quick question

[shortstack]

this may sound stupid but i've seen people on here with metal bolts going threw the sides (ie. wall cover plates) with N plates (ie +nn-nn+) all with using the metal bolt. i guess i don't understand how the N plates are held in place without touching the metal bolt?

[Q-Hack!]

Nylon washers and vinyl tubing is the answer. Drill a 1/4 inch hole through the plates that you don't want to touch the screw. Place a piece of fish tank flexible tubing over a #8 screw and nylon washers that have a 1/4 inch inside hole between the plates. The hardest part is figuring out what length to cut the flexible tubing. Took me three tries to get it right. I ended up squeezing the entire assembly with a clamp and cutting the tubing at the edge of the last plate and then bolting it all together. It works well.

[shortstack]

sounds like a good idea