Nuts and Bolts
 

When building cars it’s the little things that add up. One of the biggest surprises are all the fasteners, a hand full of High tensile plated bolts with nuts and washers can cost $10 to $15.

I know when you just pop in and do a cash sale over the counter you pay a high price compared to what they sell to an established account customer. The quotes I have for the list below are at 1/3 what I normally pay.

I am putting together a bulk order but have agonized over what to get.

Here is where I am at, what do you think? am I missing something? are there things you don't need?

Metric
Nuts, Plated nylock
M4 x 100
M5 x 100
M6 x 100
M8 x 100
M10 x 50
M12 x 50

Nuts Plated Standard (high Strength)
M4 x 100
M5 x 100
M6 x 100
M8 x 100
M10 x 50
M12 x 50

Bolts Grade 8 hex head Plated 25mm long
M4 x 50
M5 x 50
M6 x 50
M8 x 50
M10 x 25
M12 x 25

Bolts Grade 8 hex head Plated 50mm long
M4 x 50
M5 x 50
M6 x 50
M8 x 50
M10 x 25
M12 x 25

Bolts Grade 8 Socket Head Plated 50mm long
M4 x 50
M5 x 50
M6 x 50
M8 x 50
M10 x 25
M12 x 25


Bolts Grade 8 Socket Head Plated 25mm long
M4 x 50
M5 x 50
M6 x 50
M8 x 50
M10 x 25
M12 x 25

Imperial

Bolts Grade 8 hex head Plated 25mm long
3/16 x 50
1/4 x 50
7/16 x 50
½ x 25
9/16 x25

Bolts Grade 8 hex head Plated 50mm long
3/16 x 50
1/4 x 50
7/16 x 50
½ x 25
9/16 x25

Nuts Plated Nylock
3/16 x 100
1/4 x 100
7/16 x 100
½ x 50
9/16 x50

Nuts Plated Standard (high Strength)
3/16 x 100
1/4 x 100
7/16 x 100
½ x 50
9/16 x50

I have tried to ditch imperial and standardize to metric.
I think the only imperial I have are smaller screws ect.

What are you doing about washers?

Washers are easy, I just bought a bulk lot of sizes to suit the bolts.

I prefer to use Metric, most of my car is metric and the VWs are as well.

Phil

Same with mine, only specific bolts are imperial, and even then you would wind up having to buy them individually since they are odd sizes.

What are you using to keep them sorted? I have a cupboard with all mine in but they are all in the bags/boxes they came in. I need to get some way of keeping them organized.

timely that you started this thread (hah!) Phil, I've been thinking about this exact thing recently, although I hadn't actually thought of placing such a large order, I was more tending towards visiting the local Cost Less Bolts and buying a few metric "kits" along with top-up for lock-nuts etc.

I too am going to be trying as much as able to use metric only.

The other issue is time, the bolt shop is about 30mins away so when you need something you can loose a few hours.

I have a few projects to get into so I though this would be an opportune time to get this done.

Phil

good point - for me its 5 mins drive to either of two bolt shop options. Apart from bolts I live 2 mins walk from Bunnings, its nice not having to make a list, if I forget something I just walk back and get it :) (even though they're still a rip-off)

Stainless socket head cap screws?

Here is the storage I will be buying.
Akro-mils Plastic Containers, Storage Bins, Pick Rack and Parts Storage Cabinets

They look great,
Is there a local supplier?

Phil

I am pretty sure Blackwoods does them.
I know that the local "Alice Springs Nuts & Bolts" store has them

Here is a online catalogue at Blackwoods.
Blackwoods | All Your Workplace Needs

I have bought a few of the kits from Cost Less Bolts and generally found the quantities in the kits to be pretty well balanced (in terms of using up the sizes) for general auto upgrades etc.

The stainless kits were good value as I recall (bought as present for boat building bro)

If I were starting a scratch build I'd be getting the big order together too - your mix looks good Phil.

Even tho I try to use as much metric as possible there's plenty of UNC bolts in my car

LoBelly

I have bins like that from Gladiator (surpriseed?) that snap into the Gladiator wall system, so I can slide or move them around. You can see my initial 6 in this photo, with more to come;

http://bencobra.files.wordpress.com/...0904-00199.jpg

I would forget about the 3/16" unless specifically required. If I was going to bolt through something with a nut or just tap a thread I would go the metric. Having a mix of 4mm and 3/16 scattered through a car could make for some crossed threads down the track.
Also, beware the 9/16". It is a size not overly commonly used and the cost of 9/16 bolts can sometimes be double what you pay for common step sizes like 1/2 and 5/8.
Also need to decide what pitch is required for the metrics. With pitches of 1, 1.25 and 1.5 being common among different components (and the odd 1.75) you still may not have the bolt you need to bolt into that x(insert random component here)x thingy.

Your money, your project, your call.
Only you know what you will really need.

If possible, use all standard/imperial or all metric. If you mix them, you'll end up carrying two differant tool sets. it's a real pain.

I have a whole drawer full of nuts and bolts. There's another bin on the other side of the garage that's been collecting fastners for decades. And there's more scattered around in the basement. I know where all of these fastners are, and can find them pretty easily. And, I have a pretty good idea of what's where.

BUT..... every time I do a project, it seems like I do not have that special fastner that I need. I end up at the hardware store anyway.

My advise is to keep a box of the most common sizes around, and don't waste time and money on the rest. For example, I keep #10, 1/4", 3/8" fastner sets on hand - bolt, lock nut, flat and star washers. I generally stock 1" bolts/screws. I rarely need anything longer. And if I need anything shorter I can just trim it down.

If you try and keep everything on hand that you might need, you'll end up with a hardware store in your garage. Sounds pretty cool, but gets expensive, difficult to maintain, and takes up a lot of room.

I think that is why I have not proceeded with this, there is no real way to determine a good range.

You will either have a stock you never use, or too much that you have to get an automated system to warehouse them.

I think I will simplify the list to a few sizes that I use regularly and that will have to do.

Thanks for you comments.

Phil

What I've been doing lately is each time I go to my nut and bolt supply, If I'm buying a few bolts for a project I'll buy a box of 100 or 50 in that size if they aren't to pricey and then put them away for later.

Nylocks, regular nuts flat washers and spring washers are cheap to buy by the box so I have a fair variety of them.

I got a bunch of storage bins that bolt to the wall from Aldi supermarket. they regularly have some neat tools and goodies on special.

You can see them hanging on the wall in this pic.

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/Tank_22.jpg

decision decision
 

Hi Phil i think nuts nyloc and plain flat washers in most sizes is a good start
Though the larger bolts you tend not to replace them very offten . you will find that 7/16 and 9/16 are more expensive than 1/2 and 5/8 .
and you never seem to have the right length bolt no matter how many you buy.
I also buy flanged nuts they look nice and you dont need spring washers.
to get around length I buy some long set screw bolts which are threaded all the way and cut them down to suit. Not as convient as the right bolt but saves having a huge stock list.
I mainly used metric for fabrication .
if you are working of the VW you will need some m7 x 1 bolts too.
realy handy if youu strip a 6mm or 1/4 bolt you can tap it 7mm .
see ya at the nats.
oz.

buynutsert