Fingers & Nuts

[Roddy Hays]

Probably not what you were expecting form the topic title...... but hey ?

I was fitting some rod-holders and a railing to the gunwhale of the wee Stabi-Craft I have here in NZ over the weekend, and came across a traditional problem - that of putting nuts and washers on the backside of a fitting where space is tight and cables and tubes make it all but impossible to get a wrench or even a set of vice-grips behind to seize the nut tight. Indeed in some instances I could only get one finger up to the protruding bolt - no ways I could squeeze two fingers plus a nut up there !

I sat and sweated at the problem for a while, trying all sorts of things, but gave up in frustration and went inside for some water. On the counter I saw something that gave me an idea.

Back outside, up into the boat, and picking up one of the washers, I tried supergluing it to the nut. Wonder of wonders, it worked !!! When that was tight, I then superglued the edge of the nut to my forefinger. Up went the finger into the cramped space, I lined up the nut with the bit of bolt protruding through, and I started winding the bolt home from the other side. Pretty much about the time I thought the tip of my finger was about to be torqued off, the lock-nut seated home and came off my finger and I was able to then slide up an open-ended spanner to hold the nut in place while I tightened up. Success !!!

The railing had 18 bolts and nuts to fix, and I finished in about 40 minutes what I had unsuccessfully tried to do for four hours in the morning. The five bolts in the rod-holders that I had been unable to reach became a cinch too, even if I couldn't glue a washer onto all of the bolts.

Indeed, one nut I could not even get a spanner to. It would tighten and then spin on the first grip of nylon. Flushed with the success of the gluing scheme, I tried something else. Back out came my finger and nut, and I put a drop of super-glue on the leading front edge of the nut. Back up into the dark, locate the bolt with the nut, screw on three turns of thread, remove finger, and then I pulled the bolt back out of the hole, trapping the nut on the otherside against the bulkhead. I waited a minute, then simply tightned up the bolt with the nut stuck to the other side.

Now, this may be an old trick, or a trick known to some, but hell, I thought it was handy enough to pass it on - hope it helps someone somewhere.

SUPER-GLUE RULES OKAY !

Now, if only we could find a way to stick some on a marlin hook....

[Seaker]

Now that my friend is definetly worth sharing and thanks for that tip

[giantfan]

I have a couple of projects where that will be a great help.

Great idea.

Thanks for sharing.

[gottaflylee]

I like it and you have given me an idear for a couple of places I need to work on the Predator boat...hum...

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Roddy, you are a very respected fisherman and I try to heed advice learned from people in positions to teach from experiences...BUT...There is no way I am gonna glue my fingers to my nuts.....

Holwachagot

[Double D]

neat trick, but do you have a cake of superglue on your finger?