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Where do you guys buy screws for you vintage machines from?

R

Raddit123

Experienced Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2015
Messages
108
Location
UK
So I'm thinking about taking on a new project - by the looks of it most of the screws in the case and PSU have surface rust, so I'm thinking (as well as the other 1 million things it needs doing to it) to replace all of the screws; my question is, where do guys buy yours from (UK)?

I've only looked on ebay, they are either in small expensive packs of 4 screws (why?!) or come in a bulk of 2,000 from China. I'd like about 100 and not to pay £20+ for them.

Is anyone in the know as to where to go?

Cheers guys.
 
Thankfully, I happen to live right down the street from a Microcenter, where they sell various assortments of standard case screws. There must be someplace similar over there.

While I haven't specifically checked, the common parts suppliers - Mouser, DigiKey, and Jameco should sell common screws and mounting hardware, although some of their items are only offered in bulk.

Also, there was a thread a while back: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?47276-IBM-PC-screws about hunting down screws with the exact same head size that IBM used. Although the more common sizes will usually work fine in their place.

Raddit123 said:
on ebay, they are either in small expensive packs of 4 screws (why?!)
Click to expand...
Because eBeh. :)
 
If you are talking about the project I think you are, I bought my screws from:

LAS Aerospace Ltd
Exeter Road Industrial Estate,
Okehampton,
Devon, EX20 1UA.
tel: 01837 658081 - fax: 01837 658080
web: www.lasaero.com

I forget which part number was which but the part numbers I bought were:

Part Number Description
-----------------------------------
AN526C-632-R4 SCREW
MS35206-226 SCREW
MS35206-227 SCREW
MS35206-232 5305-00984-4992
MS24693-C25 *SCREW
MS24693-C3 SCREWS

They have a minimum order value of £5 + VAT if I recall correctly.

Because I was fed up with screws going rusty I purchased stainless steel replacements.

Drop me a line if you need more help!

Chris.
 
Last edited:
Google tells me 10 pounds is over 4.5kg - that's a lot of screws. Are they all the same?

Thanks for the info Someguy!

Chris, is the project you where thinking about the Olivetti 8086 I was posting about the other day?

Cheers guys.
 
Strangely enough, I've purchased UNC bolts in SS from a vendor in Scotland. His prices were by far the best, even with shipping. Perhaps he's still in business--I can check. (FWIW, this was for large stainless eyebolts).

I'm beginning to find that stainless fasteners in some sizes are actually cheaper than the mild steel nickel-plated ones. Probably due to a glut of them coming in from China. They're not magnetic, but at least they won't rust.
 
Chris, it's still on a good price so fingers crossed!

Thanks for the info Chuck, I've managed to find some good quality ones on Amazon of all places. I'll give them a go and let you guys know :)
 
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