Mystery square nuts

In the box where I keep the change wheels for my mini-lathe, I recently found a handful of square nuts. I think they're imperial sized, 3/8" square x 1/8" thick with a thread size that I have no way of measuring.

I'm fairly sure they are related to the lathe in some way but the big question is - what are they for?

I think I can feel a 'Doh!" moment coming soon....

Brian

Hi Brian, could possibly be 1/4" Whitworth nuts for gutter bolts, or more commonly called roofing bolts nowadays **LINK**

Regards Nick.

Same thought came to me when I read Brian's description of the nuts

H

Nick - potentially, yes. But I'm sure they're related to the lathe in some way, as a) there are no other non-lathe related parts with the other bits & bobs & b) I've never had the need to buy or possess gutter bolts.

Brian

Hi Brian, it's just the thickness of 1/8" that made me think of gutter bot nuts.

Regards Nick.

Quick check is to try and fit an M6 bolt into them. If it looks like it will go but locks up solid, odds are it is 1/4 BSW.

I speak with the voice of bitter experience here, on taking over another company one of our storemen put all their 1/4 Whit hex nuts into the same bins as our M6. Luckily most of our stock (around a million nuts) was in sacks, but it was cheaper to scrap our loose stock than sort them.

Another Brian

Brian

Could they be for securing the gear axles/studs to the banjo and fit in a slot at the back of the banjo, square so they don't rotate when the axles/studs are tightened.

Just a thought

Cheers

Is hardware for a mini-lathe likely to be imperial-sized?

If only 1/8" thick, they may well be nuts used in glass house construction where the nuts and bolts were rather smaller than the usual guttering/roofing articles.

Thanks for the suggestion. I can't check it at the moment as I'm at work but definitely something to investigate later.

Brian

In my naivety, I assumed it was but now you mention it....

Must check out other fastenings this evening.

Brian

Similar nuts are supplied with some small vertical slides instead of t-nuts, they have an M6 thread IIRC.