Metric Bolts/nuts?

[Thumper68]

The other day I needed a replacement Metric Bolt and digging through my small selection that I have saved over the years I finally found one but it took 15 minutes or so, PITA

What sizes of metric stuff should I stock? This would be for general repairs auto to bikes to household appliances.

 

[CJM8515]

Pretty much M4, M5, M6, M8 would be worthwhile. Most items are metric and those are the most common sizes. IDK if you have a pepboys near you, but about 10 years back I bought a dorman 500pc kit from pepboys for like 35 bucks. Was worth it.

 

[Thumper68]

Pretty much M4, M5, M6, M8 would be worthwhile. Most items are metric and those are the most common sizes. IDK if you have a pepboys near you, but about 10 years back I bought a dorman 500pc kit from pepboys for like 35 bucks. Was worth it.

Thanks! What about thread pitch and grade?

 

[CJM8515]

Thanks! What about thread pitch and grade?

I recall the dorman kit had grade 8.8 and they were in popular pitches as well. Matter of fact, I found it (think this is the one) for you https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C0HC8A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

On the other hand, if you go on ebay and search river city industrial supply I just bought 100 dollars of nuts, bolts, washers in assorted sizes shipped to my house. But no case or anything. I filled in the other bits I was missing using mcmaster-carr. I set myself up for every metric nut or bolt m6-m16 pretty much. Anything smaller i still have stuff left from the dorman set.

That same seller had some smaller 500pc and 300pc packs too for a decent price.

 

[Thumper68]

Thanks again, but that is not what I am looking for, I need more of a list I can take to my fastener supplier and have them fill it out for me, more like you did on e-bay.

I don't work on vehicles much anymore so not really up on what I should have for that.

So far my research had dictated that I should follow your advice on the sizes M4, M5, M6, and M8 with the addition of some M10 in grade 8.8. Still no info on pitch and length I suppose I could start at 25mm full thread that will cover any length up to that and then add a few more lengths, any suggestions?

 

[CJM8515]

Thanks again, but that is not what I am looking for, I need more of a list I can take to my fastener supplier and have them fill it out for me, more like you did on e-bay.

I don't work on vehicles much anymore so not really up on what I should have for that.

So far my research had dictated that I should follow your advice on the sizes M4, M5, M6, and M8 with the addition of some M10 in grade 8.8. Still no info on pitch and length I suppose I could start at 25mm full thread that will cover any length up to that and then add a few more lengths, any suggestions?

Ah ok then.

Length: 12mm, 16, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 or so. Depends on what you think you need and wanna spend. When I bought my stuff I bought every size pretty much from 12mm to 70mm length.

Pitch really depends on the size of the bolt, but generally you are talking .8mm, 1.0mm or 1.25mm. That coarse thread, which is more common. Fine would be .5mm, .75mm, 1.0mm, etc depending on bolt size. I dont find much use for the fine threads myself.

Full or partial thread is up to you. I prefer full only because its more handy. But certain situations dictate otherwise. I also bought flange bolts (the kind you find on motorcycles and atv's) because I own several.

 

[ncarey]

I live 10 minutes from both Stone Way Hardware and from Tacoma Screw. A little further afield (20 minutes) are Fisheries Supply and Hardwick's. If they don't have it, you almost certainly don't need it.

I can't imagine stockpiling fasteners in any quantity.


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[bobforman]

Tacoma Screw is a remarkable store. They have damn near everything. But they didn't have a 3.5mm screw that I needed for the steering wheel on my 914. Porsche couldn't do 3 or 4, they had to do 3.5. The Porsche dealer didn't have them but Granger did. Took 2 hours to have them delivered to the store. Only problem, I had to buy 100 of them. About $13 so I wasn't overly put out.

 

[Thumper68]

I live 10 minutes from both Stone Way Hardware and from Tacoma Screw. A little further afield (20 minutes) are Fisheries Supply and Hardwick's. If they don't have it, you almost certainly don't need it.

I can't imagine stockpiling fasteners in any quantity.


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I understand where you are coming from. I have a great nut and bolt place as well but it is 45 minutes from me, the nearest hardware stores are in small towns 20 minutes away and they know that they are the only hardware stores in the area and charge accordingly.

Along with that I hate to even take 15 minutes to run to the store for 1 or 2 pieces of hardware.

When I plan out a project I include hardware in the shopping list so I have what I need but for small jobs that pop up, or you break a bolt or it is too corroded to reuse or if you are like me you are working on something at 3am having the right size in the shop can be a lifesaver.

My sister used to get so frustrated when we were planning a project, I would always add hardware to the list, she would look at me and say "you have boxes of screws in the shed, why do you need more."

My response was always the same "Yup lots in there but not the right ones."

It drives me nuts seeing someone using drywall screws instead of construction screws or a framing nail to hang a picture.

 

[Thumper68]

Ah ok then.

Length: 12mm, 16, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 or so. Depends on what you think you need and wanna spend. When I bought my stuff I bought every size pretty much from 12mm to 70mm length.

Pitch really depends on the size of the bolt, but generally you are talking .8mm, 1.0mm or 1.25mm. That coarse thread, which is more common. Fine would be .5mm, .75mm, 1.0mm, etc depending on bolt size. I dont find much use for the fine threads myself.

Full or partial thread is up to you. I prefer full only because its more handy. But certain situations dictate otherwise. I also bought flange bolts (the kind you find on motorcycles and atv's) because I own several.

That is awesome just what I was looking for.

I think I will start at 25mm full thread in each size that I can cut down if I need shorter. Then add the longer ones probably not in each length, but in a good selection.

Once I get my list done I will post it here for everyone.

 

[bgarrett]

I can't imagine stockpiling fasteners in any quantity.

I can imagine stopping work, cleaning up, changing clothes, wasting my time and gas to go to a store to buy one bolt that costs $6 !!!???
I can imagine it but I sure dont like the idea. People give me 5 gallon buckets of bolts and nuts, I have more nuts and bolts than Home Depot. Of course my stuff is American,no metric **** here

 

[lazer50]

I did a search for most common fasteners for auto and home.and i checked 3 sites they all pulled the same sizes.4,5,6,7,,8,10 and 8,10 are the only 2 that come in different pitch.8 1.25,1. 10 1.25,1.5 the sites didnt mention lengths so i guess i would get an assortment.

 

[Alchymist]

I live 10 minutes from both Stone Way Hardware and from Tacoma Screw. A little further afield (20 minutes) are Fisheries Supply and Hardwick's. If they don't have it, you almost certainly don't need it.

I can't imagine stockpiling fasteners in any quantity.


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Checked a couple of your places listed - take your wallet with you!

Searched locally for a 3/8" X 3-1/2 or 4" flat head screw, none to be found.

Fisheriesupply wants over $5 each, Tacoma screw over $2 each, pkg of 50. Didn't spend a lot of time, but it looks like that's all that's available.

Boltdepot (my favorite) - 52 cents apiece.

 

[mechanic217]

Just a note, in some metric sizes there are two standards DIN and ISO, or Japanese vs German, they do not interchange. I found this trying to install a Bosch alternator on a Yanmar marine diesel..

 

[mnoeltne]

I did a search for most common fasteners for auto and home.and i checked 3 sites they all pulled the same sizes.4,5,6,7,,8,10 and 8,10 are the only 2 that come in different pitch.8 1.25,1. 10 1.25,1.5 the sites didnt mention lengths so i guess i would get an assortment.

7mm is pretty rare. That said, my 1981 DeLorean built in Northern Ireland uses them all over the place. Very few places stock them, so I buy them in bulk.

You won't generally find 7mm on anything modern AFAIK.

 

[Finky198]

I can imagine stopping work, cleaning up, changing clothes, wasting my time and gas to go to a store to buy one bolt that costs $6 !!!???
I can imagine it but I sure dont like the idea. People give me 5 gallon buckets of bolts and nuts, I have more nuts and bolts than Home Depot. Of course my stuff is American,no metric **** here

We are like You ^^^ but with standard and metric. We have at least a 1/2 dozen 5 gal bucket just in bulk screws about 10 5 gal buckets of semi organized nut bolts and washer, and about 50 organizer filled with common sizes from machine screws up to 1" and m16 . We very rarely have to purchase hardware unless we need stainless or some sort of special pitch...

common sizes to me are what ever fits and has the right grade... a good place to check is your thread restoring kit if u have one what are your most used sizes.... and go from there..

 

[Ralf99]

Just a note, in some metric sizes there are two standards DIN and ISO, or Japanese vs German, they do not interchange. I found this trying to install a Bosch alternator on a Yanmar marine diesel..

The Japanese standard is JIS, as well as the German DIN and "International" ISO. There is a lot of overlap in the three standards, with the main differences being the nut or bolt head size for a given thread diametre.

 

[Mad Dog]

Crazy maybe, but I was given a blown engine Kawasaki jet ski and with the help of my kids, removed and stored every single bolt, washer and nut on the machine. Stainless, metric and free! I find a use for them almost every week working on Japanese motorcycles, etc. In a few years I will find another to cannibalize!

 

[velillen01]

As I am doing a full tear down and rebuild on a Toyota FJ40 I can give you a bit of a list on the most common Ive encountered so far.

M6 x 1.0 - Used mostly for interior items. Most common lengths are 12mm and 16mm but other sizes are used but only in one or two applications.

M8 x 1.25 Used all over the place. Most common lengths are from 20mm to 35mm range but still are some longer and a couple shorters.

M10x 1.25 Used all over the place as well. Lengths are really all over the place from 25mm to 60mm

M12 x 1.25 Mostly drive train stuff. Lengths again are all over the place depending on what they are used for.

There are a few odd ball ones like M12 x1.5 and M12 x 1.75 that are used for certain applications. Not sure I'd really stock these since they are pretty specific use sizes. Same with M10 x 1.50

Hope that gives you an idea at least

 

[Duster346]

I can't imagine stockpiling fasteners in any quantity.

Why not??

As was stated, for automotive use 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 should get ya covered. 1.25 thread pitch is the most common, but you'll see some 1.50.

 

[F124C]

Tacoma Screw is a remarkable store. They have damn near everything. But they didn't have a 3.5mm screw that I needed for the steering wheel on my 914. Porsche couldn't do 3 or 4, they had to do 3.5. The Porsche dealer didn't have them but Granger did. Took 2 hours to have them delivered to the store. Only problem, I had to buy 100 of them. About $13 so I wasn't overly put out.

Ya' think 3.5mm screws are rare?

They're to be found in every home/business here in Ireland/UK plus Germany? where Porsche is based.

They're used to attach Light switches and wall socket (outlets?) to the recessed backing boxes.

There's even a handy thread tap (size 3.5mm) with a screwdriver type handle available for cleaning out the threads (the holes often get blocked with drywall plaster on new build homes). Most Electricians have them.

The screws usually provided with the above electrical fittings are countersunk head 30mm (1-3/16") in total length but are available in other lengths in packs of 2 - 6.

Al.

 

[bluecomputer]

I use boltdepot.com for some of my fasteners. I would recommend one of the assortment kits from either boltdepot, mcmaster or doorman. There isn't much need for fine pitch metric or M7. JIS ANSI and DIN really only matter for the head size of each bolt diameter.

 

[tshetter]

McMaster-Carr.

You can get assortments of bolts, screws, washers, nuts for $50-$150.

 

[mikegt4]

Before retirement I worked in a R&D facility making prototype manufacturing equipment for our production facilities worldwide. One of my duties was to organize and maintain the "bolt bin" which was a bank of about a dozen Lista cabinets, ie. a lot of bolts.

What you might want to stock depends on what you work on, I am assuming cars and therefore concentrate on "std" pitch for each size. We used socket head cap screws almost exclusively.

I would go with something like;
M4x0.7 -6,8,12 mm
M5x0.8 -6,8,12 mm
M6x1 -6,12,16,20 mm
M8x1.25 -12,16,20,25,30 mm
M10x1.5 -12,16,20,25,30,35 mm
M12x1.75 -20,25,30,35,40 mm

One could easily pare down the shorter lengths in the larger sizes and buy as needed.

There, spending someone else's money sure is easy.

 

[bwringer]

JIS uses different thread pitches for 10mm and larger -- it's not just the bolt head size. And the bolt head size and style very often does make a significant difference. Nothing more annoying than a random 13mm head on an 8mm bolt on my Japanese motorcycle.

Most of what passes through my garage is Japanese (mostly vintage and modern Japanese motorcycles), and I keep a LOT of stock of metric/JIS fasteners.

If you just don't know what you might need, Autozone and other stores sell some pretty decent metric assortments in compartment boxes. They have separate kits for Asian and Euro/US vehicles. You could do a lot worse than to start with one or two of these kits.