Acorn-head bolts
- Benjamin Maggi
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:38 pm
- Location: Albany, NY
Acorn-head bolts
The plans for my steamer call for making studs from steel rod, threaded on both ends, to secure the steam chest and steam chest cover to the cylinders. I don't like that approach for several reasons. I hate cutting threads, and doing it forty times (20 rods, double ended) is an awful lot of work. So, I plan on using bolts threaded down from the top. Perhaps I will use socket-head cap screws.
But, I thought I would ask if anyone is aware of acorn-head bolts that I could use. I have seen acorn nuts which would look nice on top of the steam chest cover but if I am using bolts they won't work. Has anyone done this before, or seen this?
Thanks.
But, I thought I would ask if anyone is aware of acorn-head bolts that I could use. I have seen acorn nuts which would look nice on top of the steam chest cover but if I am using bolts they won't work. Has anyone done this before, or seen this?
Thanks.
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
Re: Acorn-head bolts
I have used button head socket cap screws for this very reason. they have a low profile and allows the bronze cover to sit down nice over the chest lid
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
-
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:35 pm
- Location: Rochester NY
Re: Acorn-head bolts
I cut ss rod to length and threaded the rod into the cylinder and used model hex nuts and left the cover off, looks more prototypical
- Benjamin Maggi
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:38 pm
- Location: Albany, NY
Re: Acorn-head bolts
Could you post a picture of what your cylinders look like? I am having a tough time picturing it.cbrew wrote:I have used button head socket cap screws for this very reason. they have a low profile and allows the bronze cover to sit down nice over the chest lid
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
-
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:27 pm
- Location: Henderson, NV
Re: Acorn-head bolts
Check McMaster-Carr, and look at the allen socket set screws, you might be able to find the length that you need, and use them as studs.
E. Bartlett HTC(SW) USN Ret.
Member Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA)
Nevada Southern Railway (Nevada State Railroad Museum)
Bridgeport Round Ram Mill
11" South Bend/10" Champion Blower & Forge Lathe (Franken Lathe)
12" Sebastian Lathe
everett.bartlett@yahoo.com
Member Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA)
Nevada Southern Railway (Nevada State Railroad Museum)
Bridgeport Round Ram Mill
11" South Bend/10" Champion Blower & Forge Lathe (Franken Lathe)
12" Sebastian Lathe
everett.bartlett@yahoo.com
Re: Acorn-head bolts
here are the studs that mcmaster sells
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-threaded-rods/=z92agp
caps screws here
http://www.mcmaster.com/#socket-head-cap-screws/=z92cay
since i was going to be hiding the screws anyways, I just used the standard grade 8 cap screw.
the flat tops of the screws make a nice plane for the bronze cover to sit on for a sq fit
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-threaded-rods/=z92agp
caps screws here
http://www.mcmaster.com/#socket-head-cap-screws/=z92cay
since i was going to be hiding the screws anyways, I just used the standard grade 8 cap screw.
the flat tops of the screws make a nice plane for the bronze cover to sit on for a sq fit
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
Re: Acorn-head bolts
What about using threaded rod with the nuts of your choice?
- Benjamin Maggi
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:38 pm
- Location: Albany, NY
Re: Acorn-head bolts
Thank you all. I didn't know you could purchase the threaded studs and assumed you had to make them yourself. That may change my plans.
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
Re: Acorn-head bolts
Silver solder the nuts on.kvom wrote:What about using threaded rod with the nuts of your choice?
Might be too much heat for Loctite.
Steve
Re: Acorn-head bolts
I will also add this, these are very close to scale 8/32 nutsBenjamin Maggi wrote:Thank you all. I didn't know you could purchase the threaded studs and assumed you had to make them yourself. That may change my plans.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#90760a009/=z9l4iw
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
-
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 2:13 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel CA
Re: Acorn-head bolts
You want to be very careful in using a socket head set screw for a stud, as the end with the hex hole has very little tensile strength. A few years ago this was covered in this forum; someone had a boiler check valve blow off under pressure because the nut only holding on the hollowed-out portion of the set screw.
I too just used threaded rod cut to length. Just put on double nuts to run it in to sufficient depth to install the stud.
I too just used threaded rod cut to length. Just put on double nuts to run it in to sufficient depth to install the stud.
-
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:13 pm
- Location: St. Augustine, FL
Re: Acorn-head bolts
You can also get acorn nuts at McMaster Carr all the way down to 0-80
Ralph M. Reese
St. Augustine, FL
Under Construction
LE Pacific
Allen 10 Wheeler
St. Augustine, FL
Under Construction
LE Pacific
Allen 10 Wheeler