex, socket, flange, round, or a special shape), head height, and across-flats or drive size
• Special features — grooves, holes, steps, reduced shank, captive washer, or any shape that makes the part non-standard in the first place
• Tolerances on the dimensions that matter — not every dimension needs a tight tolerance; mark the ones that do. Our general machining tolerance is ±0.05 mm; tighter or looser requirements should be stated on the drawing so they can be reviewed honestly

A photo alone is not enough. Photos hide pitch, tolerances, and internal features, and a part that "looks like M10" may not be.

2. Material and property class

Strength is not a detail — it decides both the material and the process. State the property class you need: 4.8, 8.8, 10.9, or 12.9. If you are replacing an existing bolt, the class is usually marked on the head; send a photo of the head marking if you are not sure how to read it.

Our standard production material is 40Cr alloy steel for high-strength classes; other materials are possible but need to be discussed before quoting, because material availability changes both price and lead time. If the part must match a specific standard or an OEM specification, name it in your message rather than assuming it is implied.

3. Surface treatment

Tell us the finish and, more importantly, the environment the bolt will live in. We offer four treatments:

• Black oxide — for indoor, dry, or oiled environments where appearance matters more than corrosion exposure
• Zinc plating — the general-purpose option for moderate corrosion protection
• Color zinc plating — zinc protection with a coloured passivation finish
• Dacromet — for higher corrosion demands, commonly chosen for automotive and outdoor applications

If you are unsure which finish fits, describe the working environment (indoor/outdoor, humidity, chemical exposure) and let the review recommend one. Guessing a finish without the environment often leads to a part that is either under-protected or over-priced.

4. Quantity — and whether this is a one-off or a repeat order

Custom fastener production has a minimum order quantity of 2,000 pieces. This is not an arbitrary number: tooling setup, machine scheduling, and inspection are fixed costs that only make sense spread across a production run.

State both the first-order quantity and whether you expect repeat orders. A part that will be reordered regularly can justify tooling decisions that a one-time run cannot.

5. Sample status — this decides tooling

One question changes the quotation more than any other: do you have a sample or an existing specification?

• With a sample or an existing spec, production follows standard scheduling and transit time.
• Without a sample, a new part may require tooling — a mold fee applies, and this is quoted as a separate line so you can see exactly what it covers.

Say which situation you are in up front. Discovering mid-review that tooling is needed restarts the conversation.

6. Application and destination

Two short pieces of context help the review catch mistakes early:

• What the bolt fastens and what it carries — a wheel fastener, a machine frame, and an agricultural implement stress a bolt in different ways, and an experienced reviewer will flag a class or finish that does not fit the application
• Delivery destination — shipping is quoted separately from production, and the destination decides the available routes

What happens after you send it

Our process has six steps: drawing or sample → technical review → quotation → sample approval → production and inspection → shipment. Payment terms are stated before you commit: samples are paid 100% in advance; production orders are 30% deposit with the 70% balance before shipment.

During production, parts are checked with in-house equipment including direct-reading spectrometry, hardness testing, metallographic analysis, and dimensional measurement — inspection reports are available with your order on request.

Common mistakes that slow a quote down

• Sending only a photo. Without dimensions and pitch, nothing can be reviewed.
• No property class. "High strength" is not a specification; 8.8 and 12.9 are different materials, processes, and prices.
• Quantity far below the minimum. Below 2,000 pieces, non-standard production is rarely economical for either side — say the real quantity so this can be addressed honestly in the first reply.
• Hiding that there is no sample. Tooling discovered late is tooling quoted late.
• Asking for a finish by name without the environment. The right question is not "which coating is best" but "which coating survives my application."

FAQ

Can you quote from a sample alone, without a drawing?

Yes. A sample can be measured and turned into a specification. Send the sample, the property class if it is marked, and your quantity.

What if I only have a standard bolt that needs one change?

That is the most common custom request. Send the standard specification plus a clear description of the change — a different length, a groove, a different head — and it will be reviewed as a non-standard part.

What file formats do you accept for drawings?

PDF and common CAD formats are fine, as is a clear dimensioned sketch. Send drawings through the quote form on our custom fasteners page or by email.

How do I send my inquiry?

Use the Request a Quote form on our custom fasteners page, email drawings to support@hyhavenstore.com, or message us on WhatsApp at +86 139 5881 4345. We answer inquiries during China time 08:00–22:00.

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HyHaven manufactures custom fasteners — non-standard bolts, wheel fasteners, threaded sleeves, and lead screws — to your drawing or sample, from 2,000 pieces. Request a quote.