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Grade 8 Bolts - Baggage Bulkhead

BoilermakerRV

Well Known Member
Anyone ever replace the Phillips type screws on the baggage bulkhead with Grade 8 hex head bolts for ease of installation/removal? I?m thinking Grade 8 just because this is a structural application.
 
Hex screws

I started using hex screws in places where a screwdriver could not get a direct shot such as floorboard in corners and along the fuselage skin. Got tired of stripping out phillips screws.
I used screws from this company:
https://stainlessdepot.com/
I also purchased a gear wrench with a swiveling head. Removal is now easy.
 
Replacements

Those screws are rated about 60ksi...

Standard medium strength Grade 5 bolts are rated at 120ksi and Grade 8 at 150ksi

Not really any reason to use a Grade 8 bolt...or even a Grade 5, for that matter.

Looking at a standard 18-8 SS screw/bolt/socket cap screw, you find they are all rated about 70ksi...

So, it would seem that you have a choice...I am kind of partial to these:

https://www.mcmaster.com/standard-rounded-head-screws
 
The phillips screws are cheap and widely available. I buy 50 at a time and keep 'em at the hangar. 50 probably keeps me going for 5-10 years. I just don't end up replacing many of them, and I have an 18 year old airplane...

I'm a proponent of the KISS principle (No, I don't to rock and roll all night. Nor do I party every day.), and like the fact that I don't need to dig up special fasteners or tools to maintain all of the stuff that uses #8 screws.
 
I like these -

an525-832r6.jpg


https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/an525.php

And they are 125K so they won't strip easily :)
 
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