Panel Fasteners?

[Dockhead]

My boat has five powder-coated alu panels at the nav table, in which my radios and switchgear and instruments are mounted. Behind them is a lot of electronic equipment, droppers, buses, circuit breakers, and other things which need access not all that rarely.

Unfortunately, these panels are attached with simple screws into the wooden frames. This is first of all a PITA to get a screwdriver and unscrew them every time, and second, after opening and closing these panels a few hundred times of course the threads in the wood get worn. In general this just seems like a really poor way to attach these panels.

So I have a dream of replacing these screws with some kind of aerospace panel fasteners, or some kind of quarter turn fasteners, where I could set one part of the fastener permanently in the wood.

But I just can't seem to find the suitable bits. Anyone have any tips or advice?

[Zai]

try this link. Is this the sort of thing you are looking for?
DZUS® Turn-To-Close, Turn-To-Open Quarter Turn Fasteners - Southco

[estarzinger]

ummm . . . . here is a UK company (very like the above post but UK) . . . .Quarter Turn Fasteners

I have never used these specific ones. They are just what came up first on google. I presume you have already looked at them - might help us if you say what you did not like about them?

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Zai

try this link. Is this the sort of thing you are looking for?
DZUS® Turn-To-Close, Turn-To-Open Quarter Turn Fasteners - Southco

Yep, that was my first thought too. The good old Dzus fasteners.


dzus fasteners | eBay

[JPA Cate]

Dockhead:

Have you considered a piano hinge at the bottom or side (if there's swinging room)and "rabbit hutch" fasteners [looks a bit like a finger screw with flange that swings to overlap the top of the panel] for the top?

Ann

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

My boat has five powder-coated alu panels at the nav table, in which my radios and switchgear and instruments are mounted. Behind them is a lot of electronic equipment, droppers, buses, circuit breakers, and other things which need access not all that rarely.

Unfortunately, these panels are attached with simple screws into the wooden frames. This is first of all a PITA to get a screwdriver and unscrew them every time, and second, after opening and closing these panels a few hundred times of course the threads in the wood get worn. In general this just seems like a really poor way to attach these panels.

So I have a dream of replacing these screws with some kind of aerospace panel fasteners, or some kind of quarter turn fasteners, where I could set one part of the fastener permanently in the wood.

But I just can't seem to find the suitable bits. Anyone have any tips or advice?

You might also consider 3M Dual Lock. Totally unlike Velcro and designed for this sort of application. Perhaps not this particular application (no pics) but similar things. 1000 cycles and no residue when removed.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

ummm . . . . here is a UK company (very like the above post but UK) . . . .Quarter Turn Fasteners

I have never used these specific ones. They are just what came up first on google. I presume you have already looked at them - might help us if you say what you did not like about them?

That's very much what I want, but the problem with these and all others I've found is that they are for sheet metal. I need something which has receptacles which can be set in wood.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Yep, that was my first thought too. The good old Dzus fasteners.


dzus fasteners | eBay

Thanks, hot tip! Looks like the receptacle part might be wide enough:

CRC Fairings | Dzus Fasteners (Pack of 20)

[missourisailor]

If you have the clearance in the backer plates, I have found thread inserts to be a great solution to striped out wood.

You still have to used machine screws to secure the front panel, so not as fast as Zues fastners. But a lot less work getting them installed.

Just enlarge the existing hole. Screw the insert in. Then replace the wood screws with machine screws.

[jstevens]

I had the same problem with my electrical panel. I used barrel bolts to replace the wood screws. The panel swings on a piano hinge.

John

[estarzinger]

What I did on hawk is piano hinge on the bottom, and two (only one on the smaller panels) of these (Southco Adjustable Ball Catch) on the top. Worked well.

on the quarter turn fasteners - they do have sockets that work set in wood just fine - I would call them and ask - but I believe http://www.specialty-fasteners.co.uk...el-zinc-plated would do it . . . .http://www.specialty-fasteners.co.uk...nc-die-casting probably also would

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

What I did on hawk is piano hinge on the bottom, and two (only one on the smaller panels) of these (Southco Adjustable Ball Catch) on the top. Worked well.

on the quarter turn fasteners - they do have sockets that work set in wood just fine - I would call them and ask - but I believe 2600 / 2700 SERIES (TYPE 1 ) CAST RECEPTACLE hard bronze ZINC PLATED 2.5 holes - V212-12-1FGV from Specialty Fasteners & Components would do it . . . .2600 / 2700 SERIES (TYPE 4 ) RECEPTACLE single hole mounting encapsulated zinc die casting - 99E10-01 from Specialty Fasteners & Components probably also would

That's the ticket!! Thanks!!!!