Vintage bolt thread
Margaret Trelawny | 24/06/2023 21:01:42 |
100 forum posts 42 photos | Hi I need help identifying a thread size - created in the 1960s in England. Machined into brass - we don’t want to drill/retap the piece. An M3 bolt is slightly too small, an M4 too big. Using an online converter we purchased 6-32 UNC and 4-40 UNC but neither fit. Appreciate it’s not much to go on but any help would be gratefully received.
thank you Margaret |
JasonB | 25/06/2023 06:57:34 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | It could well be a BA thread, if you can say what the item is then that would help. 5BA is just a little larger than M3 at about 3.2mm but was not a preferred commercial size though often used for models 4BA would fall mid way between M3 and M4 as it is approx 3.5mm diameter and was one of the preferred sizes in the BA range |
Kiwi Bloke | 25/06/2023 07:04:16 |
912 forum posts 3 photos | Jason beat me. Agreed, 4BA likely. BA threads were used widely in UK, especially in electrical apparatus, millions of holes tapped in brass to receive them. |
Michael Gilligan | 25/06/2023 07:04:38 |
![]() 23121 forum posts 1360 photos | [ as usual ] Jason probably has the answer, Margaret As a very helpful quick check, you might try screwing something like a wooden barbecue-skewer gently into the tapped hole. … when unscrewed this should reveal an impression of the thread, the pitch of which can then be measured. MichaelG. |
Martin Connelly | 25/06/2023 07:59:38 |
![]() 2549 forum posts 235 photos | I have to object to the idea that something from the 60s is vintage Martin C |
Nick Wheeler | 25/06/2023 08:10:13 |
1227 forum posts 101 photos | Posted by Martin Connelly on 25/06/2023 07:59:38:
I have to object to the idea that something from the 60s is vintage Martin C You're not American. |
Howard Lewis | 25/06/2023 09:15:57 |
7227 forum posts 21 photos | If not a BA size (Pity we have no dimensions for the part that scrrews in ) might it be 5/32 BSW? Same size as used by Meccano 0156" OD, (3.968 mm. if you must ) Howard |
Margaret Trelawny | 25/06/2023 09:26:52 |
100 forum posts 42 photos | Thank you everyone. the part is a puppet Undercontrol mechanism as used in tv shows and films of the era. |
noel shelley | 25/06/2023 09:40:33 |
2308 forum posts 33 photos | Like the others,as not metric or UN I would go for 4BA. At 3.97mm 5/32w is likely to be tooo big, and rather coarse. Good luck. Noel. |
Margaret Trelawny | 25/06/2023 09:43:26 |
100 forum posts 42 photos | Thanks Noel. I’ll order some 4BA and keep you all posted. Appreciate everyone’s help very much.
Margaret |
SillyOldDuffer | 25/06/2023 09:50:59 |
10668 forum posts 2415 photos | Posted by Margaret Trelawny on 25/06/2023 09:26:52:
... the part is a puppet Undercontrol mechanism as used in tv shows and films of the era. I'd bet the farm on it being a BA thread - extremely common for small fasteners, especially telecomms, electromechanical, instruments, electrical etc. Highly likely in a British made mechanism of that era. Although supplanted by metric in new products, BA is still widely available; the internet is your friend! Dave
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noel shelley | 25/06/2023 10:05:43 |
2308 forum posts 33 photos | Margaret, The only thing if ordering in is to specify the head type. Hexagon, cheese head, countersunk, slot or allen key, socket head. These are the common types, then there is the length. Best wishes Noel. |
Margaret Trelawny | 25/06/2023 10:29:49 |
100 forum posts 42 photos | 4BA dome slot heads ordered. Finger’s crossed🤞 thanks everyone 🙏🏻 |
Ian Parkin | 25/06/2023 13:27:48 |
![]() 1174 forum posts 303 photos | Could be worth trying m 3.5 lots of those in a UK home remove a screw from a switch plate or socket just to see if it fits m 3.5 is about 42 tpi |
old mart | 25/06/2023 19:50:20 |
4655 forum posts 304 photos | 60's is vintage, but not as vintage as me. I'm in my 9th decade when you count up the decades starting with 1949. Only the other day, I tapped two holes for 4BA screws as there were plenty of countersunk ones within easy reach. And they are in the new Atlas 12 x 24 cross slide which has now got threads of 1/2UNF, 4, 5 and 6mm plus the 4BA's in it. Edited By old mart on 25/06/2023 19:53:31 |
not done it yet | 26/06/2023 08:40:32 |
7517 forum posts 20 photos | Posted by old mart on 25/06/2023 19:50:20:
60's is vintage, but not as vintage as me. I'm in my 9th decade when you count up the decades starting with 1949. Only the other day, I tapped two holes for 4BA screws as there were plenty of countersunk ones within easy reach. And they are in the new Atlas 12 x 24 cross slide which has now got threads of 1/2UNF, 4, 5 and 6mm plus the 4BA's in it. Edited By old mart on 25/06/2023 19:53:31 The item may not be classed as ‘vintage’ but the thread may well be! How old might a vintage wine be? Classic cars are generally over 25 years and veteran cars are pre-1930? |
Robert Atkinson 2 | 26/06/2023 08:47:11 |
![]() 1891 forum posts 37 photos | M3.5 is interchangable with 4BA. This non-preferred size is used in the UK for commonality with older electrical fittings. Availble from any hardware or electrical supplier. Robert. |
Chris Pearson 1 | 27/06/2023 06:51:36 |
189 forum posts 3 photos | Posted by Robert Atkinson 2 on 26/06/2023 08:47:11:
M3.5 is interchangable with 4BA. This non-preferred size is used in the UK for commonality with older electrical fittings. Availble from any hardware or electrical supplier. Robert. Ouch! The pitch and diameter may be similar, but the angle of the thread is completely different. |
JasonB | 27/06/2023 07:01:18 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | Also far less choice of heads and material in M3.5 Pitch is not that similar, depends a bit on how long the female thread is, might be OK on an thin electrical box tab to mix the two but with M3.5 having a tpi of 42.3 (0.6mm) and BA one of 38.5 things will soon get tight
Edited By JasonB on 27/06/2023 07:14:29 |
Nicholas Farr | 27/06/2023 07:47:38 |
![]() 3988 forum posts 1799 photos | Hi, 4 BA pitch = 0.66mm, M3.5 pitch = 0.6mm, so in ten threads, the 4 BA will be 0.6mm longer. I've just tried a 4 BA into an electrical box, and without forcing it with a screw driver, it won't even poke through the 2mm thick lug, likewise the threads of the M3.5 screw won't show through a standard 4 BA nut, so I don't class them as compatible. Regards Nick. Edited By Nicholas Farr on 27/06/2023 07:49:11 |
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