Bolt torque calculator

[slomove]

Maybe old news.... But I finally found a tool that calculates torque for unequal material combinations, e.g. stainless bolt in aluminum thread or Grade 8 in 4340 alloy steel. American or metric thread, dry or lubed:
http://www.futek.com/boltcalc.aspx?mode=metric

[Doug Liedblad]

Gert

If only you'd asked me! I've been using that site since 1973.

[slomove]

So, that was in the good old days of ARPANET?
You could have saved me stripping a bunch of bolts since 1973.

Anyway, the reason to search for that was my new uprights. The tap depth for the steering arms was only 8mm and it just did not look right in aluminum. Randall also told me he stripped and helicoiled them before assembly. But the casting allows for a 30mm blind hole depth and I will just tap it deeper.

[Doug Liedblad]

Do you have a bottom tap?

[slomove]

McMaster is your friend. Spiral flute bottom tap $13

[Doug Liedblad]

That should do the job.

[slomove]

Wow, what a difference a quality tap makes over my old dull Harborfreight cork screws. Piece of cake to run down that tap to the bottom with a battery drill (upside down to shed the chips). And with over an inch thread engagement I am pretty sure it won't strip, even in aluminum.