I'm struggling with a database that holds tools and other hardware parts that often contain fractions (eg 3/8" bolt).

Although I seem to be able to do things like

SELECT * FROM desc WHERE desc LIKE '%3/8"%'
or
SELECT * FROM desc WHERE desc LIKE '%3/8""%'
or
SELECT * FROM desc WHERE desc LIKE '%3/8\"%'

I can't seem to get a fulltext search to work if it contains an inch/doublequote mark or if it contains a forward slash. Escaping doesn't seem to help.

I thought I saw somewhere that you had to recompile mysql to allow for the use of these characters in a fulltext search. Anyone have any ideas if this is the fix and if so, where the changes are made?