Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Knockdown Fastener?
Tom Norton
I have a small project that someone brought me to do a repair. It is a tresle type table base that is assembled and reassembled on on a regular basis as it is moved for party/functions.
It has a cheap bolt & barrel knockdown Fastener. I am thinking to replace it with a larger diameter bolt with a square but like I have used for bed bolt assembly.
But I want to keep the nut "captured" so it doesn't fall out.
So suggestions would be great!
Thanks!
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
Keith Newton
If the nut is captured, how are you going to tighten it?
Without seeing this, I would suggest making the bolt long enough to go all the way through the legs, then use a nob or wing-nut on the other end.
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
Tom Norton
When using a square nut that is captured in a squared off hole it cannot turn.
Maybe a plate over the "hole" to keep it from falling out. And maybe a bit of epoxy.
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
William Duffield
Sometimes, knowing what doesn't work is also useful. I've tried holding a square nut for a bed bolt in place with hot melt glue. This works very, very poorly.
If you are going to use epoxy, you need to consider what happens if the epoxy gets into the threads of the nut. If it does, it will spoil your day.
You should also find it useful to build a barrier to keep the epoxy from running out of the hole until it has kicked. Packing tape works well for epoxy barriers. An additive such as colloidal silica also helps a lot to keep the epoxy from running before it has kicked.
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
Tom Norton
William, thanks for the tape idea! Yes the migration of epoxy was a concern. But I think I am going to make a "plate/cover" out of 1/8" ply and tack it in place.
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
Philip F Duffy
A few drops of CA glue -- Medium-- might be just the thing. P.
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
Bruce, a MN Galoot
I have made a couple dining tables in the way you specified, but I don’t know if you can make it work. I made the stretcher in two pieces, with a cavity routed out for the bolt, and a closely fitted space for a square nut. Laminate the two pieces of the stretcher together, no one will ever see the nut, and the nut will never turn or fall out.
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
Keith Newton
Just to make sure I understand you. you are planning to have the nut captive in the hole, but then expect to hit it and get thread bite from how far away.
To be clear on what I'm suggesting, is to use all-thread, which can be bonded along with the nut on the buried end, but then use a nut of knob on the outer end, where simply spinning it on to tighten up would be a snap.
Re: Knockdown Fastener?
Tom Norton
Bruce I thought about that but $ doesn't allow. So I think by setting the square in the correct location I will be able to secure it with an applied plate and maybe a bit of a spacers/shim to keep it centered.