Practically Classics Forum

Would anybody happen to know of anywhere that sells stainless steel chimney nuts? They are similar to spire or J nuts but instead of being just a pressed spring steel fastener they have a proper threaded tube. I have done Google searches and asked local industrial fastener suppliers to no avail. I have found BZP and plain zinc finished but I do not really want to use these. I'm really looking for 8mm chimney nuts in stainless steel.

Can anybody help?

I should add that I have asked this in a few other forums but not had any luck so far

Maybe try a boats part place? They have a lot of weird stainless fasteners and (in my experience) are reasonably priced.

Cheers,

bnicho wrote:Maybe try a boats part place?

That'll be a ships chandlery then. Agreed, they're well worth asking for things that don't exist outside of marine applications.
Fascinating places, I could spend hours browsing in our local one and every coastal town in the UK, as well as some on the canal network, has at least one of the big ones.

Have you tried Woolies They are suposed to be the best for trim items and stuff also Holdens for vintage sundries.

Can you post a photo?

I assume that you've tried the usual suspects such as Screwfix - I used to think that was a dating agency y'know.

I'll get me coat......

Yep, tried Woolies, Screwfix and a lot of chandlers. I did find one manufacturer a few months ago so I know somebody makes the things. They only sold in large quantities though

It's starting look as though I'll have to get standard spring steel and etch prime them then something like chassis paint or another 'tough' coating. They are in an area that gets all the much thrown at them. Nicely holding the wings onto the bulkhead on my 68 Land Rover.

Most areas have specialist fixing companies that can be very helpful.

I don't know where you are based, but in my own area there is RSK in Halifax, BAPP in Bradford, or Keighley Trade. All do a wide range of stainless stuff and can be very helpful in tracking down out of the ordinary stuff.

RSK just managed to find me some stainless pig-nose fixings in above standard sizes (I wanted M8 and M10 and they usually stop at M6) for a "very particular" architect.

South Staffordshire mate I have tried my usual outlet (normally very good and extremely cheap). No good though I will look up other places though, it's next on my list...

Whats wrong with BZP ???

BZP are OK for 2 to 3 years outside, then they start to rust. The zinc coating is only very thin as it is applied by electrolysis rather than by dipping in a big vat of molten zinc.

The thicker coating offered by hot dip galvanizing is only really suitable for larger sizes of fasteners, from about M12 upwards. I do have a box of M10 bolts in the shed, but wouldn't use them for anything that was high stress as the whole thread has to be made a bit smaller to compensate for the galv' coating.

For under Land Rover wings I would be even tempted to search out A4 (316) stainless items instead of the usual A2 (304) material if I were keeping the vehicle long term.