Hi everyone and a happy new year to you all!

I'd be happier if I could find some bolts of the right size to fix my 
embroidery frames. I've been to every DIY and builders merchants in the 
area, waded through a screwfix catalogue and just had go with google but 
no luck, and wondered if anyone here had a bit more experience of 
looking for this sort of thing!

The bolts have to be Coach Bolts, 4mm diameter and at least 5 cm in 
length, and the screw runs down the whole length. They also have a 
washer and wing nut. On the original bolts the "screw" has worn, making 
the frames impossible to tighten up and therefore to use.

The smallest coach bolts I can find are 6mm. Everybody has those.

Any help will be truly appreciated.

Eliza.
-- 
Eliza@2fishes.co.uk
<URL: http://www.2fishes.co.uk/> - Skye-inspired Cross Stitch
New!! Skye Heath Sampler, with heather and orchids.

Hi Eliza

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:48:29 +0000, Eliza Wright 
wrote:

>Hi everyone and a happy new year to you all!
>
>I'd be happier if I could find some bolts of the right size to fix my 
>embroidery frames. I've been to every DIY and builders merchants in the 
>area, waded through a screwfix catalogue and just had go with google but 
>no luck, and wondered if anyone here had a bit more experience of 
>looking for this sort of thing!
>
>The bolts have to be Coach Bolts, 4mm diameter and at least 5 cm in 
>length, and the screw runs down the whole length. They also have a 
>washer and wing nut. On the original bolts the "screw" has worn, making 
>the frames impossible to tighten up and therefore to use.
>
>The smallest coach bolts I can find are 6mm. Everybody has those.
>
>Any help will be truly appreciated.
>
>Eliza.

I think you'll find that these items are called 'machine screws' - the
ones with thread only part of the way down the length are coach bolts.

A bit of a google turned up
http://marinestore.co.uk/page/mrst/CTGY/machine-screws-stainless-steel/
- some M4 x 50's about 1/3 of the way down the page.

Didn't look for the wingnuts......

Maybe worth trying yellow pages for Chandlers - they tend to carry
bolts etc in small quantities - might be expensive stainless ones -
but that might be better than nothing <g>

Another possible option would be to find a supplier of 'studding' -
which is threaded rod (or a bolt without a head). This typically comes
in 1 metre lengths, and you can cut it to the length that you need.
Put a 'nyloc' nut on one end, wingnut on the other and there you go !

Hope this helps

Adrian - Suffolk UK
www.inspired-glass.co.uk 
======return email munged=================
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Hi Adrian

Thanks for your help.  I have looked at machine screws as you suggested, 
but the ones that were illustrated seem to be missing an essential 
feature, that is the square bit right at the end next to the head (sorry 
if I am not describing this properly with the right terminology!). This 
is essential as it fits into the frame and stops the screw turning as 
you tighten the wing nut. I have certainly on my travels come across 
things described as coach bolts, with a thread all the way down, however 
they are all just that bit too wide!

Have now found the address of the manufacturer of the frames so will see 
what they suggest before searching any further.

Thanks again,
Eliza.

-- 
Eliza@2fishes.co.uk
<URL: http://www.2fishes.co.uk/> - Skye-inspired Cross Stitch
New!! Skye Heath Sampler, with heather and orchids.

Hi Eliza

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:58:32 +0000, Eliza Wright 
wrote:

>Hi Adrian
>
>Thanks for your help.  I have looked at machine screws as you suggested, 
>but the ones that were illustrated seem to be missing an essential 
>feature, that is the square bit right at the end next to the head (sorry 
>if I am not describing this properly with the right terminology!). This 
>is essential as it fits into the frame and stops the screw turning as 
>you tighten the wing nut. I have certainly on my travels come across 
>things described as coach bolts, with a thread all the way down, however 
>they are all just that bit too wide!

Hmmm !
The only further suggestions verge on bodgery <g> - maybe use the
machine screws without the "square bit" - but smear a little epoxy
glue round the heads to fix them in place - alternatively, drill out
the holes in the frames to accept a larger bolt ?
>
>Have now found the address of the manufacturer of the frames so will see 
>what they suggest before searching any further.

Good idea - they should know 
Good luck
Adrian
======return email munged=================
take out the papers and the trash to reply

Hi Adrian
The manufacturer has told me where to get bolts from - they were very 
prompt which is a good sign! -  and I have ordered some. I'm not going 
to quite give up worrying about it until they arrive (due to 
experience!!!) but it seems like the problem is solved.

Making bigger holes was another option but DH was reluctant to take on 
the job due to narrowness of wood, he thought it might split.

Thanks again for your time

Eliza.


Adrian Brentnall <adrian-the@papers.and.invalid> wrote
>
>
-- 
Eliza@2fishes.co.uk
<URL: http://www.2fishes.co.uk/> - Skye-inspired Cross Stitch
New!! Skye Heath Sampler, with heather and orchids.

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006, Adrian Brentnall wrote:

>The only further suggestions verge on bodgery <g>

I love that expression!!! (Which I assume you made-up, it's not showing 
in the dictionary!) My father was a true bodger but he meant well :)

Joanna
-- 
Joanna Mackintosh, Flintshire, UK

Hi Joanna,
Wasn't a bodger a person who made chairs or something, in Lincolnshire 
or somewhere...? I have a feeling it is/was a real craft, something to 
do with woodwork...
:-)
Eliza


Joanna Mackintosh  wrote
>On Fri, 13 Jan 2006, Adrian Brentnall wrote:
>
>>The only further suggestions verge on bodgery <g>
>
>I love that expression!!! (Which I assume you made-up, it's not showing 
>in the dictionary!) My father was a true bodger but he meant well :)
>
>Joanna

-- 
Eliza@2fishes.co.uk
<URL: http://www.2fishes.co.uk/> - Skye-inspired Cross Stitch
New!! Skye Heath Sampler, with heather and orchids.

HI Joanna

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:16:41 +0000 (UTC), Joanna Mackintosh
 wrote:

>On Fri, 13 Jan 2006, Adrian Brentnall wrote:
>
>>The only further suggestions verge on bodgery <g>
>
>I love that expression!!! (Which I assume you made-up, it's not showing 
>in the dictionary!) My father was a true bodger but he meant well :)

I'm not sure where the expression came from  - possibly from an
electronics / software background......

....or it may be a 'do-it-yourself' term.

Although (allegedly) the term was in use in the 1500's
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wwftd/message/516?viscount=100

although a 'bodger' was originally a kind of travelling woodturner who
would set up camp in a suitable coppice & make chair-legs on the spot.

Only a tenous link to crafts here - and nothing at all to do with 4mm
coachbolts !

Take care
Adrian
www.inspired-glass.co.uk

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On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:16:39 +0000, Eliza Wright 
wrote:

>Wasn't a bodger a person who made chairs or something, in Lincolnshire 
>or somewhere...? I have a feeling it is/was a real craft, something to 
>do with woodwork...

Sort of. They were in Berkshire (mainly), particularly around High
Wycombe,The distinction was that they didn't make "chairs", they made
"chair parts".  A bodger was an itinerant turner of turned legs and
spindles who then sold these parts on (in surprisingly large quantities)
to someone else who assembled them with seat bases to make Windsor
chairs.

Thanks for that bit of info Andy. Oh and by the way my bolts arrived and 
they are fine. Also not very expensive, which I thought they might be, 
being an odd size. So I am happy now at least for the moment!  :-)

Eliza.

Andy Dingley  wrote
>On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:16:39 +0000, Eliza Wright 
>wrote:
>
>>Wasn't a bodger a person who made chairs or something, in Lincolnshire
>>or somewhere...? I have a feeling it is/was a real craft, something to
>>do with woodwork...
>
>Sort of. They were in Berkshire (mainly), particularly around High
>Wycombe,The distinction was that they didn't make "chairs", they made
>"chair parts".  A bodger was an itinerant turner of turned legs and
>spindles who then sold these parts on (in surprisingly large quantities)
>to someone else who assembled them with seat bases to make Windsor
>chairs.

-- 
Eliza@2fishes.co.uk
<URL: http://www.2fishes.co.uk/> - Skye-inspired Cross Stitch
New!! Skye Classic: The Cuillin from Elgol.