Manbearpig

Im not sure what to call it as I've only seen one before. I'm hanging some lights in a 110 year old victorian in San francisco. The lights are being mounted in original plaster pendants that make access above the ceiling impossible as i can not remove the pendants. There is a 3/4" nipple (without threads) bolted into the joists above and protruding from the center of the pendant 6" or so. My problem is that I need to get a box up there for the wire and to hang the light from. Awhile back I did a similar installation, but there was an existing box, with a clamp on the inside of the box that held onto the nipple that came through the back of the box. Does anyone know the part I'm talking about or where I can find one? Basically the pipe goes through the center knockout and the clamp slips over the pipe and can be tightened from inside the box. Thanks for any help, I cant figure out another way to hang these lights.

ohiosparky99

I believe what you are talking about is called a "hickey" or "fixture hickey"

Manbearpig

Don't hickys utilize threads? I always thought hickey's screwed onto the stud and the fixture screwed into the hickey. The pipe in question has no threads and I don't know how I can get a die up there to thread it. Thanks for the help

Shockdoc

Hickey

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Shockdoc

Can you post a pic?

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Shockdoc

Do they resemble these?

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Manbearpig

I wish I could, the only one I've ever seen was from a job awhile back, never thought much of it. The one from your other pic I haven't had since highschool there are no threads whatsoever. Imagine a 3/4" pipe passing through the back knockout of a 3/0 octogon. Then a hickey type clamp slides over the non threaded pipe and clamps down tight, almost like a hose clamp, but definately designed for the use described. if that makes sense. Thanks for the help, I've been searching all the websites I can think of. With my luck on this job, ill probably find one at home depot, the one place I would never look

MDShunk

I know exactly what you're talking about, but I have no idea what it's called. I always called it a hickey, even if it wasn't threaded. I'm sure nobody makes one. Probably your best bet is to get online and look up some architectural salvage places and give as many of them as you can a call.

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Manbearpig

That's exactly what I was afraid of the oldest man at the supply house knew what I was talking about, but then started to laugh and walked off I guess the chase continues. Thanks everyone!

electrictim510

Didn't look like Shockdoc's pic? I've done a lot of work out there and the pic he posted looks like a bunch of the ones I've seen.

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Manbearpig

No, I wish, those are just the old cast iron hickeys, I have several if those in my junk box. If the pipe had threads my life would be much simpler, or if there wasn't an original plaster medallion thwarting my every move!

electrictim510

Out of curiosity, is it the bracket that has a smooth rod and a set screw that holds up the canopy?

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"Understand one thing every one has a place in this trade, and no matter what your skill set I doubt you know it all." brian john

Manbearpig

No, the fixture is a standard fixture with a crossbar and a center threaded nipple. I think the pipe coming out of the ceiling is old gas pipe from before the conversion. The problem is that only the last inch has threads. And that is about 6" too low for the new canopy to cover. I could install it as is, but there will be a 6-7" space between the new canopy and existing medallion.

fdew

Two thoughts, Thread it. It's not that hard, or go to http://www.antiquesockets.com/bbs/ and ask them.

Frank

MDShunk

Have you thought about simply using a shaft collar from Grainger or McMaster-Carr? You can get them in every inside diameter. I think 3/4" gas pipe is 1-1/16" OD. http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/118/1165/=h4xxw4

__________________
One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.

Manbearpig

I don't think I fan thread irpt with any tools I have. 3/4 galvanized needs a fair amount of torque to get threads, and it needs to be threaded above the medallion, which barely fits a 3/0 octogon inside it. There's no way a rigid threader would get in there, and even a little die would need a long handle to get leverage. That site looks like a good try, thanks for the link.

Manbearpig

That was a thought I had, even an acorn clamp came to mind but I'm worried about liability using a part not designed for the use intended. How much weight would you trust on that shaft collar? Its just a set screw right?

MDShunk

The 1-1/16 shaft collar has a 10-32 set screw, and is rated to have an axial holding power (thrust load) of 785 pounds when the set screw is torqued to 67 foot pounds. I think you're safe. Before you order, double-check the OD of the pipe.

__________________
One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.

Manbearpig

That'll do nicely! Thanks alot, you really saved me