Thread: Suggestions for captive/caged nuts

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

Paul,
if it was me I'd cut four pieces of 50 or 40mm x 3 mm flat bar, bore a hole in the centre appropriate to the nuts you want to use, weld the nuts on then bore four screw holes in the flat to connect to the underside of the dolly. The centre hole should be bored slightly oversize, a short bolt that suits the nut holds it in place while you weld it. A wrap of paper round the bolt where it goes through the hole will ensure the nut is central.
Cheers,
Geoff.

Thanks Geoff,

That's a very neat way to do it. I have no way to weld it but one of my friends has a MIG.

Originally Posted by BladeRunner

Good suggestion, Bohdan. It's a bit more work but certainly avoids the need for any special hardware. My smallest chisel would still push me to a bigger size nut but that doesn't matter.

You only need to hold two opposite flats, like a spanner, so a slot would do.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

Paul,
if it was me I'd cut four pieces of 50 or 40mm x 3 mm flat bar, bore a hole in the centre appropriate to the nuts you want to use, weld the nuts on then bore four screw holes in the flat to connect to the underside of the dolly. The centre hole should be bored slightly oversize, a short bolt that suits the nut holds it in place while you weld it. A wrap of paper round the bolt where it goes through the hole will ensure the nut is central.
Cheers,
Geoff.

This is more or less the way I was going to suggest when I started reading the thread. If you cant weld the nuts, brazing was how I was going to suggest joining the nut to the plate. Soft soldering or even gluing with a good epoxy might even do at a pinch but they would probably let go over a while of use.
Instead of flat plate, large oversize washers. I found some 10mm "mudguard" washers of 50mm dia at the green shed when I wanted to make a knock down wooden trolley.

SWK

Originally Posted by Glennet

You only need to hold two opposite flats, like a spanner, so a slot would do.

Of course, an open-end spanner is just two flats.

Originally Posted by swk

If you cant weld the nuts, brazing was how I was going to suggest joining the nut to the plate.SWK

I'm going to have to address my current lack of welding/brazing equipment.

However, as suggested earlier, Bunnings actually sell 3/8" T-nuts (even though google doesn't make this immediately obvious). They're clearly big enough so I'll proceed with that solution for the time being.

Thanks to everyone for your helpful advice. I've acquired a lot of useful information.