Solid Brass Cross Dowel (Barrel) Nuts

[Malc2098]

Can anyone point me to a UK supplier of solid brass cross dowel, or barrel, nuts.

I can find zinc plated, stainless, even, but not solid brass.

I'm looking for 10mm diameter, 19 or 20 mm long with M6 thread.

I intend to use them in my forthcoming instruments.

Alternatively, if I were to acquire some 10mm diameter brass rod, would it be out of my skillset to drill and tap a thread?

 

[Dr.Al]

Can anyone point me to a UK supplier of solid brass cross dowel, or barrel, nuts.

I can find zinc plated, stainless, even, but not solid brass.

I'm looking for 10mm diameter, 19 or 20 mm long with M6 thread.

I intend to use them in my forthcoming instruments.

Alternatively, if I were to acquire some 10mm diameter brass rod, would it be out of my skillset to drill and tap a thread?

Cross-drilling is quite easy if you have a pillar drill and something to hold the brass rod. Stick a 150 mm ruler on top where you want to drill and bring the drill bit down to pinch the ruler in place. If the ruler is level, you're in the middle of the brass rod and your cross-drill will be in the right place. If the ruler's leaning over, you're not in the middle and you need to adjust.

Brass taps quite easily, just (like any hand tapping operation) turn it anticlockwise frequently (e.g 180° clockwise, 90° anticlockwise, rinse and repeat) to break the release the chips you've cut thus far. For M6, drill the hole 5 mm or if you want a slightly easier life with no appreciable loss of strength (and you have the right size drill bit) 5.1 mm.

 

[Malc2098]

Thanks, Al.

I'll give that a go.