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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: tkuper05 on July 18, 2005, 06:01:24 pm

Title: Carriage Bolts
Post by: tkuper05 on July 18, 2005, 06:01:24 pm
I'm looking for carriage bolts at my local hardware store and they all have numbers and letters on the top.  I also need black.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: monkeybomb on July 18, 2005, 06:02:59 pm
You could get some from happs - but hopefully someone will suggest something better.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: 88mph on July 18, 2005, 06:08:43 pm
I recently bought some carriage bolts from Bob Roberts.  He sells smooth top carriage bolts, but they aren't black.  I bought some of the smooth top ones and am just going to hit them with a coat of black spray paint. 

Incidentally, he also sells black carriage bolts, but they have the raised numbers/letters on them like the ones you found. 

Good luck,

88mph
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: SteveJ34 on July 18, 2005, 06:10:53 pm
How many do you need and what length?

I know I have a box of carriage bolts ( I think two different lengths), nuts, and lock washers that have been sittin' around for at least a couple of years because at the time I placed the order from Happs it was like a "bulk pack" of 50 or 100 because thats how they were sold.

These are black and were used to mount a couple of happ supers and a 4-way in 5/8" MDF CP with plenty of spares left over.

Shoot me a PM with what you need and I'll see if I can fix you up.

Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: Apollo on July 18, 2005, 07:16:57 pm
Just a suggestion re carriage bolts. I had a nightmare time trying to find smooth topped black carriage bolts. In the end I painted the heads with black BBQ paint which you then bake in the oven on very hot. The result is pretty much the same as powder coating, very tough and durable.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: tkuper05 on July 18, 2005, 09:10:33 pm
Thanks for all the replies.  If Bob Roberts has some I'll probably get them from him.  I have a different problem now.  I drilled a 7/32 hole for my 3/16 carriage bolts I will soon be getting.  Is it REALLY important to have that square dig into the wood?
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: SteveJ34 on July 18, 2005, 09:54:17 pm
If you put lock washer underneath you should be fine...
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: tkuper05 on July 18, 2005, 10:00:47 pm
Are lock washers those star lookin thingys?
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: AlanS17 on July 18, 2005, 10:28:59 pm
Are lock washers those star lookin thingys?
There are 3 kinds of lock washers.

One looks like a regular washer except it's cut through in one spot and slightly bent. It creates tension as it's tightened. This is probably better for metal applications.

The other two are star washers, but one has the points around the outside and one has the points around the inside. These are probably better for wood applications.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: Tiger-Heli on July 19, 2005, 07:29:27 am
You could alternately use locking nuts such as nylon insert nuts.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: tommy on July 19, 2005, 08:01:49 am
I can't imagine not being able to find smooth bolts somewhere in your town, surely Home Depot or your friendly mom and pops would have them.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: Tiger-Heli on July 19, 2005, 08:06:40 am
I can't imagine not being able to find smooth bolts somewhere in your town, surely Home Depot or your friendly mom and pops would have them.
Smooth bolts in black is the problem, from my experience.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: divemaster127 on July 19, 2005, 09:36:03 am
hello, i sell the black powder coated carriage bolts & nuts in 3" & 2" lengths, i have sold several on here to different people here, if you need some send me a pm
thanks
divemaster127
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: jcroach on July 19, 2005, 09:52:16 am
I've had no luck finding either black carriage bolts and smooth top carriage bolts around me. (Bloomington, IN) I've checked with Menards, Lowes, Ace and couple different local places.

I just might try the BBQ paint idea. 

I can't imagine not being able to find smooth bolts somewhere in your town, surely Home Depot or your friendly mom and pops would have them.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: tkuper05 on July 19, 2005, 01:58:39 pm
I e-mailed Bob Roberts.  Shipping and all for 10 black, smooth carriage bolts is $8.  His email is bob147@bellsouth.net
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: AlanS17 on July 19, 2005, 02:26:45 pm
I e-mailed Bob Roberts.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: tkuper05 on July 19, 2005, 05:44:45 pm
You got it.  But $8 isnt too much for exactly what you need.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: AlanS17 on July 19, 2005, 06:25:29 pm
If you need anything else from him, you can probably spread that shipping cost around.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: DrewKaree on July 19, 2005, 07:14:44 pm
You'll still have to buy the paint one way or the other, or pay the $10 for a few of these.  Figuring out the cost of a can of paint and how many bolts you can spray with 'em, you'll find this solution to be cheaper.

Find yourself some sandpaper, preferably something made for metal.  (I used aluminum oxide paper, but even standard paper should work.  The "suggested use" will tell you if it'll take more time or not, that's all)

Take the threaded end of the bolt, and chuck it in your drill.

Set the sandpaper on something flat.

"Drill" the sandpaper until you've removed the raised stuff off the bolt head.

Paint.

Done.

Getting a can of the brush-on kind of black Rust-Oleum will allow you to dip the bolt head too, in case you don't want to be spraying your hand black or don't have a glove to wear while you spray it.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: jcroach on July 20, 2005, 09:23:18 am
Thanks for the suggestion.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: divemaster127 on July 20, 2005, 09:38:20 am
hello, im a distrib for happ too & i sell 10 of the happ black powder coated bolts for $4.75 delivered
thanks
divemaster
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: AlanS17 on July 20, 2005, 10:15:22 am
Getting a can of the brush-on kind of black Rust-Oleum will allow you to dip the bolt head too, in case you don't want to be spraying your hand black or don't have a glove to wear while you spray it.
Maybe I over-complicate things. I would drill out holes in a scrap piece of 2x4 (since you've already got the drill out anyways.) and leave the bolts standing up in it. Then I'd hit 'em with the spray paint.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: RayB on July 20, 2005, 10:24:22 am
Maybe I over-complicate things. I would drill out holes in a scrap piece of 2x4 (since you've already got the drill out anyways.) and leave the bolts standing up in it. Then I'd hit 'em with the spray paint.

You over complicate things. I shove them into a block of styrofoam.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: markrvp on July 20, 2005, 10:45:02 am
Maybe I over-complicate things. I would drill out holes in a scrap piece of 2x4 (since you've already got the drill out anyways.) and leave the bolts standing up in it. Then I'd hit 'em with the spray paint.

You over complicate things. I shove them into a block of styrofoam.


Or cardboard.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: AlanS17 on July 20, 2005, 11:24:58 am
I don't have styrofoam - just tons of scrap wood.
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: quarterback on July 20, 2005, 03:59:49 pm
Maybe I over-complicate things. I would drill out holes in a scrap piece of 2x4 (since you've already got the drill out anyways.) and leave the bolts standing up in it. Then I'd hit 'em with the spray paint.

You over complicate things. I shove them into a block of styrofoam.


Or cardboard.

Or Mashed Potatoes.... Mmmmmmm..... Carriage Bolt Potatoessss...... 
Title: Re: Carriage Bolts
Post by: RayB on July 20, 2005, 09:49:41 pm
Do you have cheese?