General Purpose Tools

Elevator Bolts

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These bolt heads need only a 1/8" countersink

I was building a base for two new tools (chop saw and sander) and wanted to bolt the tools to their base rather than screw them. I wanted the bolts to stick up from below, but with only a 1″ plank, any hex-head or carriage bolt, plus the necessary washers, would have to be counter-sunk so far that it would weaken the base significantly. I looked at cabinet connectors, but their heads were not flat. I found elevator bolts at OSH, and they are perfect: they have large, flat heads (removing the need for a washer), a small hex head to hold the bolt from turning, and standard threaded shaft (in all the standard sizes). I used a forstner bit to add a 1/8″ countersink (so the underside of base would be completely smooth), but cranking down the bolt tightens it’s head snugly.

-- Richard Haven 10/21/16

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