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Lionelgee
9th March 2023, 08:25 PM
Hello All,

Is there a standard about using Imperial threads in home/building sound systems?

I bought a Logitech surround sound system for my study to hook up to my computer. I will be hanging some of the speakers off the walls using some custom made brackets. I went to the local store of a national hardware chain. I started off with Metric threaded bolts to fit into the speaker mounting hole. My thinking was Asian manufacturer equals Metric threads. I soon ran out of options between M8 and M5. No Goldilocks solution in Metric. It wound up being an Imperial 1/4 inch UNC thread - which was a surprise to me.

Kind regards
Lionel

p38arover
9th March 2023, 09:15 PM
US threads are not, technically, "Imperial" [bigwhistle]

For US brand names, expect to see UNC, commonly 2-56, 4-40 or 6-32 UNC, in electronic products. Sounds like you needed 1/4-20 UNC.

BradC
9th March 2023, 09:23 PM
1/4" is really common. It's still the standard camera mounting thread and therefore on pretty much all tripods and stands. Speakers just seem to follow.

gromit
10th March 2023, 07:56 AM
1/4" Whitworth is very close, just a different thread angle.
1/4" UNC & 1/4" Whitworth are both 20TPI.


Colin

p38arover
10th March 2023, 08:55 AM
^^ Yes, many years (1968) ago I made a copy stand for my Spotmatic camera (copied from the one available from Pentax). I couldn’t find a 1/4-20 UNC bolt for the camera fitting, so I used a Whitworth. One day, I’ll get around to changing it.