What would cause the Bolts to come in at a much smaller size?

Check your current text style settings when inserting the bolts.

how do you change what is defaulted as the standard txt style's height? I set it to zero and the bolts come in fine but when I start a new session Standard txt is back at 9/32

Are you using a dwt file? The TEXTSIZE setvar will be saved there.

I suspect you have some start-up automation that sets your drawing standards. One of my primary arguments *against* using "Standard" as a company-standard style name.

your right our acaddoc.lisp was defining the font size for the "standard" text style