Is this normal?

esfoder

Funny thing happened to me the other day. I was working on my Hornet and one of my kids asked me why I saved all the nuts,bolts and screws. I said because I don't want to have to buy some new ones. Then I got to thinking all the "hardware" in these cars was made in america. Then it occured to me what a shame it would be to put Koren screws and bolts back in these old girls. I don't think we can buy american made bolts any more?



Surley I'm not the only on that does this? Or am I???





Just the thought of the day.





Have a great weekend



Oh yeah



Apple a day keeps the doctor away. Say the pledge of allegiance every morning and you'll feel like an AMERICAN!!!

Unknown

I was the purchasing manager for a company for several years and still do some purchasing for the company that I work for now and I have always tried to buy American. I know my company buys as much material as possible American made. All companies should do the same. On the other hand, I don't really pay much attention to what I buy on a personal level. I do buy new American made cars, but will buy second hand Subarus. I figure if I finance it through an American bank, at least some of the money will stay here. Of course, who knows who what country owns the bank anymore.
Bob

faustmb

I reuse as much hardware as possible. I never gave much thought to the origin of replacement hardware, but it makes sense. When I have an option, I try to buy US made stuff and don't mind paying more for it. At least if it's made in this country, there is a fair chance that the labor force is treated fairly.



As far as banks, I have always had the best luck with local credit unions. They have the best service and do the most for me and my money.

[Deleted User]

I use banks and credit unions, but I prefer CU's. They arent close enough, I think they watch my money better and I feel like I have a part ownership. Thanks, Bob

Unknown

Wes Kitchens uses a Eastwood parts shaker with gun brass cleaning media to shake his hardward clean and bright as new. Somewhere on this forum are pictures of the before and after pictures of bolts taken from his 48 and cleaned.

Richard E.

On the rebuild of my '36T, I used an Eastwood shaker and was able to re-use the majority of the nuts & bolts & screws. I figured that they would be better than what I could buy today. However, I have found that old lock washers aren't reliable, stuff keeps loosening up on my car. I do know that you can buy high quality nuts & bolts and probably stainless steel is what we should replace everything with??

Geoff

Ebenezer Scrooge would be proud of me, I never throw anything away if it re-usable. One gets a shock to go in and buy say a 3" x 1/2" h.t. bolt these days. I've got boxes of all size bolts, nuts, washers, screws, and odds and ends on the shelf above my workbench, and I rckon if I was to go in and buy the equivalent new stuff it would cost many hundreds of $$$ And funny thing that happens, every car I rebuild, I always have several containers of bits and pieces left over!

Richard E.

Thanks Ken, I have wondered if I could use loctite, or if I would never get the nut off again?? Everything on this car has loosened up since I put it together and I do torque & tighten nuts & bolts. Geoff, yes the big mystery, what to do with the extra parts?? I have stuff left over that nobody can even identify!!! I will try to post a picture here of my latest mystery part!

Browniepetersen

I have never enjoyed tearing apart old rusty bolts and hardware support so for my cars I use grade 5 or 8 for all the items I can. Naturally, those that have high visibility I go with chrome plated. Funny thing about how expensive chrome bolts have become. My logic is if I have to restore one of my cars when I am 80 the nuts will almost fall right off? By the way, the highest percent of grade 5 and 8 come from a company called STS Fasteners in the mid west. I expect that makes them American?

rambos_ride

The bottom drawer of my red 25 year old Snap-On rollaround has been dedicated since day 1 for misc nuts, bolts, fastners.

Before I got another toolbox I was tempted many times to make it a tool drawer but the "junk drawer" has saved me tons of trips to the hardware store - or allowed me to keep working when things were closed!

Hail All Pack-Ratz

RL Chilton

Ken U-Tx wrote:

Stainless screws and bolts are ok for fastening trim and sheetmetal components, but should never be used to replace suspension, steering, brake, engine, driveline bolts, etc as the stainless bolts will shear off at much lower torque than the proper grade 5 or 8 bolts used. Also, lock washers generally should be replaced as the processof loosening and retightening them weakens them. If you have a problem with the smaller bolts and screws loosening from vibration, it is possible to use Loctite red or blue threadlocker to help keep them from loosening. Just a drop on the threads is usually sufficient.

That's primo, right on the money advice right there.

RL Chilton

rambos_ride wrote:

The bottom drawer of my red 25 year old Snap-On rollaround has been dedicated since day 1 for misc nuts, bolts, fastners.



Before I got another toolbox I was tempted many times to make it a tool drawer but the "junk drawer" has saved me tons of trips to the hardware store - or allowed me to keep working when things were closed!



Hail All Pack-Ratz

I have something similar, i.e., box, tubs, metal drawers with the assortment of nuts, bolts, washers, etc. I absolutely loathe having to go to the hdwr. store for 3 bolts that I don't have. The other thing I loathe is hunting for that last bolt you need in a sea of every bolt in the world 'cept the one you're looking for. One thing I do is save everything I don't use, the other is to always buy extra when I DO go to the hdwr. store.



Getting to my real point: Got a story for 'ya: I recently did some work on a fella's house, a professional in the medical field. After a few days of helping him out, he told me that his father had passed away a few years ago and that he was a machinist. Polish and trained by the Nazis during WWII. He got to be so good at being a machinist, the Germans used his talents extensively until after the war when he got out of there as fast as possible.



Anyway, this medical pro asks me if I'm interested in his Dad's equipment. I've got visions of milling machines, etc. running through my head. Long story short, he ended up GIVING me everything that was his Dad's, including a lot of very nice machinist tools and tooling. Wouldn't take a dime from me, no matter how much I offered him. Ironically, apparently his Dad was a pack rat to boot. Along with the tools, there was about 1300 to 1500 lbs. of bolts, washers, nuts, nails, rivets, you name it. And all separated in glass jars, to boot. Now I need one of those big roll-around cabinets with a hundred drawers in it so I'll have a place to put all of the hardware and keep it organized. :eek:

Browniepetersen

Picked up my "roll-around" at a garage sale from the home of a NAPA shop owner that had passed away. It has 118 drawers with three seperations in each drawer. It was about half full of nuts and bolts. Now every time I go to the nut and bolt store I buy twenty five of what I need. I paid $25 for the cabinet, took it home, removed the plastic drawers, hit it with a coat of shop paint and it looks great right next to the band saw. Best non car purchase I have ever made.:p:p

Aaron D. IL

I too have encountered the "extra parts" when a my projects are done. Also when going to the hardware store they don't carry the variety of automotive grade fine thread bolts like Hudson used. However you do save some money buying larger quantity instead of 2 bolts here and 8 there. Since were talkin American cars here doesn't hurt to buy a little bulk of 3/8's 1/2's, '7/16th's and 9/16th's with washers and lockwashers since that's the bulk of what the cars used. ..... remember the good ol days when things were a bit more standardized?? I should really get one of them tumblers. I've used an abrasive wheel and also zinc rust remover.

[Deleted User]

I have my tumbler running around the clock cleaning bolts and small parts like brackets. After taking apart a 54 Hornet to use the parts on my 54 I needed to clean everything. Got myself a large tumbler from a hunting store and lots of media and I have be running ever since. Parts come out looking new.



Everything is cleaned and then rebagged and labelled so I don't forget where it goes. Really does a great job and I really like a process where I flip a button and walk away. Its my kind of cleaning.

Unknown

51hornetA wrote:

Really does a great job and I really like a process where I flip a button and walk away. Its my kind of cleaning.

Shhhh! Our wives may read that comment and interpret it as meaning we would like to use the dishwasher and washing machine.

Clutchguy

bobdriveshudson wrote:

I use banks and credit unions, but I prefer CU's. They arent close enough, I think they watch my money better and I feel like I have a part ownership. Thanks, Bob

Credit Unions are "members owned"and try to do things in the best interest of its members!!:)

PAULARGETYPE

some one said about new head bolts i have new 3 x 7/16 head bolts for sale $20 for 21 bolts i also have thick 7/16 washers for $5 for 21 i also have 3x 1/2 for the same prices

barrysweet52

When Geof C visited he saw a large bucket of nuts & bolts I had, and joked that there must be several hundred dollars of nuts and bolts in the bucket. He was right. A lot of the bolts etc you save are odd imperial sizes with different size heads to take imperial or AF spanners. Its very convenient to go through the bucket to find what you want, instead of driving to the local hardware store to buy a Chinese bolt etc. Regards, Barry.

Geoff

Yesterday i had occasion to visit the engineering shop to purchase three 7/16" x 1-1/4" bolts, to connect the new exhaust flange I have welded to a '26 Hudson exhaust manifold, to the exhaust pipe. $2 each!!! I have about three boxes of bolts of various sizes, but of course no 7/16" x 1-1/4". So I figure there are thousands of $$$ worth lying around under our various work benches.