Anybody know source of original style IBM PC screws?

[wrljet]

Looking for the original IBM PC style screws with the flange/washer reduced-hex heads.

 

[modem7]

For the large rear screws, an earlier thread may help:
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/archive/index.php/t-12796.html

( Note: Within that thread, perhaps a better URL to the discussed possible part is http://www.mcmaster.com/#90316a192/=7khmt5 )

 

[Dave Farquhar]

Looking at the Fastenal web site, I see several that look like the McMaster part. If you have any Fastenal stores near you, that would give you a chance to see the screws in person. Fastenal calls them "Indented Hex Head Slotted Machine Screws."

 

[wrljet]

Doh! There's a Fastenal store a couple a miles away and I use them a fair amount for some of my other hobbies. I never even thought to look there.

But alas, the screws I'm looking for are the smaller ones, inside the case. They have the same overall
styling as the McMaster-Carr and Fastenal screws, but with an extra long/deep hex. I've never those
exact screws in anything other than the IBM PC and AT.

 

[Maverick1978]

FWIW, I managed to find replacements for the rear screws in my IBM AT at the local ACE Hardware store. I haven't had a need to find internal replacements yet, as I have screws that fit in there - although tbh, they're probably not original IBM parts.

 

[wrljet]

I bought a pound of Compaq Torx hardware from a guy on the 'Bay. I'd love to find something like that for the IBM hardware. I'm way understocked on those blue screws in both head styles.

 

[Dave Farquhar]

I think the inside screws are 6-32, rather than 8-32. I'd pay Fastenal a visit and see if you get lucky.

Searching some more online, I think the magic words are "hex washer head slotted machine screw." But I haven't found anything with a head that looks as deep as I remember the IBM screws being.

Now I'm wondering if any of the slot cover screws in my PC/AT case are original. If one is, I'll see if I can measure it with my calipers. If we have good dimensions, then we probably stand a better chance of finding a match.

 

[wrljet]

In the PC, XT, and AT, the same slotted, reduced-hex, washer-head #6-32 screws are used for the slots, motherboard mounting, power supply, speaker mounting (for ones that don't snap in), some drive mountings, etc.

 

[Chuck(G)]

It's not hard to find slotted washer-head hex 6-32 bolts, but they all have 1/4" heads. I recall that the IBM ones had a 3/16" head.

 

[wrljet]

Right, but as I mentioned in the original post, I want the exact screws originally used by IBM.
And yes, anal-retentive is a hyphenated word. ;-)

 

[Chuck(G)]

Just how A-R are you? Enough to order 1000 of the things? If so, I'll dig into my pile of hardware catalogs and have a look.

 

[MikeS]

Right, but as I mentioned in the original post, I want the exact screws originally used by IBM.
And yes, anal-retentive is a hyphenated word. ;-)

How many, which size, and which colour?

 

[k2x4b524[]

Can we get them in black? Would match the pc, xt, and the at's black painted metal..

 

[wrljet]

Just how A-R are you? Enough to order 1000 of the things? If so, I'll dig into my pile of hardware catalogs and have a look.

Depends on what they cost. 100 or 250 pieces, probably. 1000, probably not.

I wouldn't bother looking. I suspect they are NLA.

Bill

 

[paul]

Those internal 6-32 screws are definitely unusual. In my 25 yrs ME experience I never came across the identical part and so often saved them when we scrapped IBMs.