Lower Folding Strut Bolts

The plans call for  75mmx12.5mm 316SS Button Head bolts to assemble the Lower Folding Struts. Generally speaking, bolts are easy to come by, but this particular configuration was a bit difficult to source. The usual suspects (McMaster & Grainger) didn't have the proper grade of SS or didn't have bolt sizes that large. I finally located the Mutual Screw company over in New Jersey. They had what I needed, but didn't have it in a shoulder bolt configuration as I would have preferred.
(You'll notice the bolts I needed were the largest items in that category on the page.)

I also found some G10 washers to isolate the bolt head from the aluminum frame. Those were a bit easier to locate at MSC Industrial Supply.

Next project is to get all the pieces over to the machine shop for processing. I'm guessing that might be an expensive job, so I've asked for a quote before moving on.

Upper Folding Struts

Upper Folding Struts were also delivered today.
Big weight loss for these parts as well.

Blank weight was 7.3kg each.
Finished weight is much better at 6.1kg each.

All of the aluminum parts will eventually be anodized, but that won't be for quite some time yet.