Anyone Got Square Nuts?
 

I knew the title of this tread would get some attention -silly and serious alike, but that's a risk worth taking. Although I have my procurement specialist in Hammond (Guy) on the hunt for square nuts, I would also like to tap into the corporate memory to determine sources for the same.

Where have folks gotten their square nuts from? I am looking for all sizes relevant to CMPs ranging from 1/4 in 20s coarse thread upwards...

As well, since I got no bites on my previous post reference data plate clean up and repair, I'll repeat my request here: Does anyone have any experience refurbishing data plates?

Rob,
Last I heard you were looking for bumper nuts (for those who don't know.... see photo), why the change in your quest?
More seriously, is it the size of the nuts or the quality that is the problem? I've never seen any square nuts marked for grade, so I assume they are no better than grade 2, in other words not to be trusted for anything in particular.

Sizes
 

The square nuts on a CMP are only used as captive nuts from what I can see in my restoration for securing sheet metal on the cab and body.
They're in 3 sizes from 3/16 for the drivers toeplate to 1/4" for things like securing the windscreens, floor plates and grille to 5/16 for mudguards and holding the front shell.
They are also very well known for seizing and turning in their cages in the most inaccesible places. The others either come out nicely or helpfully shear off, both speeding disassembly and hindering reassembly.
Thread is UNC, or Whitworth.
I found it helpful to have taps and dies in all the sizes to run through them before putting them back together.

http://www.msc-stainless-fasteners.c...are-nuts-title

http://store.nutsandbolts.com/square-nuts.html

....and Valley Hardware has in stock 5/16 square....plain or plated 100 for $10

3/16 or 1/4 20 could be ordered.....

Over an out..... I need to spend more quality time in the barn with you guys....

BooBee

PS ...talk to me about the plate...... I have repaired old soft pewter items before in my younger days....... you just need to be delicate and fabricate your own tools out of wood for correcting the dents........ we may have to be creative for the actual finish...... a couple of beers will do wonders....

Tsk, tsk...
 

Now, this is the thread you should have gotten "cute" on. Thanks for the URLs. I'll bring the plates out in two weeks - the frau is working Sat and Sun...sniff, sniff...

aka RMCBain
 

The absolutely best source I have ever found for square nuts is McMaster Carr (out of Chicago) www.mcmaster.com

They are currently listing sizes from 6-32 up to 3/8-16 (flat top & flat bottom) in plain steel, black oxide coated and zinc plated steel.

If you want flat bottom and rounded top, they list from 6-32 up to 1&1/2-6 in 18-8ss, grade 5 (zinc plated), grade 2 & hot dipped galvanized.

Absolutely fantastic shipping and pricing is more than reasonable.

Only problem I have ever had with them (based on past experience) is you'll end up ordering an absolute pile of other stuff once you get a hold of the (3664 page) catalogue !

Best advice is to have the stuff delivered to your work (or on a day the wife's not going to be home !)......

Wow!
 

Thanks for the URL - that killed an evening...

McMaster Carr
 

I agree that they have an amazing variety of stuff, but I have a significant "issue" with one of their corporate policies.
They absolutely refuse to ship to Canada and refuse orders if they think that the product will end up being exported from the USA to Canada. In my case, I was paying by credit card for shipping to a USA address and they somehow saw that the billing address for the credit card was Canadian and this was enough for them to cancel the order they had previously accepted. When I called them to try to overturn their decision they were very polite but wouldn't reconsider their policy. I never did find a reference to their anti-Canadian policy on their web site.
Please let me know if you find they've changed their policy because I'm sure I can find more things to order from them.

Upper State New York
 

Grant, When time permits, I'm going to do a search of resources in New York State - maybe a similar source nearby and a good excuse for a cross border invasion...

road trip!
 

"In theory" a fellow does some window shopping in the catalogue and decides to drive the hour and a bit or so for a coffee in that quaint little town on the other side of the tall bridge. There is a craft shop in town (www.joann.com). Then he finds the UPS courier outlet and makes note of the street address. He realizes he needs to mail an envelope and goes to the US postal service building downtown. After that he drives home, making a mental note to come back in 2 or 3 weeks because it is such a pretty little town.

I have found Spae-Naer to stock just about everything. I have their catalogue and will check it tomorrow. Brian

Terry, the order they refused for me was entered online so there wasn't an obvious Canadian address. Your comments do raise an idea. It should be possible to send a hard copy order to them, prepaid by USPS money order for pickup at the UPS store. At least worth a try.

did not spell spae-naur right. Anyway they list plain steel from 1/4-20 to 1". Plated are more limited from 4/40 to 1/4''. Any industrial supplier could order them for you. They do list the actual size if thats a concern, let me know if you need a particular size. Brian