M6 bolts

[Grierson]

Very simple question! Can anyone tell me what size Allen key fits an M6 bolt. I've got a fair selection but I can't find one to fit!! 

[MarkyD]

5mm

[Grierson]

Thanks Mark. - John

[Grierson]

Well Mark I've been all the way to town to buy a 5mm Allen key, stupidly not taking the bolt with me to try. Got back to find that 5mm key does not fit!   Just back from the second visit. Tried the bolt in the store and found that the 3/16" key did the job and the 4.5mm came close.  So Imperial measures/size  bolts are being used on Skywatcher kit but perhaps not others.   

[Waldemar]

So... apparantly it was not an M6 bolt...

[Davey-T]

There's no rhyme or reason to it, identical bits of kit can have either metric or imperial.

Dave

[Grierson]

53 minutes ago, Waldemar said:

So... apparantly it was not an M6 bolt...

Was sold to me by FLO as M6 bolts for the Startravel guide scope bundle

[MarkyD]

That'll be a 1/4-20 UNC camera mount thread then which has a 4.75mm socket

[Grierson]

Thanks Mark. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that a degree in engineering is required to enable the kit to be put together.  I now have the Startravel 80 piggy backed on to the 80ED but I'm far from convinced that the way it's dovetail marries with the EQ5 mount, given the extra weight, is the most appropriate. If any reader sees this post and has experience of using FLO's 'guiding bundle' then any observations would be appreciated.   

[Davey-T]

When I had the ST80 piggybacked I just used a piece of flat aluminium bar drilled as required and bolted to the tube rings of both scopes.

Dave

[glowjet]

5 hours ago, Grierson said:

Thanks Mark. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that a degree in engineering is required to enable the kit to be put together.  I now have the Startravel 80 piggy backed on to the 80ED but I'm far from convinced that the way it's dovetail marries with the EQ5 mount, given the extra weight, is the most appropriate. If any reader sees this post and has experience of using FLO's 'guiding bundle' then any observations would be appreciated.   

You mean you didn`t have an MSc Eng, before taking up the hobby ?

[Grierson]

46 minutes ago, glowjet said:

You mean you didn`t have an MSc Eng, before taking up the hobby ?