Nylon nuts and repeated removal.

[Dave S]

ADK,

What many of us have done in our builds is get a bunch of cheap SAE fine thread nuts, put the nylocks aside and use the non locking cheap nuts till we are done with the normal fitting re-trials and install the nylocks when (we think!) we are done with fitting. In trial assemblies, I don't believe a final torque setting is necessary till the nylocks go in. Others may see that differently.

[MFleming]

The rule of thumb is, if you can’t install the nut by hand, it’s still good as a locking nut.
BUT, I use a stack of washers superglued together for fit-up work so I’m not wearing out the nuts.

[ADK-Flyer]

ADK,

What many of us have done in our builds is get a bunch of cheap SAE fine thread nuts, put the nylocks aside and use the non locking cheap nuts till we are done with the normal fitting re-trials and install the nylocks when (we think!) we are done with fitting. In trial assemblies, I don't believe a final torque setting is necessary till the nylocks go in. Others may see that differently.

I think buying the cheap nuts for mock up is a good idea and I believe I already have some around here.

[MFleming]

I think buying the cheap nuts for mock up is a good idea and I believe I already have some around here.

The danger of using hardware store nuts, is they’re likely to end up on the build permanently.

[ADK-Flyer]

The danger of using hardware store nuts, is they’re likely to end up on the build permanently.

Yeah I could see that. For me I would only use non nyloc nuts from the hardware store so they are obvious or even mark them with a red marker. Definitely keeping track of the areas that the proper hardware needs to be installed for final assembly and putting the proper hardware for that area in a ziplock bag or something. I did have the same thought though.

[Av8r3400]

The danger of using hardware store nuts, is they’re likely to end up on the build permanently.

Unless you are using grade 8 hardware store nutz, they will be silver in color instead of the gold color of the aircraft grade AN hardware.