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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Mamezilla on January 20, 2009, 07:20:14 pm

Title: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: Mamezilla on January 20, 2009, 07:20:14 pm

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for black bolts with plain heads for fixing a joystick and a 2 1/4" trackball in a metal control panel.  I know some of these have a square part under the head that locks into a square notch in a metal control panel.  I've been to my local Home Depot and Réno-Dépot (a Home Depot competitor here in Quebec) and could not find anything useful in black.

Is there any online source ?  Since english is not my native language, I don't know for what I should look for; what's the english way to call those kind of bolts ?  I guess I need 3 inches long for the trackball.

Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: Mamezilla on January 20, 2009, 08:13:57 pm

Looks like divemaster has these, will order from him.
Thanks anyway

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: SirPeale on January 20, 2009, 08:48:44 pm

I've read that you can make your own black bolts from regular.  Just take gun bluing and apply two coats.

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: CheffoJeffo on January 20, 2009, 08:53:22 pm

I've used several thin coats of gloss spray pain with good results.

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: ghettodish on January 20, 2009, 09:36:30 pm

Black, zinc-coated carriage bolts can be found on eBay. That's where I bought a box of 2". I'd send you a bagfull, but they are too short for a trackball.  You'll need 3" carriage bolts for that.

A spraycan full of black Rustoleum works just fine on silver bolts from Home Depot. I've had excellent results with it.

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: Blanka on January 21, 2009, 01:45:43 am

What about hiding the bolts at all? I don't like them in my panel, so I detailed them away.

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: ghettodish on January 21, 2009, 01:54:27 am

Hidden bolts are very cool. I would not use them for dual tank-stick panels....I bet I could rip out some joysticks during a caffeine-fueled bout of Robotron!

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: Blanka on January 21, 2009, 02:47:28 am

The way I mount them bolt-less, you won't rip them out.

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: richms on January 21, 2009, 06:25:45 am

Blackened fasteners usually indicates high tensile, so try adding that to your searches.

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: Visitor Q on January 21, 2009, 08:37:07 am

Not sure if you have a "Fastenal" near by, you could try them. They seems to have EVERYTHING when it comes to this kinda stuff.

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: z on January 21, 2009, 02:20:15 pm

You can also get the allen head style for the shorter lengths (joysticks) from McMaster Carr (www.mcmaster.com), search for 'socket cap screws', under head style look at 'low'.  They have them in black oxide in varying lengths and sizes (page 3084 of their current online catalog).

Title: Re: Where can I find those black bolts ?
Post by: THE POKER BRAT on January 21, 2009, 05:05:30 pm

DID I HEAR BOLTS???????....HERE U GO!     (http://)http://images-partners-tbn.google.com/images?q=tbn:jvpaJqgKtkTLkM:www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FY9/EO5J/F8IEN5C7/FY9EO5JF8IEN5C7.MEDIUM.jpg