BenEdwards Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Hi. some of our old strand lanterns have m10 threads on the yokes. Although this makes everything a little more solid when focusing it seems a real pain in the arse and makes everything more difficult. The other method is nuts, washers and a split washer. This seems a lot better. So was thinking of drilling out the threads. Is this a bad idea? Would it be a 11mm drill I should use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatman Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 In what way does it make "everything more difficult"? I always found that having the hook clamp bolt retained in the yoke made things easier. The outside diameter of an M10 bolt is 10mm, so ideally you need a 10.2mm drill (13/32" is pretty close), but 10.5mm will do. 11mm will be very loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 In what way does it make "everything more difficult"? I always found that having the hook clamp bolt retained in the yoke made things easier. Personally I don't like them threaded, I always found the bolt comes loose in the yoke and then you can't lock it off with the wingnut as it can just spin downwards on the bolt. So you end up having to take a spanner up too to tighten the bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenEdwards Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 In what way does it make "everything more difficult"? I always found that having the hook clamp bolt retained in the yoke made things easier. The outside diameter of an M10 bolt is 10mm, so ideally you need a 10.2mm drill (13/32" is pretty close), but 10.5mm will do. 11mm will be very loose. It its screwed up all the way the tilt is kind of fixed. If you screw it down a bit it is not locked off, or am I doing it wrong. What nuts/washers etc, are you supposed to use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgallen Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Sounds like you're putting the bolt through the yoke the wrong way. The bolt (and a plain washer) goes "up" through the yoke, then you add another plain washer, the hook clamp, another plain washer, a spring washer then a wing nut. So you have: [bolt head - plain washer - yoke] - plain washer - * - hook clamp - plain washer - spring washer - wing nut When the yoke is threaded, the bit in [...] above is tight. When the yoke isn't threaded then you add "nut - plain washer" at * above and that nut is locked tight. Then when you rig, you hook over the bar, tighten the wing nut, add the safety bond and you're good to go. No spanners needed. My vote goes with boatman, I much prefer the threaded yoke, so I wouldn't be drilling them out - and any 3/8" yokes I retap to M10 :-) Regards,Kevin We discussed mount kits a bit here: http://www.blue-room...showtopic=61045 But of course, the answer is always, you need a copy of this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stage-Lighting-Handbook-Francis-Reid/dp/087830147X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenEdwards Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 ** laughs out loud **, I have a copy of the Stage Lighting Handbook, must get it off the shelf;). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgallen Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 On the shelf? It should be on your bedside table! http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Allen Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Old stage lanterns are 3/8 inch thread. A captive bolt is more productive as it will not fall down inside the fixture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior8 Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Leave them alone. Having them threaded was a brilliant idea - it's like having a third hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Maybe just because I'm old, and lazy - I wonder why a few seconds of inconvenience in locking off is worth the aggravation of taking down a pile of kit, drilling it out and putting it back? To my shame I have plenty of lights of ancient vintage with rusting threads. many with hex nuts because in 1975 somebody lost the wing nut. Sure, it's an extra wiggle and often a jam when you turn, but the idea of removing them to ground level, drilling them out, cleaning up the mess and fitting a new decent bolt set means I'll stick with the rusty ones and threaded yokes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenEdwards Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 OK, not going to drill them out. It was I did not know how they were rigged properly. Strangely its not just me, someone hung a few of them (who I thought was very experienced) and they used nuts not wingnuts). Going to dig out the handbook at read it all. Ben Old stage lanterns are 3/8 inch thread. A captive bolt is more productive as it will not fall down inside the fixture. Have hung some Strand Preludes and used M10 bolts. Is this wrong or are they close enough, also I need to order some wingnut. So can I get M10 wingnuts or do I need to get a bunch of 3/8 inch bolts, wingnuts (and possibly washers and split washers). Been using M10 up to now and seems to work fine, am I damaging the threads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Preludes and similar era are M10. The old Patt range is 3/8". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistermorton Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Preludes aren't "old" in the way a "pattern" lamp is. 10mm is correct for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior8 Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 3/8 bolts and wing nuts still available from Stage Electrics I see. I may have a box in the shed - I'll check. Any slightly oversize washer will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenEdwards Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 Preludes and similar era are M10. The old Patt range is 3/8". Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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