Which bolts/washers for padded rack bag?

[jimcroisdale]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a 3u padded rack bag from eBay. I got it cheap and it's in great condition.

The only problem is that it didn't come with any bolts for holding the equipment in. No probs, I thought, I'll just borrow some from my rack cabinets. Unfortunately, they are a different size - the bolts will need to be much smaller, 3-4mm?

Does anyone know what bolts I need? Also, thinner bolts will let the rack items move about, as the holes in the fascia are too large. Is there some type of sleeve or spacer that I can use?

Cheers,

Jim

[LX3]

Hey Jim - generally, if you need smaller bolts than our usual european standard, it'll be the type that SKB's cases use.

If you need some I can post you a bunch. PM me.

I've found that once you've put four of those smaller bolts in place, the unit is held pretty securely.

[jimcroisdale]

That's brilliant - I've sent a PM.

[Remoteness]

Jim, here in the States we use 10/32 bolts for our equipment racks.
I was wondering exactly what size bolts you were referring to.

Anyone; is there a definitive size bolt for all European rack rails?
Remoteness would like to know.
Thanks!

[LX3]

Hey Steve, we use M6 in Europe, generally with a cage nut and square-punched rack rails. I don't think you ever see pre-drilled rails here (unless they're in an SKB etc... in which case they're 10/32).

[Remoteness]

Thanks Paul!

SKB in the States also uses caged nuts with circular punched holes for all their racks.

[LX3]

On all their racks? I know the "classic" SKB has those, but I thought their Roto racks had some sort of ready-tapped rails?

I actually quite like the way the SKB cage nuts clip on to their aluminium rails. They're very different from M6 cage nuts, but much easier to move around.

One other huge tip for SKB users... get some Middle Atlantic bolts.

[Remoteness]

I have a few of the original SKB Roto cases and they all have punched holes with caged nuts.

Perhaps the newer SKB Roto racks have the pre-drilled rails type.

[t_chance]

I have run across racks for data systems that used 12/24 threads. I just tapped them out to 10/32. As LX3 said, if they are metric, they are a M6 (6MMx1).