Which size allen key bolt do I need?

[JohnD]

I also own old tools.

But there are only three countries in the world not using metric.

 

[Elsa TLC]

I also own old tools.

But there are only three countries in the world not using metric.

The Candians all be it are metric , still use imperial.

You will be surprised how much crosses the Canadian border with America.


I was just chucking it out there as a possibility..

Bear in mind that imperial is still used in manufacturing.

 

[scbk]

Im only saying that when I worked in Canada I had an imperial Allen key set. I have this same set till this day.

It has on more than one occasion got me out of trouble.

Might asswell continue this thread derail!

The OP was after the fixing, not the tool.
I used to have an imperial hex key set, dunno where it went, it must be kicking around somewhere!


I recently got a good 2nd hand deep cycle battery with bolt down terminals. It was missing it's bolts, and to my horror they were imperial threads on the battery case! (it was an american battery)
Bit of a faff to measure the threads, but thankfully a local fixings supplier still keeps a small selection of imperial bolts in stock so I was able to get some at a good price.

The OP says they don't have shops that sell bolts near them. Thankfully in a backwater like the Highlands, there's plenty of places to get metric fixings of all shapes and sizes

 

[Elsa TLC]

Might asswell continue this thread derail!

The OP was after the fixing, not the tool.
I used to have an imperial hex key set, dunno where it went, it must be kicking around somewhere!


I recently got a good 2nd hand deep cycle battery with bolt down terminals. It was missing it's bolts, and to my horror they were imperial threads on the battery case! (it was an american battery)
Bit of a faff to measure the threads, but thankfully a local fixings supplier still keeps a small selection of imperial bolts in stock so I was able to get some at a good price.

The OP says they don't have shops that sell bolts near them. Thankfully in a backwater like the Highlands, there's plenty of places to get metric fixings of all shapes and sizes

It's fun if you have nothing better to do.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The OP says they don't have shops that sell bolts near them. Thankfully in a backwater like the Highlands, there's plenty of places to get metric fixings of all shapes and sizes

I'll play....

Big cities are not usually the best places to find such things, the smaller villages tend to have old-fashioned shops, stocking a vast range, including lots of old stock. We have one such, though there used to be a second - they stock absolutely everything home, DIY and building related.

 

[scbk]

I'm not meaning little dusty hardware shops, I'm meaning large places supplying the trade and public.
Would've thought most places will have them, but they might not be easy for joe bloggs to find.

Screwfix and toolstation have a lot of basic metric fixings, but the local suppliers beat them on price


You can buy a little thread pitch gauge for next to nothing, handy to have

55/60 Degree Metric Inch Thread Plug Gauge Gear Tooth Screw Pitch Gauges Measuring Carbon Steel Center Measurement Tools - AliExpress 1420

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[Elsa TLC]

We had one shop that sold every bit fiddly get you out of a fix bit.

And a shop that sold every sort of tap valve you would ever want.

These shops had owners that had a vast knowledge of their products.

The problem was when they got to retirement, who would want such
a business that most likely didn't make a decent living wage.
How many would have had the knowledge and the passion for such a business.