What did YOU do today?

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ok the box is ready to go into the truck so I can locate the brackets I have, mark and drill holes. While inventorying what I have as far as rivet nuts, I have the 3/8"-16 rivet nuts I need but no matching mandrel with the rivet nut setter kit. Thankfully, amazon has one that they say will fit the tool and will be here tomorrow.

I still need to dig through the left over hardware from the trailer to see what I have in 3/8", but since I discovered I didn't have the mandrel, I needed to make sure I could get one before I decided what to do from that point. The other bolts and tee nuts I need are 1/4" and 5/16". The local hardware store will have those as well as the 3/8" bolts, if I end up needing them. I'll need to look at washers too. One set of brackets have 1/2" holes. So, I may need to get some larger washers to make sure the smaller bolts won't pull through.

Should have said something, my rivet nut tool does up to 3/8”-16 and I have an assortment of stainless to match

 

[sgtsandman]

Should have said something, my rivet nut tool does up to 3/8”-16 and I have an assortment of stainless to match

I just found out today and time is getting short. The trip is a little over two weeks away, which sounds like a lot until you factor in meetings, drill, and so on taking away some of that time. That being said, if the mandrel ends up not fitting, I may be giving you a call. As far as the bolts, I'm interested. I'm guessing 1" will work but I'm not sure 3/8" bolts come that short as a standard length. I also need to look underneath before I drill so I don't drill into anything other than the bed. That could be bad.

 

[Curious Hound]

I don't drill into anything other than the bed. That could be bad.

That's important. Also, a trick I've adopted to make sure the drill doesn't punch through too far... I get a piece of pipe or tubing that fits loosely over the drill bit. Cut to length so that when slit iver the drill bit, mounted in the drill, only about 1/4" of bit extends past the tube. That acts as a stop when the drill breaks through the material ensuring you don't accidentally push it into something else. 1/2" EMT or copper tubing would work well for a 3/8" drill bit.

 

[sgtsandman]

That's important. Also, a trick I've adopted to make sure the drill doesn't punch through too far... I get a piece of pipe or tubing that fits loosely over the drill bit. Cut to length so that when slit iver the drill bit, mounted in the drill, only about 1/4" of bit extends past the tube. That acts as a stop when the drill breaks through the material ensuring you don't accidentally push it into something else. 1/2" EMT or copper tubing would work well for a 3/8" drill bit.

I have some scrap pieces from past plumbing work that will work nicely for that. Thanks for the tip!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I just found out today and time is getting short. The trip is a little over two weeks away, which sounds like a lot until you factor in meetings, drill, and so on taking away some of that time. That being said, if the mandrel ends up not fitting, I may be giving you a call. As far as the bolts, I'm interested. I'm guessing 1" will work but I'm not sure 3/8" bolts come that short as a standard length. I also need to look underneath before I drill so I don't drill into anything other than the bed. That could be bad.

Pretty sure I have 1” in 3/8”, might have some 1.25 or 1.5” long. I know I have some stubby button caps in 3/8” because I bought a pack just to use two on my farm tractor. I have the stainless rivet nuts too. Might put an order in for some more bolts soon too…