Confused About Bolts

Post any Tech Tips or any matters and questions relating to upkeep
Mal
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Location: NZ

Post by Mal » Mon May 16, 2011 6:51 am

Thanks Martin

Mal

V8 burble
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Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:13 am

Who else needs grade 8 bolts?

Post by V8 burble » Tue May 17, 2011 10:10 am

Martin,

I am sure that you have come across this site during your research.
Northeast Fasteners of Massachusetts have a vast range of fasteners, including grade 8.
http://www.nutsandbolts.com/

Their various 7/16 fine (UNF) hex bolts are listed here:
http://www.nutsandbolts.com/advanced_se ... cription=1

Needless to say Northeast does NOT ship to the UK.

There must be somebody in STOC who has an American contact who will post these via USPS? They can be reimbursed via PayPal or similar.

Any volunteers with US contacts?

Does anybody else require grade 8 bolts of any description?

How about organising a group order Martin?

martin172
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Post by martin172 » Tue May 17, 2011 6:00 pm

I don't see any harm in gauging interest and going from there.

Any one want some?


Having said that, I find it hard to believe that these simply aren't available over here.
Somewhere must sell them.

V8 burble
Posts: 278
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:13 am

Post by V8 burble » Tue May 24, 2011 5:29 pm

Here are two more US specialist fastener companies, Allen's and Specialty Fasteners:

http://www.allensfasteners.com/default.asp

http://www.specialty-fasteners.com/products.html

Allen's will export to the UK and they very helpfully provide details of USPS box rates and weight limits.

http://www.allensfasteners.com/shippingPolicy.asp

Allen's also do F911 bolts which are superior to grade 8.

Mal
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Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:39 am
Location: NZ

Post by Mal » Thu May 26, 2011 7:02 am

Martin. How is the bolt search going. I just bought all the bolts needed for my fulcrum pins. Grade 8, from these guys http://www.steelmasters.co.nz/afawcs0136897/Home.html. They have a shop locally. If you get desperate, let me know.

Mal

martin172
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Post by martin172 » Thu May 26, 2011 10:50 am

Hi Mal,
To be honest the bolt situation has dropped off of the radar a little as I've moved onto other bits on the car and I am very forgetful. :(

That's a very generous offer mate. Thankyou.
Hopefully it won't come to that but that is a sterling offer. :D

stephenshone
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Location: Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by stephenshone » Tue May 31, 2011 3:14 pm

Hi there,

This is my first post here and I hope it isn't considered spam, I hope we can help a few of you chaps out.

I work for Thomas Smith Fasteners in Manchester and we get asked for SAE grade 8 bolts quite often, we can help you out. We specialise in BSW, BSF, UNC and UNF but also stock standard Metric.

Our sister company Smith Bullough is on the same site and has manufacturing facilities so we can also supply anything out of the ordinary.

Here's the link (feel free to remove if considered spam) -

http://www.thomassmithfasteners.com

The online shop only has a few items and no SAE grade 8 (I'm in the middle of overhauling it) so ignore that. We will happily sell small quantities. If you call a chap called Stuart in sales he's very knowledgeable (he's been in fasteners for 40 years!) and would be glad to help.

If anyone has any questions, feel free and I'll be happy to answer.

Thanks,

Stephen

V8 burble
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Post by V8 burble » Tue May 31, 2011 5:12 pm

Stephen,

Many thanks for the link to your company.

I suspect that Stuart will be getting some enquiries about grade 8 bolts etc from Tiger folk in due course.

martin172
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Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:14 pm

Post by martin172 » Tue May 31, 2011 6:44 pm

Hi Stephen, and welcome.

I did have a look on your site when I was hunting but couldn't see any grade 8s. Nice to know that you stock them though.

Do they have turned or rolled threads and what coatings are available?

Thanks, Martin.

stephenshone
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Location: Manchester, UK
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Post by stephenshone » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:20 am

Hi,

Thank you for the kind responses, much appreciated.

Martin - standard ranges are roll thread, specials would typically be cut thread. We can offer turned bolts as we have a CNC machine alongside our traditional forging facilities, however this approach would be more expensive for smaller quantities.

Coatings-wise, we can offer pretty much any surface coating. Off the shelf standards would either be self colour (unplated), zinc and clear passivated or zinc and yellow passivated. We also offer other coatings such as Dacromet, Geomet, Sherardising and Galvanising.

Again, many thanks for the warm welcome, and if you have any questions at all then feel free to either ask on here or contact us by telephone.

Best Regards,

Stephen

martin172
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Post by martin172 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:37 am

Hi Stephen,

IIRC, I need some 7/16 UNF bolts and at lengths of 3 3/4 inches and 4 inches and for them to be Grade 8.

Would these have rolled threads and be on the shelf or classes as a special.

I would rather have rolled threads than turned you see.

On the subject of coatings, which coatings have the best rust preventative qualities without having a large effect on the bolt's price?

Sorry for all the questions. :oops:

Cheers mate.

stephenshone
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Location: Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by stephenshone » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:10 am

Hi Martin,

We have stocks of 7/16" UNF x 3.3/4 and 4" bolts in SAE Grade 8 - either in self colour or zinc plated / yellow passivated. They are rolled thread.

Regarding coatings, I would say Zinc & Yellow Passivation has the best rust preventative qualities without having a large effect on price, it is a standard automotive coating and satisfactory for most users. Other automotive spec coatings like Dacromet offer better corrosion resistance but are quite a lot more expensive.

If you let me know how many bolts you require (either by email, pm or telephone on 01942 520260), we'd be happy to provide you with a price.

No problem re: the questions - ask away, glad to be of assistance!

Best Regards,

Stephen

martin172
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Post by martin172 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:46 am

What range of stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers can your company supply.

Thanks.

stephenshone
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Location: Manchester, UK
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Post by stephenshone » Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:03 pm

Hi Martin,

We offer a full range of metric bolts, screws, nuts and washers in A2 and A4 stainless steel. Imperial stainless (ie UNF, UNC, BSW, BSF) is trickier - we do stock some, but not a massive amount, if you have any particular requiremenents I'll check for you.

One caveat - in terms of tensile strength, the highest readily available grade of A4 stainless (A4-80) is roughly equivalent to ISO grade 8.8, which is only SAE grade 5. Definitely don't use A2 or A4 bolts in place of SAE 8, although you probably already know that! Many people believe that washers are not as important, but washers are an integral part of a joint assembly, especially where torque values are critical. A washer whose material yields in assembly is not going to provide a long term satisfactory joint. I digress - washer hardness values could be the subject of a new post entirely!

Hope the above is of assistance, and makes sense!

Best Regards,

Stephen

Mal
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Location: NZ

Post by Mal » Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:20 am

Hi Stephen, and welcome.
A washer whose material yields in assembly is not going to provide a long term satisfactory joint. I digress - washer hardness values could be the subject of a new post entirely!
I read that once you get to the higher tensile bolts, spring washers are no longer functional as they cannot make any indent to the head of the bolt.
At what grade of bolt are spring washers not necessary? What type of washer, if any should you use?, or should you just make sure that they are torqued to the correct spec?.

Thanks Mal

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