Shopsmith Forums

Sorry this isn't really Shop Smith related, but I'm hoping someone here can help. I'm looking for a good source online for bolts that wont charge an arm and a leg for shipping. I am in need of a small metric flange head bolt with left hand threads. I've searched high and low locally. I've called every mechanic, small engine repair shop, hardware store, even a bolt specialty shop. Nobody has a left hand thread bolt! I can find what I need online, but everyone wants to charge about $9 bucks for shipping! I'm not in a hurry and don't need Priority shipping. First Class would be just fine. So, anybody know of a good source?

I think I searched McMaster Carr and they had lefthand threaded bolts. but not the size I need.

Here's a hair brained idea - Whether it is useful or not, depends on how many sizes and how many bolts you need.

Back in the days I was running VWs the sources of metric bolts was VERY scarce. There wasn't even a VW dealer handy. I bought a few dies and converted SAE bolts to metric.

Now my idea - Is a left handed die of the size you need available? http://www.victornet.com/tools/Metric-L ... s/137.html

Over sized bolts can be made into a smaller size. Threads may wind up with gaps in places, but it only takes 2 1/2 threads to hold.

I hit as similar dead-end recently when I was trying to find a left handed bolt for an experimental SPT coupler. I kept hearing that nobody was making them anymore. One place I tried had a huge warehouse full of bolts but not a single left handed bolt.
I was trying to remember what some older applications for them were. Some cars used to use left hand threaded lug bolts on one side. I then remembered that many farm equipment makers used to use left handed plow bolts to mount plow shares on plows. They sat low and nearly flat down where if the share became seriously worn they rubbed the dirt below. They thought that if one edge of the nut rubbed the dirt that it could turn the nut off. Today they are all right hand threads as far as I know. I then found a box of them in my own shop that I have had from many years ago (I never throw anything away). They are pretty oddball as bolts go but I can modify the tapered head for my purpose. These of course are not metric.
Just FYI plow bolts look like this:
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50308652/Plow_Bolts_and_Nuts.jpg

heath - See the jam your in for not buying American!!! That'll learn you!!

Check your PM.

mickyd wrote:heath - See the jam your in for not buying American!!! That'll learn you!!

Actually, it's the arbor bolt on a 10" Ryobi miter saw... that was GIVEN to me! I was trying to change the blade and tried turning the bolt counter-clockwise and it wouldn't move. I thought to myself "maybe it's left handed?" so tried turning it clockwise and it still wouldn't move. I found the user manual online and it didn't say anything about that bolt being left handed. The saw and blade had a pretty good bit of rust on it, so my assumption was the bolt was just rusted on. You can guess what happened next. I applied enough force to try to break the free of the rust and ended up breaking the bolt. And that's when I saw it was left handed after all. The rest of the bolt came out quite easily using a drill bit to "grab" it.

There's an old US-made 10" Radial Arm Saw on CL that I am tempted to pick up - then sell that miter saw and my Hitachi table saw to recover the cost. If the table on my Shopsmith was bigger, I wouldn't even think twice about doing that.

mickyd wrote:heath - See the jam your in for not buying American!!! That'll learn you!!

Check your PM.

Do you make all your decision without knowing the facts?

[quote="curiousgeorge"]Do you make all your decision without knowing the facts? ]

Absolutely!! You'd think I was a politician, huh?

Statement of Fact:

It is easy to make up my mind!
When I allow myself to become confused with facts - decisions become tougher.

Statement of Fact:

It is easy to make up my mind!
Only when I allow myself to become confused with facts - decisions become tougher.