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Bolt/nut thread SAE/metric iD Tool

Z

zendriver

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Joined
Dec 10, 2014
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30,150
Location
Indiana
My memory has never been great and it’s certainly not improving with age.

That said, I don’t have a lot of time to work on projects so when I do I usually end up looking at that nut or holt trying to figure out the proper size whether they are metric in the thread size.

Half the time I end up just going to the hardware store with some Foster’s I want to use, kind of nobody comes up to help me right away which usually happens I dig around from box to box before I remember to go over to the little handy threads and sizegauge they have on the wall

i’d like to get something like that to have at home but not take up as much space as the one with the stores do.

Any suggestions for a set up like that? Thanks
 
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Bogie1632

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Feb 18, 2018
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Southeastern Wisconsin
I have these on order right now. Hang em or toss em in a drawer...


I also have this in the box now. It and a rule get me through 99% of what I deal with.

5 Pcs Thread Pitch Gauges Measure Tool Set,Stainless Steel Thread Gauges 3 Pcs 55 & 60 Degree Metric System Centre Gage + 51Pcs America SAE Type + 52 Pcs Metric & America SAE Type & British Whitworth: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

5 Pcs Thread Pitch Gauges Measure Tool Set,Stainless Steel Thread Gauges 3 Pcs 55 & 60 Degree Metric System Centre Gage + 51Pcs America SAE Type + 52 Pcs Metric & America SAE Type & British Whitworth: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com

V/R
Bogie
 
J

JradM

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Sep 4, 2019
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Location
Alberta
There's little folding thread gauges that come with many tap and die sets. Doesn't address the diameter of the bolt, but unless you're dealing with something weird the thread pattern is usually enough.

Edited to add a picture:

1629313102649.jpeg

Looks like they're $5-10 on Amazon all by themselves.
 
F

FMB4

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Jan 19, 2017
Messages
2,926
JradM said:
There's little folding thread gauges that come with many tap and die sets. Doesn't address the diameter of the bolt, but unless you're dealing with something weird the thread pattern is usually enough.
Click to expand...
I used those for many years. But, in my mid '60s I can't trust my eyes like I could years ago.
 
B

bonneyman

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Apr 22, 2010
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8,857
Location
Desert SW
Since discovering these thread gauge "discs" I've been very happy with them.

www.thexton.com

Univ. Thread Gauges

Identifies bolts, fittings, pipe threads and spark plugs with US or metric threads. Aluminum gauges identify: 1) US threads from #5 to 3/4
www.thexton.com
 
U

u2slow

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Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
3,612
Location
BC
After you get some nuts & bolts sorted into containers by size you will have an easier time proving the unknowns by laying the bolt threads together, or threading the nut on a bolt. (Hint: re-use containers from your recycling waste.)

Its daunting at the beginning, but it gets easier.
 
R

Rinspeed

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Apr 26, 2020
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Location
NY
Bogie1632 said:
I have these on order right now. Hang em or toss em in a drawer...



Bogie
Click to expand...





I have that same set and they are very handy. SAE I can tell just by looking at them but struggle a bit with metric when it comes to course vs fine. When you've handled tens of thousands of screws/bolts it gets much easier.
 
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D

Dumber than lumber

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Dec 19, 2015
Messages
1,952
That blika string thing is not to my liking.
I like to have my nut and bolt gauge on a shelf slightly lower than eye level, in a configuration where i can check items with just one hand.
And mine has metric all on left, SAE all on right. Also has length scales at bottom. Beats looking for a ruler or tape measure.
 
S

sportfan

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Aug 16, 2021
Messages
96
Location
Ponca City, OK.
Bogie1632 said:
I have these on order right now. Hang em or toss em in a drawer...


I also have this in the box now. It and a rule get me through 99% of what I deal with.

5 Pcs Thread Pitch Gauges Measure Tool Set,Stainless Steel Thread Gauges 3 Pcs 55 & 60 Degree Metric System Centre Gage + 51Pcs America SAE Type + 52 Pcs Metric & America SAE Type & British Whitworth: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

5 Pcs Thread Pitch Gauges Measure Tool Set,Stainless Steel Thread Gauges 3 Pcs 55 & 60 Degree Metric System Centre Gage + 51Pcs America SAE Type + 52 Pcs Metric & America SAE Type & British Whitworth: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com

V/R
Bogie
Click to expand...
I have the ones you have on order. They work real well.
 
M

mslim

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Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
293
Location
Fayetteville, AR
Bogie1632 said:
I have these on order right now. Hang em or toss em in a drawer...

Click to expand...
I use this all the time. It hangs from a hook on my pegboard. With so much recent downtime, I've been catching up on busywork. I've gone thru lots of bolts, screws, and nuts and sorted them by pitch and size to save me from rooting thru a "hell box".
 
P

paulsomlo

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Jul 16, 2013
Messages
3,911
Location
Northern Colorado
Get a caliper and two leaf type thread gages (as shown in post #4), one metric and one english. And the caliper is useful way beyond nuts an bolts.
 
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