Need help installing T8/T12 lampholder -Nuts and bolts question

[Big Joe]

Long time lurker.

Rebuilding 2 beautiful porcelain reflector fluorescent fixtures made by Wheeler probably in the late 40's or early 50'. These are just over 8' long with two 3 bulb banks, 48" bulbs.

The problem I have is in mounting the Leviton lamp holders (23355). I need the flat nut to bolt the lamp holder into the fixture. I contacted Leviton and got a pat answer from them that they available at any hardware store.

I never seen a 6-32 flat rectangular nut .0.04 thick at a hardware store. Even the old lamp holder nuts were bigger.

To late to return the 23355's.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[rlitman]

A picture would be worth 1000 words.
Is the nut you have too thick? When that happens, I pinch it in a pair of vice grips, and take it to the sander until it is sufficiently thin.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Machine thread? Stamped sheet metal? Some pics would really help. Home Depot has a bunch of pull out drawers with all kinds of weird things, and you might find what you are looking for in there.

edit: now I'm even more confused, I looked at THIS Leviton OEM catalog and found the 23355 lamp holders on page 24/253 and I don't see any nut that is part of the lamp holder.

Charles

 

[Norcal]

I would suggest McMaster - Carr, www.mcmaster.com or google the nuts to see who has them.

Try cat. # 94855A201 from McMaster, $2.03 per 100, shipping will be more then the item though.

 

[Big Joe]

The slot that the nut needs to fit into is .185 wide by .065 high which means the nut would be roughly 3/16" square with a thickness of 1/16"

The old lamp holders used a nut .305 square by 0.070 thick

The nuts are basically sheet metal with a tapped hole.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Make them. Take a galvanized cover plate, slice and dice it to size and drill and tap the holes.

Charles