Back when I had my 68, I frequently utilized a hardware bid (the kind with clear slideout drawers) to check screw and sometimes nut sizes when disassembling and replacing parts. While I still have the parts bin, my C5 doesn't have any inch hardware, at least that I could find.
Many years ago when I started doing more mechanical design, I made an 0-80 to 1/4-20 thread checker at work. It really came in handy many times over but when I needed a metric thread checker I found that what was sold was not very convenient (a thin plate with threaded holes, a bunch of screw/nuts in a lanyard cord, or a wall-mounted plate with non-removable hardware glued into it). Frustrated by the selections, I decided to design my own. While doing this, I realized that having every possible metric size would require a fairly large unit so I selected the most common sizes. Besides, in between sizes can be looked up/surmised rather easily.

Here's what I came up with:


As you can see, I included a stainless steel ruler to check screw length. The pocket beneath it can be used to store nuts or oddball screws, washers, etc.


Beneath the ruler are two super magnets. I use these to both secure the ruler and to determine what alloy the screw or nut is made from. Some stainless hardware, like the ruler is slightly magnetic. 316 alloy is virtually non-magnetic and zinc-plated steel is highly magnetic, especially when in close proximity to these magnets!


To protect the translucent gold aluminum surface, I strategically placed some urethane feet underneath. I can place the checker on a sloped car fender and they will not slip one iota.

All screws are stainless steel, as are the threaded inserts. Needless to say, I fully expect this thing to last longer than my C5 or I do!

 

I like it

 

Nice handy idea!

 

Thanks. It does make for a great gift. Maybe I'll use some as raffle prizes as well (for SME seminars and dinner presentations).

Dave

 

I don't get it,I mean it's a beautifully made piece but what purpose does it serve when I need to check a bolt I have a gauge that came with my tap and die set looks like a bunch of pieces of a saw blade you place the saw teeth onto the threads and when you have the correct size the teeth fit the threads. I'm not breaking your ba11s but when I was working on cars and trucks very seldom was there a need to check bolts and nuts except when you lost one even then it wasn't an issue .I have always admired mechanics that made or modified a tool to make a job go easier I have a bunch of cut dowm wrenches for example but this tapped ,milled,anodized work of art how often will it come out of the tool box,kind of puzzled as to what puropose it has

 

I guess having an assembly manual would eliminate the need to know what size screw, stud or nut I needed to swap but throughout the years I have replaced quite a few bolts that were either in critical locations (thrown away for safety reasons) or were just so rusty that a plated or stainless (even titanium at times) were superior substitutions. You're correct in that it would not be used as often on a car that rarely sees rain but I have noticed some of the hatch screw heads being rusty - probably from washing the car.

The thread gauges you mentioned will tell you what pitch the screw threads are and sometimes you can infer what the actual size of the screw is from that if you use calipers to measure the body diameter, but a screw checker is so much faster if the threaded holes are identified with high-contrast numbers. Also, a thread gauge is useless when it comes to nuts. A well-organized tap set would work for nut checking but the thread designation on the tap body is tiny and often hard to read.

Now, the real beauty of a screw checker is when you need to design a part or assembly. While most home mechanics don't get involved with this type of work, I often do and appreciate having a quick reference of size, especially when the part or assembly needs to mate with an existing design having unknown internal threads. In other words, being a tinkerer of sorts makes having such a tool a very handy thing.

They are not for everybody; that's for certain.

 

Thanks f/the reply and i'm relieved that you understood what i was getting at....

 

 

I like it!
In fact I'd buy one if you could make it for a reasonable price, there is nothing more irritating the looking for a fastener and not knowing the exact size.

 

I made a bunch so PM me: I'll send you one at my cost + shipping.

Dave

 

what is cost ?

 

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