The 18-8 stainless steel hex bolt has a plain finish and an external hex drive, and meets American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME B18.2.1 specifications. The 316 stainless steel grade provides strength and offers better corrosion resistance than 18-8 stainless steel, especially in marine environments. The material may be slightly magnetic. The external hex drive has six flat sides that a wrench can grip to turn the screw from the side, enabling use when there is no space above the head for a driver.

Cap screws and hex bolts are threaded fasteners with thick hex-shaped heads that can be used with threaded nuts or in areas with limited clearance above the tapped (threaded) hole. Cap screws have slightly different dimensions than hex bolts and have a washer face underneath their unflanged hex head to act as a large bearing surface against the mating material.