Old bolts and fittings

[840aj]

I've just bought some steel block cushions on ebay. The guy said they are B&Watts. Unfortunately he didn't have the bolts to fasten the cushion to the freeze. I've managed to find 3/8 and 5/16 bolts in UNC and UNF threads but the 3/8 are too big and 5/16 too small. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[100-uper]

The thread is more likely to be an imperial measure, like Whitworth.

[moglet]

I had to replace one missing bolt on my steels, the thread used was a non standard pitch although it may well be imperial and whitworth, I had to have one specially machined which can be fairly costly to tool up.

I would suggest you have the steels retapped to take an easily available metric threaded cap screw. Any competent fitter could do this but you might need to buy the tap to do the threading.

[magicman]

Alternatively there are several molten plastic based products, that harden at room temperature, so you could pour it in, leave a wing-nut like tightener and hey presto!

[840aj]

Thanks for the advice. I found a Whitworth 3/8 but still no joy. I think re-tapping is the way forward.

[moglet]

3/8 Whit is 16 threads per inch, as is 3/8 UNC but the thread profile is slightly different.

Burroughs and Watts threads were coarser than these preferred standards.

[Geoff Large]

The thread is the same as the cushion slate bolts if they are a Burroughs and watts table steels cushion

just get some old b&watts cushion slate bolts put a washer on the bolt and bolt surround to the steel cushion , try and get bolts with plenty of thread down the shaft , those that stop a long way from the head may not work , then cut the bolt down flush to the inside of the steel , do not allow the bolt to protrude past the steel or it will start nibbling at the slate side as you tighten it up the slate will crack or crumble .

remove the cut down bolts and file a leading dome edge to the bolt .

Alternately , get a welder to weld up the hole and re-drill and re-tap to another sized thread and buy bolts to suit .

I would have answered this a lot sooner but it was not posted in the tables section where I look for questions I can answer .