Finding a uncommon nut size

Could you not replace bolts and nuts together?

Probaby a UNF size. In Guildford is an excellent shop that sell all sorts of scews & nut in all sorts of threads. But they are probably nowhere near you.

If you can't replace the bolts, you need to measure the diameter with a micrometer and thread pitch with a thread gauge to identify the size positively.

Once identified, Ebay.

Messingers still there?

Also Mackays in Cambridge...

And a few others

I assume you mean M5 and M6, so we are looiking for around 5,5mm

suggests that 7/16" Whitworth is a good place to start and te other possibilitity is UNC. I doubt that UNF would be used on a bog seat!

gives #12 UNC as the size.

You could probably ID which it is (UNF/UN/Whitworth) by counting threads per inch and looking at the thread profile. Whitworth is rounded and UNF/C is flat topped.

Hmm. It looks like actualy BSF/UNC/M is more likely than whitworth

Suggest you look here.

Not sure Unified was very common except in cars and so on. Things like that if UK made were usually either BSF or BSW before metric.

Or the more course UNC. Mike

The Natural Philosopher laid this down on his screen :

They could also be a BA size, which was common for brass.

Whit worth, BSP?? Brian

It won't be 7/16" Whit that's for sure - best part of 12 mm. 5/16" is far more likely

Andrew

I'm sure \i've seen unc unf whit and ba around on adverts quite recently. I think perhaps if it has to be the same, then the first job is to find somebody with a set of thread gauges to see what you are looking at. Brian

There is probably one in the large tin of odd nuts I have in the shed. I thought every DIYer had such a tin?

I bought my vice from them and possibly my drill stand.

Talking of long established companies, anyone been to Dockerills in Brighton? I bought my first tools there, over 50 years ago. I was recently visiting (my son had a music conference just down the road) and I took the opportunity to buy some new Mole grips and a new pair of Maun side cutters.

It's a family form, and they how now reached the fifth generation!

Or: "It's a family firm, and they have now reached the fifth generation"!

It's the lack of sleep (see other thread)

They disappeared a dozen years ago.

One might also ask what became of that fine tool shop in Tottenham Court Road - Buck and Ryan.

No, they vanished about 10 years ago, the shop traded under another name - used to be a big firm in Tottenham Court Road (name I've forgotten), but they ceased trading about 4 years ago.

Cathing up, Messingers sold out to Buck & Ryan but closed when tehn lease ran out. The premises were taken over by Cath Kidson, B&R lost their Tottenham Court shop due to rebuilding and moved to Southampton Row. They also had a tiny franche in Selfridges. They vanished about 4 years ago,

Last time I went there everything in TCR had turned into red light district, no electronics left. Shame.

NT

On Monday (2 days agho) there were a few computer shops and plenty of coffee shops - Red lights not obvious - but it was during the afternoon.