Stainless Bolts

[oldjapanesebikes]

So does anyone know why it is M10 X (whatever length) in a 1.25 pitch and in stainless are so hard to locate in North America ? They seem easy to find in Europe, but not here I've checked with: Home Despot, RONA, Lowes, Canadian Tire, Spaenaur, Ace Hardware, Princess Auto, Harbor Freight, McMaster-Carr, Bolt Supply House, Triad Fasteners and Blackfoot Industrial - none of them carry this size in stainless (at least that I've been able to find), although several do carry plated. And there is a place in Toronto that say they might be able to get them for me, but I'd have to buy a box of 100 !

Before I place an order with one of the many folks offering these in the UK and mainland Europe, does anyone have a place that they have ordered these from on this side of the pond ? Thanks !

[Coyote]

Ian, what length are you looking for? There is a place here in town that handles every bolt known to man. Actually there are 2 of them. I'd be glad to check. The first one that comes to mind is The Rule Cpmpany and then there is Fastenall. Worth a shot and I have nothing better to do with my retired a**.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

I was also told it was a difficult to locate item from anywhere in the US at the Ace hardware I get my S/S bolts from in Florida. It seems its not a commonly used size for some reason. Theres plenty of the 1.50 in the 10M but the 1.25 is an eyebrow raiser

[oldjapanesebikes]

There is a place here in town that handles every bolt known to man. Actually there are 2 of them. I'd be glad to check. The first one that comes to mind is The Rule Cpmpany and then there is Fastenall. Worth a shot and I have nothing better to do with my retired a**.

Thanks ! PM sent - looking at the Fastenal site, it looks like they may have what I need !

[oldjapanesebikes]

Theres plenty of the 1.50 in the 10M but the 1.25 is an eyebrow raiser

Does seem weird eh ?

[oldjapanesebikes]

Something else I find odd - Canada has been metric now for over 30 years, but try to buy a decent set of metric drill bits at any of the usual big name hardware stores up here While you can buy individual bits at some places (not all), I have yet to see sets offered - the last good set I picked up, I actually bought while living in The Netherlands ! Weird.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Ian, if you contact the Makita service centres in Calgary you can get drill bit sets in metric from them.
http://www.makita.ca/index2.php?event=w ... uy_results" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[oldjapanesebikes]

Well - thanks Allan, but after making a few calls locally and striking out, I called Makita's head office in Canada (in Ontario) and according to fellow I talked to they don't offer any metric sets in their Canadian catalogue. Makita does sell metric sets in overseas markets - just not here. I've still got the set I bought in The Netherlands, and bits are available from speciality/commercial tools supply jobbers so it isn't an issue. I just find it to be one of those things you bump into every once and a while that make you go 'huh ?'

I'm moving on to other things now - my bolts are on their way from the UK, the snow is finally gone from the shady patch on our front yard, and yesterday was the first full day this year that I've been able to be outside all day without a jacket ! Life is good !!

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Yes one of those un-metric things in a metric country, you've got to love the way things are run by politicians.
So its good news on the weather then; FINALLY its warming up for some gardening, working on bikes, having BBQs and mowing the frozen grass.

[BRP Tourer]

Our local True Value has a pretty good selection of stainless metrics in both hex and socket (allen) heads. Sometimes if they don't have the exact right length I have to buy one size longer and trim them. I hate those nasty Japanese phillips bolts and always change them out for socket head stainless when I have them out.

[H2RICK]

Ian, the problem with finding metric bit sets in Canada is due to the fact that most/all of our hardware distribution/supply is handled by US suppliers.
Add in the fact that our machining industry/machine tool supply AND our residential/commercial construction industry have STILL not changed over to metric and there's your answer.
Instead of promoting the changeover to hard metric in both of these industries, the government bureaucrats are busy coming up with ridiculously stupid ideas like banning the manufacture/importation of incandescent light bulbs.
Fortunately this particular dumbazz idea has been put on hold pending further review because CFL bulbs have been found to contain mercury. I'm sure the bureaucrats are frantically trying to
come up with a foolproof deposit and recycling scheme to get around this objection. The populace, however, will just toss the mercury-laden CFL's in the regular trash and the mercury will end up in the water table. Lovely !!!

End of rant....for now.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Rick even those regular tubes we have been using for YEARS have had mercury in them. I often wondered what that little speck running around inside the tube was, and later found out it was a mercury granule.
Every fluorescent light needs it as a part of the process to make the bulb illuminate, so why does it take some new twist on an old idea to bring out the safety police.
If they are so worried about it, why didn't they tell us about the tubes years ago. It's also interesting to note none of the old incandescent bulb manufacturers are making the new CFLs, this could mean a lot if you read into it between the lines.

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/p ... ercury.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;