I'm looking to get some "dust caps" made for the sockets on my car.
These sockets are on the roof posts and are for the bolts to the roof
bars. There are 4 on each side. 2 on the A post and 2 on the B post.
The plastic ones have become very brittle and a majority have become
damaged or lost. I was hoping to get replacements made from metal
(aluminum) but have been told that I'm looking at a very hefty figure
of =A3500. I lack the skill and equipment to do this myself and was
wondering anyone would mind telling me wether this was a reasonable
sum. Each "dust cap" would be about 10-15mm long. The head would have
to be at least 10mm across and 2mm thick. It would also require a torx
or allen key slot to be cut in the top. So am I being reasonable or
could this be about right.

Many Thanks

Oh and here are pictures of the sockets in question

[IMG]ht=
tp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/TrailRat/th_Dscf0052.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]ht=
tp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/TrailRat/th_Dscf0053.jpg[/IMG]

TrailRat

"TrailRat" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking to get some "dust caps" made for the sockets on my car.
These sockets are on the roof posts and are for the bolts to the roof
bars. There are 4 on each side. 2 on the A post and 2 on the B post.
The plastic ones have become very brittle and a majority have become
damaged or lost. I was hoping to get replacements made from metal
(aluminum) but have been told that I'm looking at a very hefty figure
of £500. I lack the skill and equipment to do this myself and was
wondering anyone would mind telling me wether this was a reasonable
sum. Each "dust cap" would be about 10-15mm long. The head would have
to be at least 10mm across and 2mm thick. It would also require a torx
or allen key slot to be cut in the top. So am I being reasonable or
could this be about right.

Many Thanks

snip-
TrailRat

Your links didn't work for me, but from your description, I get the idea
you're getting a bid that would be akin to a damned good screwing without a
kiss.

Unless some of the details are more involved than you proposed, the most
difficult thing to generate would be the socket head. You can get around
that problem by using an Allen wrench (hex wrench) ground off square,
pushing it with an arbor press to generate the head details you require.
Aluminum will make the chore very easy. I'd suggest alloy 6061-T6, or the
equivalent found in the UK. You'd start with a hole the size of the width
of the key, and slightly deeper, so the chip formed has somewhere to go. It
is unlikely to break off, but get rounded and pounded down at the bottom,
where it would remain. I can't imagine paying more than about a pound
each for them, especially if you can get a kind hearted soul to lend a
hand. All you'd need is a small metal lathe and a press of sorts. .

Harold

Harold and Susan Vordos wrote:

Your links didn't work for me,

http://tinyurl.com/bjnlz
http://tinyurl.com/aurg9
http://tinyurl.com/7rndm
http://tinyurl.com/79fk9


Maybe these?

Nick

--
Motormodelle / Engine Models:
http://www.motor-manufaktur.de
Ellwe 2FB * VTM 87 * DLM-S3a * cubic
more to come ...

"Nick Müller" wrote in message
...
Harold and Susan Vordos wrote:

Your links didn't work for me,

http://tinyurl.com/bjnlz
http://tinyurl.com/aurg9
http://tinyurl.com/7rndm
http://tinyurl.com/79fk9


Maybe these?

Nick


Blush!

They seem to work fine, as do the ones listed, at least when you apply them
one at a time!
Thanks, Nick.

Harold

On 16 Jul 2005 22:42:36 -0700, "TrailRat"
wrote:

I'm looking to get some "dust caps" made for the sockets on my car.
These sockets are on the roof posts and are for the bolts to the roof
bars. There are 4 on each side. 2 on the A post and 2 on the B post.
The plastic ones have become very brittle and a majority have become
damaged or lost. I was hoping to get replacements made from metal
(aluminum) but have been told that I'm looking at a very hefty figure
of £500. I lack the skill and equipment to do this myself and was
wondering anyone would mind telling me wether this was a reasonable
sum. Each "dust cap" would be about 10-15mm long. The head would have
to be at least 10mm across and 2mm thick. It would also require a torx
or allen key slot to be cut in the top. So am I being reasonable or
could this be about right.

Many Thanks

Oh and here are pictures of the sockets in question




TrailRat

Why not just buy some button head cap screws? Maybe you could find
them in stainless, and put some antiseize and a small o-ring on before
inserting. 500 pounds is nuts. Look at these.

http://www.mjvail.com/holokrome/dd_bhcs_metric.html

Pete Keillor

Thank you for your advice. I have been approached by someone willing to
do the turning for me. I had considered off the shelf screws but I was
looking at purchasing more than I need for the size and depth of the
thread from a specialist supplier. That's why I posted here. To see
whether =A3500 is a ridiculus figure. Then I was going to go looking
alternatives based on advice here.


TR

Thank you for your advice. I have been approached by someone willing to
do the turning for me. I had considered off the shelf screws but I was
looking at purchasing more than I need for the size and depth of the
thread from a specialist supplier. That's why I posted here. To see
whether =A3500 is a ridiculus figure. Then I was going to go looking
alternatives based on advice here.


TR