"Cage nuts"

Sp00n · 30 Nov 2011 at 11:26

Does anyone know where I can purchase "cage nuts" aka receptacle inserts like these:

I'm fed up of shredding my fingers on standard cage nuts and I've got a handful of these from an old job but I can't remember where they were purchased from.

sidethink · 30 Nov 2011 at 12:06

I've never actually used nuts quite like those before. Normally just see M5 and M6 square nuts. I know exactly what you mean though about shredding your fingers so I have a tool for it (its the kind of little bent metal shim for manipulating the clips).

Google for Cage Nut Insertion Tool and you should see it.

PistolPete · 30 Nov 2011 at 12:07

You get the hang of popping them in without a tool (and it's quicker) once you've done a few thousand!!

We used to struggle to find them in stock, so when we found someone with stock we'd order 20x 400 bags of them.

DJMK4 · 30 Nov 2011 at 12:34

Just find yourself a suitable piece of metal, create a slight bend, and you have made your own tool

Sp00n · 30 Nov 2011 at 12:53

Meh, you lot are far too logical

AlexD · 30 Nov 2011 at 14:14

Or just use a flat head screwdriver..

DJMK4 · 30 Nov 2011 at 14:43

AlexD said:
Or just use a flat head screwdriver..

Just be careful you don't do what I done with one, put far too much pressure and end up stabbing my other hand

This was when I was first starting out though

much more sensible now.

simonprr · 30 Nov 2011 at 22:37

Cage nuts are just about the worse thing invented lol... always stabbing myself or denting my fingers/thumbs trying to get them in or out of the racks!

When will someone come up with something better!

mrbios · 1 Dec 2011 at 11:46

I had some here that pushed in and then turned to lock in place, they were brilliant, no idea where to get them though. I know what you mean though, the standard ones are a nightmare, especially when you get a tight one.

randal · 1 Dec 2011 at 11:52

Noobs.

Buy better servers with cage nut-less rails.

(I know, I know there are still valid applications for cage nuts like shelves, trays and arrays.

)

mrbios · 1 Dec 2011 at 11:57

randal24 said:
(I know, I know there are still valid applications for cage nuts like shelves, trays and arrays. )

not forgetting switches! All my servers are cage-nut less rails, but all the switching equipment in every cab needs cage nuts.

randal · 1 Dec 2011 at 12:04

Ah true true, I was thinking "ah 1U Cisco kit isn't that bad" then I cast my mind back to fitting a second 6509 in the top of a rack some years back.

The air, it was blue.

neil_g · 1 Dec 2011 at 12:32

i hate standard cage nuts, i damn near ripped my thumbnail completely off the other week because of them

Trifid · 1 Dec 2011 at 13:01

I hate them too. We've got some softer metal ones that I can get in without ripping my hands to bits. No idea what they are called, always referred to them as the good ones when asking the purchasing guy for more.

PistolPete · 1 Dec 2011 at 14:17

randal24 said:
Ah true true, I was thinking "ah 1U Cisco kit isn't that bad" then I cast my mind back to fitting a second 6509 in the top of a rack some years back.

The air, it was blue.

Try fitting a second 6513 in the top of a Cooper B-Line and watching it bow in the middle!

kerrgreg · 1 Dec 2011 at 14:22

I never quite understood why they dont just make every whole thread-able? then you wont need cage nuts!

randal · 1 Dec 2011 at 14:27

PistolPete said:
Try fitting a second 6513 in the top of a Cooper B-Line and watching it bow in the middle!

LOL, and I thought we swore a lot. Did you just leave it there and walk away whistling to the pub?

kerrgreg said:
I never quite understood why they dont just make every whole thread-able? then you wont need cage nuts!

All well and good, until you thread one of those. Then, you're hosed.

Goliath · 1 Dec 2011 at 16:10

These might do the trick:

http://www.jetpress.com/Products.aspx/17060/CageNuts/CageNutsFrontFixing/

AlexD said:
Or just use a flat head screwdriver..

But this is my preferred option - I've got a "stubby" dedicated to this purpose.

randal24 said:
Ah true true, I was thinking "ah 1U Cisco kit isn't that bad" then I cast my mind back to fitting a second 6509 in the top of a rack some years back.

The air, it was blue.

PistolPete said:
Try fitting a second 6513 in the top of a Cooper B-Line and watching it bow in the middle!

Wait till you try a Nexus 7010, damned things are made of unobtanium

simonprr · 2 Dec 2011 at 00:56

kerrgreg said:
I never quite understood why they dont just make every whole thread-able? then you wont need cage nuts!

Just what i was thinking lol!

Anyway however much stuff I buy like servers that have cage nut less rails there is more cisco switches, routers, trays etc that need them and lots of them because we have tons of network equipment and its always usually 1U maybe 2U ... meaning more damn cage nuts! :mad:

Sp00n · 2 Dec 2011 at 09:24

The ones I showed a pic of are an absolute god send, just wish they were widespread.

Ended up just ordering some standard M6 ones as it's just 2 rack moves we're doing.