pscandrett Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 We have some double ended hook clamps which we use for holding par bars on meatracks etc, as many others do too. However, some numpty has used a wingnutspanner on it and broken the wing bolt, leaving a bolt with a broken head. The hook clamps look like this http://www.doughty-engineering.co.uk/shop/84/88/index.htm but they're not doughty-branded - I don't know who made them. I'm struggling to find replacement wing bolts (or 'wing screws' as they seem to be called in some circles) as I think it's an imperial wing bolt. It looks like Doughty use metric wing bolts (M10). A bolt from a recently purchased doughty hook clamp doesn't fit/isn't the same thread as the broken one and experiments with M bolts show that it's slightly smaller than M10. So, being brought up as a metric user, how do I specify what this wing bolt is, and can anyone help me find one (or some) please? Rough dimensions are about 16 threads per inch, 1/4" external diameter of the thread, 3/8" internal diameter. Is this a standard, but old, size of wing bolt? Are there any suppliers that anyone knows about? To be fair I haven't yet gone into a dedicated hardware shop - partly because it takes time to do that, and partly because there aren't any near here (south Manchester) that I know of other than the big stores (B&Q, Wickes etc). Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Sounds like 3/8" Whitworth. Doubt you'll find them easily. You may need to buy a wing nut and a bolt and weld the two together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlinford Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 It's almost certainly 3/8" Whitworth. I usually get spares from a local ironmongers, you may be able to get them from Stage Electrics (I seem to recall having to explain why they stocked them to one of their sales guys in a shop a few years ago...) or other theatre suppliers (Lancelyn? AC? Whitelight?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillwave Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 To be fair I haven't yet gone into a dedicated hardware shop - partly because it takes time to do that, and partly because there aren't any near here (south Manchester) that I know of other than the big stores (B&Q, Wickes etc). Many thanks Hi Peter best place for south manchester is where we go which is "Boole's Tools" which is on the A626 through Reddish they have EVERY bolt ever made it seems, even one from a odd lantern that turned out to be an old american thread! Regards, Ben Wainwright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddison Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I can reccomend Brian S. Pope Ltd 200 Manchester Road,Stockport, SK4 1NN,0161 4808322; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
librarian28 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 An amusing story about South Manchester and bolts.....some years ago, I was doing some rigging at the Whitworth Art Gallery (South Manchester) - preparing for an exhibition coming up from the National Gallery (London). At the end of the first day, 2 technicians from the National Gallery were preparing notes for what they needed to be sent up for the next day. One suggested that they needed some 3" bolts and guessed that they probably weren't available in Manchester. The Gallery's concierge overheard this and went apoplectic - explaining that the very building they were standing in was built by Joseph Whitworth who had devised the first national standard for screw threads and had given his name to that system. And that Manchester was still the main manufacturer of such bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pscandrett Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 With thanks to 'Maddison' and Ben. I've just popped out to a few hardware stores in the area - one of which didn't exist, one of which was closed and the other who recommended Pope's too, so I'll give them a go :-) It's debateable as to whether it's worth all the hassle of tracking it down, but I'm on a mission now! Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlinford Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 It's always worth having some around - 3'8" whitworth is also the smaller thread used on mic stands, so useful for "custom" mic positioning solutions when the band area for Panto gets a bit tight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Clerkenwell Screws have never yet been beaten by odd requests. But as the name, thay are in Clerkenwell (likely EC1) Min order value £10 I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillwave Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Sorry, I meant Brian S. Popes. Booles is on the same road which is more for power tools etc Regards, Ben Wainwright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 A few years ago I was looking for some obscure threads, in a hurry. The guys at a local garage (a tyre/exhaust/brakes/MOT place) had an amazing selection! Maybe they were not typical, but it's worth a try.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 A 3/8th whit bolt in a hook clamp is a handy way of attaching a microphone to a lighting bar. Or a speaker. A local engineering shop ran me up a couple of 3/8th whitworth thread to M8 (IIRC) thread socket adapters, so I can pop speakers (or mics) a metre or so below a bar, using easily available and low cost M8 stud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.