fasteners!

[oaktree11]

Hi there,

I am just about to start building a Marlin Sportster and am just sorting my garage out. I need to stock up on fasteners, nuts and bolts!
Any advice about how many of what to buy, and where from would be really welcome. I knoiw it sounds a bit basic but when you are starting with no real initial stock its a bit daunting.
Thanks

[GreatOldOne]

http://www.namrick.co.uk/

Their metric mix pack is a good place to start.

http://www.namrick.co.uk/acatalog/Ho...Packs__48.html

You'll also be needing some pop rivets at some point, for things like the floor.

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/category/.../Rivets,b.html
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/S...ets_300_RIVKIT

A rivnut tool and some rivnuts is another good thing to have on hand.

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/category/...RivNuts,b.html
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/R...avy_Duty_RIVHD
http://www.extreme4x4.co.uk/acatalog...arivnuttoolnew

[oaktree11]

Thank you for the comprehensive reply GOO, it is agreat help. Another couple of questions occur to me. During your build, what fastener types did you use most, I am assuming that most would be stainless for general fixing but button, hex, cap etc...? Would it be better to buy longer and shorten them as needed or keep various sizes
I know its all really basic but I am about to invest and it would be good to get it somewhere near right!
Thanks

[GreatOldOne]

For most of the visible fixings, especially in the cockpit, I used button cap head stainless of several different sizes (M4 - M8) - mainly as they polish up nice and look good.

The bodywork at the back is held on using stainless M8 bolts IIRC, and for general construction, I used normal 8.8 grade bolts of differing sizes.

I would have used stainless everywhere, but the cost would have been prohibitive. I may swap any rusty bolts out later on for SS.

I'd get a mixture of lengths - whilst it's easy to cut an over long bolt down, it's a waste if you get nothing but long bolts as you'd be chucking a lot away.

[woodsmith]

I bought my rivnut tool, the one like a riveter, back in 1987 and it has been fantasticly good value. Only thing is I broke the M5 setter and need to fine a matching one to replace it.

I tend to stock up fasteners in boxes of 100 of each size, M6, M8, M10, M12 in a number of lengths between 20-60mm.
I then buy boxes of any less used ones as required, so if I need ten SS countersunk M6 I will buy a box of 50.
I tend to look to local places like RS Components and also Toolstation (Toolstation still do 8.8 bolts whereas Screwfix now only do B&Q cheese).
If it is only four M16x1.5 cap screws then I will buy the four from Ebay on their own. Ebay can be an easy source for a few odd fasteners, fine threads and funny shaped heads.

I often visit a scrap metal yard to buy and sell metal off cuts and sometimes I find in the pile of metal bags of nuts and bolts. I last picked up twelve M20x150 bolts with nuts and washers and about fifty M24x100 bolts with nuts and washers. Not sure what I will use them for yet but there will be a job. Occasionally there are also SS fasteners available.