Best carriage bolts for Wico Joysticks?

Phetishboy

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I have several Wicos to install on upcoming projects, and have been noticing that though I have several complete joystick assemblies, I have no mounting bolts for them. Now a few of my metal CP's have mounting studs, but what do you guys use for wood cp's? Is there a source? Can I pick similar bolts up at Home Depot?
 
AFAIK, all the bolts you would pick up at HD or Lowe's will have stamped information on the heads. to make them smooth you have to grind 'em off.

some specialty retailers on teh internets carry smooth head bolts (Bob has a nice selection.) if you have a local fastener-specific retailer nearby (we have the fabulous Tacoma Screw in the Seattle area) they may carry smooth head bolts as well.
 
AFAIK, all the bolts you would pick up at HD or Lowe's will have stamped information on the heads. to make them smooth you have to grind 'em off.

some specialty retailers on teh internets carry smooth head bolts (Bob has a nice selection.) if you have a local fastener-specific retailer nearby (we have the fabulous Tacoma Screw in the Seattle area) they may carry smooth head bolts as well.

The foundry stamps don't bother me. What size works best?
 
Bob lists both 3/16" and 8-32... i'd suspect the 3/16" would be easier to find at a big-box home improvement store.

for a wooden CP with standard WICOs you would want at least 1 1/2" in length, 1 3/4" if you have a plexi overlay. i'd probably just go for 1 3/4" to 2" anyway and not worry about it not being long enough, unless for some reason there's a clearance issue.

don't forget KEP nuts or at the very least lock washers or those nuts will spin loose in no time.
 
Bob lists both 3/16" and 8-32... i'd suspect the 3/16" would be easier to find at a big-box home improvement store.

for a wooden CP with standard WICOs you would want at least 1 1/2" in length, 1 3/4" if you have a plexi overlay. i'd probably just go for 1 3/4" to 2" anyway and not worry about it not being long enough, unless for some reason there's a clearance issue.

don't forget KEP nuts or at the very least lock washers or those nuts will spin loose in no time.

Got it. Thanks man.
 
The foundry stamps don't bother me. What size works best?

The last set I bought were #10 x 32 x 1", IIRC. I think I could have gotten by with 3/4" becuase it was a metal CP.

For wood control panels it is better to use countersunk t-nuts on the top and screw the bolts in from below. Then there is no bolt head showing on the control panel.

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First pic = CP without overlay. Note the t-nuts arounf the joystick hole.
2nd pic = CP with overlay applied. Note no bolt heads around joystick.

ken
 
Jeez, I'd be scared that the bottoms of the bolts would poke up through the overlay. Did you bondo over the T-nuts before applying it?
 
Beat me to that one Yellow. I had that answer comming. Nice looking CP.

Thanks.

For once I actually beat somebody to an answer. :) I'm running out to get a lottery ticket......:vroam:

Jeez, I'd be scared that the bottoms of the bolts would poke up through the overlay. Did you bondo over the T-nuts before applying it?

No, you get bolts the thickness of the wood. The threaded part of the t-nuts go into the hole about 3/8" which works out perfect.

You don't bondo over them. Some people countersink enough to put a cardboard circle over the t-nut. I just countersink enough to put them flush with the top of the wood. I use a spade bit so they have a flat surface to rest on. As long as the CPO isn't paper thin, nobody will know they are there.

ken
 
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