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Bolts

I-Beam Shape Choices: Is it I, S, W, M or H?

May 13, 2022September 7, 2021 by Mechanic
Which I-Beam Shape?

When is an I-Beam not really an “I” Beam?  While it’s common to use the generic term “I-Beam” for any beam with an I shape section, there are actually variations with different letter designations.  And, there are advantages for the various shapes

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Bolts, Force, Gantry Crane, Strength Leave a comment

How Often Should You Tighten Trailer Wheel Bolts?

November 30, 2021August 10, 2021 by Mechanic
Trailer Wheel Bolts

A friend asked me this question, along with the companion “How Tight?”  The last thing we want is to lose a wheel — because it will not only delay our trip, but a wheel coming loose can do serious damage — to us, our stuff, or maybe

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Safety, Tips, Tire, Trailer Leave a comment

How To Measure A Bolt Pattern

August 23, 2021January 18, 2021 by Mechanic
Various Wheel Bolt Patterns

What is the bolt pattern on your trailer wheels?  For the most part it doesn’t matter because you’re not changing wheels that often, yet when it does matter, it really matters.  Here is some good info to measure and calculate

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Calculation, Measurements, Tire Leave a comment

Successful Threads With A Die

June 15, 2021October 30, 2020 by Mechanic
Dies

While the Tap & Die go hand in hand as threading tools, they’re very different in the way they work.  There are also different tricks for success.  So, let’s talk success tips for making external threads with a die.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Cutting, DIY, Tools 2 Comments

Get Thread Tapping Straight

February 7, 2022August 26, 2020 by Mechanic
Thread Tapping Straight

A Tap and Die set is a near must for a DIY fab shop.  While the thread creating functions are pretty easy to visualize, sometimes getting the tread to start straight and run true is a different matter.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, DIY, Drilling, Measurements, Tips, Tools 1 Comment

Drill Matching Bolt Holes

February 9, 2022August 3, 2020 by Mechanic
Drill Matching Bolt Holes

So many times we need to make matching holes to bolt something on.  You purchased something to mount on your trailer or your workbench or some other project, but now you need the exact

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Calculation, Drilling, Measurements, Video Leave a comment

Threaded Rod For Custom Bolts

June 16, 2021July 9, 2020 by Mechanic
All Thread or Threaded Rod

You can use threaded rod (often called All-Thread) for a million things.  Make a long bolt, or just the right size fastener.  It’s also good for special brackets if you weld to it.  And, if you’re not careful, you can make it fail in a million ways too.

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Categories Mechanics Tips, Solutions! Tags Best Practices, Bolts, DIY, Measurements, Solutions! Leave a comment

What Bolts For DIY? – Bolts 101

October 13, 2021November 12, 2019 by Mechanic
What Bolts for DIY?

Bolts are an amazingly simple yet complex fastening method.  They’re used everywhere so mostly we take them for granted, but why are there so many different kinds?  And what bolts should I use?

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Bolts, Safety, Steel, Strength 3 Comments

How To Choose Bolts

August 23, 2021November 12, 2019 by Mechanic
Understanding Bolt Choice

This is Page 2, continuing the Bolts 101 article.  Here we discuss choices for bolts for an application.  The previous post, Page 1 of Bolts 101, gives a ton of background info, so we recommend reading that first,

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Bolts, Safety, Steel, Strength Leave a comment

Excellent Small Car Trailer Caught In The Wild

October 28, 2021October 2, 2019 by Mechanic
Small Trailer with Big Benefits

Caught on the streets, this small trailer provides big benefits.  It’s an excellent example of using a trailer instead of a truck, and this business owner understands efficiency.

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Categories Solutions! Tags Bolts, Customize, Deck-Over, Hitch, Solutions!, Tongue Leave a comment

Aligning Misaligned Holes

June 18, 2021October 29, 2018 by Mechanic
Aligning Misaligned Holes

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, holes you drill for a project don’t quite align with those in the mating parts.  It’s maddening, and sometimes you feel dumb because it’s messed up, but there are ways to fix

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Drilling, Gantry Crane, Hitch, Tools Leave a comment

Do It Yourself, And Use The Right Tools !!

July 19, 2021February 10, 2017 by Mechanic
A Story Of The Right Tools

Fun side story about finding the right tools for a do-it-yourself (with a friend) in automotive repair. This story is not about building great new Do It Yourself projects, but it illustrates the need to have (borrow, or rent) the right tools for the job. 

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Categories Adventures Tags Bolts, DIY, Tools Leave a comment

Save Big Buying DIY Project Nuts and Bolts

June 26, 2021January 28, 2017 by Mechanic
Nuts and Bolts Project Fasteners

Ever wonder why fasteners like nuts and bolts are so expensive?  You would think something so standard and manufactured in such high volumes would be cheap, but in most places, they’re actually pretty expensive.  Why?

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Build, DIY, Tips Leave a comment
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