4BA stainless studding

[ukjimoo]

Hello all

Does any one know of a supplier of 4BA stainless studding. Nobody seems to do it anymore, not even EKP.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Best regards
Jim

[waggy]

Hi Jim,

I looked for BA stainless studding a couple of weeks ago, couldn't find any. Ended up using metric .

M3 & M4 stainless studding readily available from RS components.

If you go to their home page you can open a mail order account very easily. I usually order on weekdays, early in the morning using the on-line form, all my orders have been delivered next day! A weekend order usually delivered on Tuesday. Brilliant service and the prices are very reasonable.

I've no ties with the company at all, just a satisfied customer.

Waggy.

[Jo]

Hi Jim,

You have my sympathies..... Have you thought of making the studding yourself? It is nothing like you would imagine, actually can be very relaxing, just make sure you turn them out of free cutting 3/16" rather than some thin wobbly hard stuff that needs support.

I've just knocked up 8 off 1 3/4" 4 BA studs for my Clayton rear axle and lets be honest they look much nicer without the threads going all the way down. I will be doing the same for the 32 4 BA studs on my Simplex cylinder heads but maybe I will not go as far as replacing the 180 8BA studs for the covers on my Cross compound.

Maybe it is old age this desire to get things right. But decent studs are only one of the many things that are getting so hard to find these days.

Jo

[ukjimoo]

Thankyou Jo and Waggy

I hadnt thought of making my own stainless studs. Ive have never cut a thread with my lathe before exept with a die and die holder. I dont think i even have a complete set of change wheels.

Im afraid metric isnt an option as i have already tapped the threads.

I need the studding for my traction engine cylinder mounting studs. I have finished the engine and used mild steel bolts secured with loctite 542, but im worried that should a leak develop in the future, it may be impossible to get the studs out with the combined friction of the loctite and a rusty thread. I think it would be quite easy to shear them off.

I was going to silver solder mild steel (smaller) nuts onto stainless studding to get the right look. Although i would settle for stainless bolts with smaller head but cant seem to get hold of these either.

Not really sure what to do now

[Boadicea]

Reckon it has to be make your own. Just have a go - there is plenty of instruction available from books and once you can do it - you have the skill for next time. It does not matter how many duds you throw away before you get some suitable ones. Go on - go for it!!
Regards, Bo.

[chris vine]

Hi Jim,

Don't worry, you won't need to screw cut your studs, a die in the tail stock will do the job fine. You can decide if you want to make simple studding with the thread all the way along or make proper studs with a plain portion in the middle.

I think the reason the ME suppliers don't go in for studs much is that the range of lengths would be too great to make it worth while.

If you start with some free cutting stainless (GLR stuff is free cutting) you will almost certainly have to turn it down to size for threading. Over a longish length with thin stuff seems difficult but there is a way around the problem: I find that for most work like this you can reduce the diameter with a single (quite heavy) cut, as long as you are working close to the chuck. If you are turning, say 3/16 rod, pull out perphaps 3/8" and turn that down, pull out another 3/8" and carry on until you have a long enough bit for the stud.

You will have to do a bit of experimenting on setting the cut because you will not end up with the same size diameter with one heavy cut compared to several lighter cuts, even though the cross slide dial is showing the same reading. However the tests only need 1/8" at the end of the rod for each trial cut, so not too much is wasted.

Hope that is useful and have fun!! One thing I am sure of is that you should not stay with the mild steel bolts, I think you, as you say, are storing up trouble for yourself......

Cheers
Chris.

[chris vine]

Sorry I should have added the reason for trying to reduce the size with a single cut.

It is because the bit of rod, sticking out of the chuck, is still full size (up to the cut) and so is strong enough to resist the tool. If you take off a few thou at a time the rod resisting the cut is getting smaller and so will bend.

Perhaps that was obvious to you!!
C

[chameleonrob]

can you get stainless bolts and cut the heads off? probably more expensive but easier

rob

[SteveW]

Guys,

Re cutting metric threads on an imperial lathe, i.e. Myford S7.

I had a big success cutting a 2mm thread courtesy of this site: www.duncanamps.co.uk/metal/software.php

The program download allows you to bracket your desired thread and then, using the standard wheels it calculates all possibilities. I got my 2mm thread to better than 2.000mm but had the choice of others. All thanks to Duncan.

The only thing missing was a print option, it was back to fag-packet mode for the transfer to the workshop.

[Chris Kelland]

Hi ukjimoo & all,

Stainless studding and nuts, bolts are available from,

Items mail order Ltd.
46 St Martins Road
North Leverton
Retford
Notts
DN22 0AU

01427 884319.

No web presence as far as I know. I have dealt with them before, but they can be a bit 'funny'.


Chris.

[ukjimoo]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.
I am tempted to have a go at making them but i would like to get them sorted quikly and easily on this occasion so i will try Items Mail Order and if that fails ill buy some bolts and cut the heads off.

Cheers
Jim

[ukjimoo]

Hi all

Just for your info, 'Items Mail Order' are able to supply stainless BA studding. I ordered my 4BA at £3.99 per 12". Thanks Chris

[wayne]

You could try
D. Middleton Stainless Steel Components
Unit 5
Lady Ann Mills
Batley
West Yorkshire
WF17 OPS
UK
[phone]
[phone] fax

He sells nuts & bolts and 303 stock matireal ( in cluding BA) to the motorbike and car restoration sector

I have all ways had good service, but be warnd if you go in person with samples ie i want 3 of what ever these are four of these he will proberbly turn you away. Go with a list of what you whant and he is brilliant.