Coach / Carriage Bolts ??

[Minwah]

Could anyone tell me the size carriage bolt that are usually used for bolting down joysticks?  Also, where I could get some from (online, pref. UK)??

Sounds stupid but I am having a hell of a time trying to get some suitable - the smallest ones I can find have a head of about 15mm.  I guess it doesn't really matter but the ones I have seen used are usually ~10mm.

Thanks for any help

[LoRDDeVO]

Hi I am from the U.S.  and I used 1/4" Carriage bolts 20 threads to the inch.  They fit great.  10 mm will work fine, they are the closest to 1/4 "

[Ken Layton]

Here in the USA, commercial arcade games use 10-24 by 1" long carriage bolts to mount joysticks in metal panels and 10-24 by 1 and half inch long in wood panels. The 10-24 thread size is also known as 3/16". Visit www.boltdepot.com

[shmokes]

Try www.therealbobroberts.com

He's the best, and he has the correct carriage bolts (black ones, at that).  I'm not sure what he would charge in shipping overseas, but I doubt it's much.  Also, if he carries it you can't get a better price anywhere.

His site could be easier to navigate, but it's not too bad and he and his wife are just plain good people.

[Minwah]

Great, thanks very much for your help!

I think I'll give Bob a shout

[Grasshopper]

The metric size is M5 but I can't remember off the top of my head what the imperial equivalent is.

I also live in the UK and had exactly the same problem. None of the large chain diy stores seem to sell carriage bolts smaller than M6. The only places I know that sell them are Happ and Suzo, but fortunately they both have UK branches.

I eventually decided not to use them. Instead, I fixed my joystick to the wood using recessed T-Nuts, and then covered the wood with plexi so there are no visible bolt heads around the playing area. However I did use ordinary bolts to fix down the edges of the plexi (see attached picture).

[Oldskool]

The holes in my joysticks are 3/16".

I couldn't find 3/16" carriage bolts at Home Depot, so I used 10-32 machine screws and t-nuts.

[Iori]

The holes in my joysticks are 3/16".

I couldn't find 3/16" carriage bolts at Home Depot, so I used 10-32 machine screws and t-nuts.

My holes are too small for 1/4" carriage bolts as well so I am using rounded head machine screws (regular screwdriver) with plain old nuts for now.  My cab is not even near done though so this has just been while testing it, they have come lose  a few times, but I haven't be bolting them down very tight at all...  Anyone see any problems that might be run into using these in the long run?  (other than the fact that the heads have regular screwdriver heads on them )  

[pfriedel]

Yeah, I initially used 1/4" CBs for my joysticks, but the Happ hole isn't quite 0.25", so while 2 or 3 of the bolts will fit, you're going to end up threading the 4th one through the plastic, and good luck if you have a metal joystick top.  My local True Value sells 3/16" carriage bolts, but they weren't in the same section as the rest of the carriage bolts, so I had to look.

  Otherwise there's always Bob Roberts.

[Iori]

Seems funny, where were they if they weren't with the other carriage bolts?  Maybe that will help me find them at Home Depot.  

[pfriedel]

IIRC, they were tucked over by the stainless steel parts section, and not with the usual steel parts.  Got me why, but there they were.  (shrug)

[Iori]

IIRC, they were tucked over by the stainless steel parts section, and not with the usual steel parts.  Got me why, but there they were.  (shrug)

Cool, thanks...  If I can find them sweet, if not I guess I can deal with the screw slots.