Questions about Carriage Bolts

[Grasshopper]

Hi,

I've been unable to find suitable carriage bolts for my panel locally so I've decided to take the plunge and buy some from Happ. Looking through previous posts most people seem to recommend either 3/16" or 1/4" bolts. I need bolts that will fit a variety of different joysticks. Of all the joysticks that I own the ones with the smallest mounting holes are the Wico leafs. I figure that if I can get bolts to fit those then the bolts will also fit any of the other joysticks in my possession.

Incidentally, the smallest bolts that I can find locally are size M6 (I assume this is metric) and they are too big.

My questions are as follows:

Please can someone confirm that the 3/16" bolts will fit throught the Wico mounting holes.

Has anyone bought carriage bolts from Happ recently. I was alarmed to see from their catalogue that the minimum order is 100 pieces! Also the 3/16" bolts are not listed on Happ's website. Why is this?

Can you get silver and black headed bolts from Happ?

Can someone tell me what Happ's current minimum order is? I haven't spoken to them for about a year.

As I will probably have to make up a minimum order can anyone suggest any other useful items that I should order at the same time. I'm already considering T-Moulding.

As always, thanks in advance

[_Iz-]

3/16 are the correct size to use for all arcade controls I've seen.

[Jakobud]

I got perfect ones from Bob Roberts.  Can't remember what size they are but my joysticks are Happs Competitions.

[Kaeru the Frog]

Where can I find some of these bolts? I went to Home Depot yesterday and didn't see any.

[rampy]

carriage bolts are sold at homedepot, but they are the 1/4" ones...  it's in the .. uh ... nuts and bolts section...

Aces Hardware has the 3/16"  (don't think they have those in the uk)  carriage bolts which worked great for me.. and I believe "the standard" ...

In a pinch, I've heard of people reaming out joystick bases bolt holes a bit to make 1/4" fit (as it's only a 1/16" difference).. or just cramming them in...

A local yokal "real" hardware store should have the 3/16" carriage bolts though, in those nuts and bolts bins...

only benefit of getting "official" happs carriagebolts is that hopefully they don't have the stupid  "raised stamp" on them and are smooth on top...  (or even better have black heads, no not pimples!)
*Shrug*

good luck,

rampy

[Justin]

I think skateboard bolts might work great.  Not sure if they are 3/16", but they are usually black.  And also some are completely flat head, so they are level (flush) with the top of the c.p.

I'm talking about the bolts that hold the trucks to the board itself.  You might find them at your local Skatebpard shop.  

[MrToasty]

Pretty sure you want the 10-24 (3/16") x 2" carriage bolts.

http://www.dameon.net/BBBB/parts.html#hardware
http://www.happcontrols.com/tools/43002101.htm

[Jakobud]

You will not find what you need at Home Depot.  They just have regular old lumber carriage bolts.  Just plain grey metal (and some galvonized ones too).  But they will just not look good on a CP.  You need to find some nice black ones like Happs or Bob Roberts sells.

[SNAAAKE]

carriage bolts are sold at homedepot, but they are the 1/4" ones...  it's in the .. uh ... nuts and bolts section...

Aces Hardware has the 3/16"  (don't think they have those in the uk)  carriage bolts which worked great for me.. and I believe "the standard" ...

In a pinch, I've heard of people reaming out joystick bases bolt holes a bit to make 1/4" fit (as it's only a 1/16" difference).. or just cramming them in...

A local yokal "real" hardware store should have the 3/16" carriage bolts though, in those nuts and bolts bins...

only benefit of getting "official" happs carriagebolts is that hopefully they don't have the stupid  "raised stamp" on them and are smooth on top...  (or even better have black heads, no not pimples!)
*Shrug*

good luck,

rampy

First you gotta start reading Rampy !
Grasshopper clearly says he is in the UK and he couldn't find any bolts locally...I am sure there ain't no home depot in the UK(I could be wrong).
As for grasshopper,I have like 100 bolts(ace sells 100 for $6.89) and if you really need like 8 of them I can send you free if you pay shipping(I think I still have your address).
Still workin on that panel with chrome joysticks?

PS
Rampy:I dont wanna start anything with you ever(I am tired) because you already have lot of good comments about me on your SIGNATURE place and under your avater.thanks for those..
Very nice of you...

I guess you are still not over with the fact that I told you "you are not funny","your jokes aren't funny".
I mean...the board is filled with tons of your crap...
Crap=Sarcasm,jokes,shrugs
Not that I care a lot..

[rampy]

First you gotta start reading Rampy !
Grasshopper clearly says he is in the UK and he couldn't find any bolts locally...I am sure there ain't no home depot in the UK(I could be wrong).
As for grasshopper,I have like 100 bolts(ace sells 100 for $6.89) and if you really need like 8 of them I can send you free if you pay shipping(I think I still have your address).
Still workin on that panel with chrome joysticks?

PS
Rampy:I dont wanna start anything with you ever(I am tired) because you already have lot of good comments about me on your SIGNATURE place and under your avater.thanks for those..
Very nice of you...

I was responding to both the O.P. and this

"Posted by: Kaeru the Frog Posted on: April 13, 2003, 09:22:24 PM Where can I find some of these bolts? I went to Home Depot yesterday and didn't see any."

And you wonder why everyone thinks you take the short bus to the forum.  I know you're dying to find some reason to jump down my throat, but this wasn't it.  Do not pass go. Do not collect 200 dollars.

FYI, the original message made no reference to being in the UK (although I knew grasshopper was in the UK already, and if not the metric references woulda tipped me off) The original poster could find solace in:

"A local yokal "real" hardware store should have the 3/16" carriage bolts though, in those nuts and bolts bins... "

FYI: the avatar wasn't necessarily directed at you, its just a semi-witty observation on my part.  Although if the shoe fits...

re: my zig, "Preacher tellin the truth and it hurts"

rampy

Ya mess with the bull... ya get the horns.

[rampy]

You will not find what you need at Home Depot.  They just have regular old lumber carriage bolts.  Just plain grey metal (and some galvonized ones too).  But they will just not look good on a CP.  You need to find some nice black ones like Happs or Bob Roberts sells.

That's a good point jacobud... but just to offer alternatives/options/solutions... If you get the hardware store variety you can go at the stamps with a wheel grinder, and/or you could paint the heads with that high temperature paint.

If you're ordering from bob roberts (or happs UK) anyways, the "official" carriage bolts clearly the better hardware choice asthetically.

FYI, i'm not that great with math, but what's the cm/metric equivalent to 3/16", european arcade distributors have to secure their joysticks to their CP's with something =P?  

rampy

[Grasshopper]

Thanks for all the replys everyone. I didn't expect to get so many for such a mundane topic. I can confirm that I live in the UK. Perhaps I should have made that clear from outset.

It looks like 3/16" is the way to go.

SNAAAKE: Thanks for your offer to post me some bolts. I actually need more than 8, probably a minimum of 14 - 8 for the joysticks, and 6 to hold down the edges of the Plexiglass. I'll speak to Happ first to see if they are flexible over the 100 bolt minimum order. If it's no dice then I may get back to you.

I'm not sure about the Super clones. I fitted them to my prototype panel and found it difficult to hit the diagonals even with the actuator fitted in the 8 way position. They seem subtly different to ordinary Supers. However I'll reserve final judgement until I've fitted them to a full size panel. I guess I could always just fit the handles to standard Supers or Competitions.

Rampy: I would guess the metric equivalent of 3/16" is M5. However no-one seems to sell carriage bolts in that size locally.

I've thought of a couple of other things I need from happ - spade connectors (they are available locally but fairly expansive), and strong springs for Super and Competition joysticks. It looks like it won't be hard to make up a minimum order after all.

[rampy]

hey grasshopper... for my super clones from x-arcade I needed to adjust the little metal actuator arms for the microswitch till i got the feel on the diagonals that I liked.

*shrug* ymmv and good luck with the carriage bolt quest (even the mom and pop hardware stores didn't have them? I'm surprised).

rampy

[Jakobud]

Yeah it's funny how difficult it is to find those kinds of carriage bolts that you find in arcade cabinet CP's.

[Infrasonic]

Forget carraige bolts, they are almost perfect but not quite.  I use #10 (3/16) stainless steel BUTTON HEAD SCREWS and nylon locknuts, these are available at Home Depot but are expensive.  It shouldn't matter whether they are coarse or fine, the only really important thing is not to mess up the heads while driving them.  As long as they aren't damaged in installation, they won't scratch your hands and they will outlast anything else.