Looking for 6-32 Threaded Screws in the UK

[Costas Vlachos]

Hello,

First of all, apologies for the off-topic question but I thought some of you
may be able to help. I'm looking for "6-32" threaded screws, whatever that
means. I've checked Farnell and RS (I'm based in the UK) and they mostly
have the standard ISO Metric (M3, M4, etc.) screws. I can also find screws
in some weird specs like BA, Imperial (BSW, UNC), but I haven't seen
anything resembling the "6-32" designation. I ordered something called 6BA
screws, but those turned out to be teeny weeny little ones, much smaller
than the ones I'm after. Any ideas?

Many thx!

Costas
_________________________________________________
Costas Vlachos Email: c-X-vlachos@hot-X-mail.com
SPAM-TRAPPED: Please remove "-X-" before replying

 

[Gary Reichlinger]

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:18:30 +0000 (UTC), JHB@jita.nospam.demon.co.uk
(Jim Backus) wrote:

6-32 is a US size #6 size 32 tpi (threads per inch) IIRC they are
about the same size as M4 which in turn is similar to 4BA.

They are almost impossible to get in the UK. Your best chance is to
try a local screws and fixings outlet. If you're only after a few, I
could send you some, but if you need a lot I can't help. I bought some
the last time I was in North America on business.

These are commonly available in any hardware store in the US,
unless you want some strange length or material. I thought this post
was somewhat ironic as I have had problems finding metric screws. If
you need them bad enough to pay trans-Atlantic shipping, I could
suggest a few hardware catalogs. What length and material do you
need? Is it feasible to drill the holes out and tap them to a metric
size?

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 20:33:29 +0000 (UTC), Costas Vlachos hath writ:

"Gary Reichlinger" <reichln@navix.net> wrote in message
news:3f01e7d7.24725784@news.navix.net...
On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:18:30 +0000 (UTC), JHB@jita.nospam.demon.co.uk
(Jim Backus) wrote:

6-32 is a US size #6 size 32 tpi (threads per inch) IIRC they are
about the same size as M4 which in turn is similar to 4BA.

They are almost impossible to get in the UK. Your best chance is to
try a local screws and fixings outlet. If you're only after a few, I
could send you some, but if you need a lot I can't help. I bought some
the last time I was in North America on business.

These are commonly available in any hardware store in the US,
unless you want some strange length or material. I thought this post
was somewhat ironic as I have had problems finding metric screws. If
you need them bad enough to pay trans-Atlantic shipping, I could
suggest a few hardware catalogs. What length and material do you
need? Is it feasible to drill the holes out and tap them to a metric
size?

Thanks for the reply. Another poster pointed me to a UK store that stocks
them. Not a great variety like the metric sizes, but good enough. I wonder
why there is no standardization in sizes... I guess it's like miles and
kilometres or inches and cm... I thought of tapping the holes to M4 metric
if I couldn't find them, but all is good now.

Me? I just move on to sheet metal screws. ;-)

Jonesy

 

[Mike Harrison]

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 16:29:14 +0000 (UTC), "Costas Vlachos" <c-X-vlachos@hot-X-mail.com> wrote:

Hello,

First of all, apologies for the off-topic question but I thought some of you
may be able to help. I'm looking for "6-32" threaded screws, whatever that
means. I've checked Farnell and RS (I'm based in the UK) and they mostly
have the standard ISO Metric (M3, M4, etc.) screws. I can also find screws
in some weird specs like BA, Imperial (BSW, UNC), but I haven't seen
anything resembling the "6-32" designation. I ordered something called 6BA
screws, but those turned out to be teeny weeny little ones, much smaller
than the ones I'm after. Any ideas?

I thought UNC was the name for the US style threads - I'm sure I've seen "6-32 UNC" in a hard-drive
spec somewhere

 

[Mark (UK)]

Hiya!

Checked RS you say?? Weren't looking very hard were you?

RS 274-5171 is a 6-32 cross head in half inch length. they do from 1/8th
to 1+1/4 inch.

Yours, Mark.

Costas Vlachos wrote:

Hello,

First of all, apologies for the off-topic question but I thought some of you
may be able to help. I'm looking for "6-32" threaded screws, whatever that
means. I've checked Farnell and RS (I'm based in the UK) and they mostly
have the standard ISO Metric (M3, M4, etc.) screws. I can also find screws
in some weird specs like BA, Imperial (BSW, UNC), but I haven't seen
anything resembling the "6-32" designation. I ordered something called 6BA
screws, but those turned out to be teeny weeny little ones, much smaller
than the ones I'm after. Any ideas?

Many thx!

Costas
_________________________________________________
Costas Vlachos Email: c-X-vlachos@hot-X-mail.com
SPAM-TRAPPED: Please remove "-X-" before replying

 

[Costas Vlachos]

"Mark (UK)" <jumbos.bazzar@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:3F01E107.5AC9FF0A@btopenworld.com...

Hiya!

Checked RS you say?? Weren't looking very hard were you?

RS 274-5171 is a 6-32 cross head in half inch length. they do from 1/8th
to 1+1/4 inch.

Yours, Mark.

Hi Mark and thanks for pointing it out!!! I guess I wasn't looking very
hard....... Probably too tired after searching Farnell (which probably has
them too, somewhere in their chaotic web site) ;-)

Also many thx to all who replied.

Costas

 

[Costas Vlachos]

"Gary Reichlinger" <reichln@navix.net> wrote in message
news:3f01e7d7.24725784@news.navix.net...

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:18:30 +0000 (UTC), JHB@jita.nospam.demon.co.uk
(Jim Backus) wrote:

6-32 is a US size #6 size 32 tpi (threads per inch) IIRC they are
about the same size as M4 which in turn is similar to 4BA.

They are almost impossible to get in the UK. Your best chance is to
try a local screws and fixings outlet. If you're only after a few, I
could send you some, but if you need a lot I can't help. I bought some
the last time I was in North America on business.

These are commonly available in any hardware store in the US,
unless you want some strange length or material. I thought this post
was somewhat ironic as I have had problems finding metric screws. If
you need them bad enough to pay trans-Atlantic shipping, I could
suggest a few hardware catalogs. What length and material do you
need? Is it feasible to drill the holes out and tap them to a metric
size?

Thanks for the reply. Another poster pointed me to a UK store that stocks
them. Not a great variety like the metric sizes, but good enough. I wonder
why there is no standardization in sizes... I guess it's like miles and
kilometres or inches and cm... I thought of tapping the holes to M4 metric
if I couldn't find them, but all is good now.

cheers,
Costas

 

[Mark (UK)]

Hiya!

Going through Farnells website is enough to break the hardest of
spirits!! It's so completely SHITE compared to RS.

Glad you found what you want.

Yours, Mark.

Costas Vlachos wrote:

"Mark (UK)" <jumbos.bazzar@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:3F01E107.5AC9FF0A@btopenworld.com...
Hiya!

Checked RS you say?? Weren't looking very hard were you?

RS 274-5171 is a 6-32 cross head in half inch length. they do from 1/8th
to 1+1/4 inch.

Yours, Mark.

Hi Mark and thanks for pointing it out!!! I guess I wasn't looking very
hard....... Probably too tired after searching Farnell (which probably has
them too, somewhere in their chaotic web site) ;-)

Also many thx to all who replied.

Costas

 

[Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun]

In article <bdsr6p$8ev$1@sparta.btinternet.com>, c-X-vlachos@hot-X-
mail.com mentioned...

"Gary Reichlinger" <reichln@navix.net> wrote in message
news:3f01e7d7.24725784@news.navix.net...
On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:18:30 +0000 (UTC), JHB@jita.nospam.demon.co.uk
(Jim Backus) wrote:

6-32 is a US size #6 size 32 tpi (threads per inch) IIRC they are
about the same size as M4 which in turn is similar to 4BA.

They are almost impossible to get in the UK. Your best chance is to
try a local screws and fixings outlet. If you're only after a few, I
could send you some, but if you need a lot I can't help. I bought some
the last time I was in North America on business.

These are commonly available in any hardware store in the US,
unless you want some strange length or material. I thought this post
was somewhat ironic as I have had problems finding metric screws. If
you need them bad enough to pay trans-Atlantic shipping, I could
suggest a few hardware catalogs. What length and material do you
need? Is it feasible to drill the holes out and tap them to a metric
size?

Thanks for the reply. Another poster pointed me to a UK store that stocks
them. Not a great variety like the metric sizes, but good enough. I wonder
why there is no standardization in sizes... I guess it's like miles and
kilometres or inches and cm... I thought of tapping the holes to M4 metric
if I couldn't find them, but all is good now.

cheers,
Costas

Funny, but I used to have the opposite situation. Years ago I could
get 6-32 screws just about anywhere - they are used for holding light
switch covers to the wall - but I couldn't find a metric screw. That
has now changes where many hardware and auto stores carry a decent
selection of metric stuff. And of course we can still get the
American screws there, too. So when I was a kid I often tossed those
metric screws from old radios or other electronic equipment into a
screw and nut box, because they were rare and often needed.

So, 25.4 mm divided by 32 threads per inch, gives a pitch of .79375,
which is real close to .8 mm. So if you could find a metric screw
with the proper diameter and a pitch of .8, it would probably work
okay. If you screw it into a regular nut, it shouldn't have a
problem. If you screw it into a deeply tapped thread, such as a
standoff, it might bind at some point, but then that point might not
be reached normally.



--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun]

In article <slrnbg3s8s.4j3.bit-bucket@localhost.config.com>, bit-
bucket@config.com mentioned...

[snip]

... I thought of tapping the holes to M4 metric
if I couldn't find them, but all is good now.

Me? I just move on to sheet metal screws. ;-)

Yeah, as long as you use them without the circuit boards and stuff
inside the equipment. If you put the sheet metal screws into the
holes with the stuff inside, you are liable to get metal shavings into
the works, and you'll have a much bigger problem. :-(

Jonesy

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[The Technical Manager]

Gary Reichlinger wrote:

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:18:30 +0000 (UTC), JHB@jita.nospam.demon.co.uk
(Jim Backus) wrote:

6-32 is a US size #6 size 32 tpi (threads per inch) IIRC they are
about the same size as M4 which in turn is similar to 4BA.

They are almost impossible to get in the UK. Your best chance is to
try a local screws and fixings outlet. If you're only after a few, I
could send you some, but if you need a lot I can't help. I bought some
the last time I was in North America on business.

These are commonly available in any hardware store in the US,
unless you want some strange length or material. I thought this post
was somewhat ironic as I have had problems finding metric screws.

Are metric screws difficult to find in the US ? I was expecting just about
every hardware store would stock the major sizes as they are found on
vehicles, electronic equipment and machinery of Japanese or European
origin and increasingly used by US manufacturers as well.

If
you need them bad enough to pay trans-Atlantic shipping, I could
suggest a few hardware catalogs. What length and material do you
need? Is it feasible to drill the holes out and tap them to a metric
size?

 

[The Technical Manager]

Mike Harrison wrote:

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 16:29:14 +0000 (UTC), "Costas Vlachos" <c-X-vlachos@hot-X-mail.com> wrote:

Hello,

First of all, apologies for the off-topic question but I thought some of you
may be able to help. I'm looking for "6-32" threaded screws, whatever that
means. I've checked Farnell and RS (I'm based in the UK) and they mostly
have the standard ISO Metric (M3, M4, etc.) screws. I can also find screws
in some weird specs like BA, Imperial (BSW, UNC), but I haven't seen
anything resembling the "6-32" designation. I ordered something called 6BA
screws, but those turned out to be teeny weeny little ones, much smaller
than the ones I'm after. Any ideas?

I thought UNC was the name for the US style threads - I'm sure I've seen "6-32 UNC" in a hard-drive
spec somewhere

UNC stands for Unified National Coarse and is the coarse thread pitch series of screws that were
introduced in the mid 20th century in the US and also used in Canada and the UK. The fine thread pitch
series is called UNF or Unified National Fine. I think that UNC and possibly UNF were slight
adaptations of a screw thread pattern developed in the US in the 19th century. The original purpose of
UNC and UNF was to develop a standard system of fasteners used by the military in the US, Canada and
the UK during WWII.

UNC and UNF sizes smaller than 1/4 inch in diameter are specified by numbers rather than their
diameters in inches. They were commonplace in the US but rarely encountered in the UK apart from in
imported American machinery which is why they are so difficult to find in UK hardware stores. After
WWII Britain (un)officially abandoned its BSW and BSF series of fasteners and adopted UNC and UNF
until metrication crept in during the 1970s. For sizes smaller than 1/4 inch in diameter Britain stuck
with BA which is still in use today as it provides a better selection of sizes than offered from the
ISO metric range.

6-32 means size number 6 and 32 threads per inch. This fastener can also be specified as #6 UNC.

 

[The Technical Manager]

"Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun'" wrote:

In article <bdsr6p$8ev$1@sparta.btinternet.com>, c-X-vlachos@hot-X-
mail.com mentioned...
"Gary Reichlinger" <reichln@navix.net> wrote in message
news:3f01e7d7.24725784@news.navix.net...
On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:18:30 +0000 (UTC), JHB@jita.nospam.demon.co.uk
(Jim Backus) wrote:

6-32 is a US size #6 size 32 tpi (threads per inch) IIRC they are
about the same size as M4 which in turn is similar to 4BA.

They are almost impossible to get in the UK. Your best chance is to
try a local screws and fixings outlet. If you're only after a few, I
could send you some, but if you need a lot I can't help. I bought some
the last time I was in North America on business.

These are commonly available in any hardware store in the US,
unless you want some strange length or material. I thought this post
was somewhat ironic as I have had problems finding metric screws. If
you need them bad enough to pay trans-Atlantic shipping, I could
suggest a few hardware catalogs. What length and material do you
need? Is it feasible to drill the holes out and tap them to a metric
size?


Thanks for the reply. Another poster pointed me to a UK store that stocks
them. Not a great variety like the metric sizes, but good enough. I wonder
why there is no standardization in sizes... I guess it's like miles and
kilometres or inches and cm... I thought of tapping the holes to M4 metric
if I couldn't find them, but all is good now.

cheers,
Costas

Funny, but I used to have the opposite situation. Years ago I could
get 6-32 screws just about anywhere - they are used for holding light
switch covers to the wall - but I couldn't find a metric screw.

In the UK light switch and electrical outlet covers are held to their backboxes
using an M3.5 screw. This is about the only situation where one of these screws
is used.

That
has now changes where many hardware and auto stores carry a decent
selection of metric stuff. And of course we can still get the
American screws there, too. So when I was a kid I often tossed those
metric screws from old radios or other electronic equipment into a
screw and nut box, because they were rare and often needed.

So, 25.4 mm divided by 32 threads per inch, gives a pitch of .79375,
which is real close to .8 mm. So if you could find a metric screw
with the proper diameter and a pitch of .8, it would probably work
okay. If you screw it into a regular nut, it shouldn't have a
problem. If you screw it into a deeply tapped thread, such as a
standoff, it might bind at some point, but then that point might not
be reached normally.

I don't think that any of the numbered UNC and UNF screws will mate with any
metric nuts.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

The Technical Manager wrote:

Mike Harrison wrote:

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 16:29:14 +0000 (UTC), "Costas Vlachos" <c-X-vlachos@hot-X-mail.com> wrote:

Hello,

First of all, apologies for the off-topic question but I thought some of you
may be able to help. I'm looking for "6-32" threaded screws, whatever that
means. I've checked Farnell and RS (I'm based in the UK) and they mostly
have the standard ISO Metric (M3, M4, etc.) screws. I can also find screws
in some weird specs like BA, Imperial (BSW, UNC), but I haven't seen
anything resembling the "6-32" designation. I ordered something called 6BA
screws, but those turned out to be teeny weeny little ones, much smaller
than the ones I'm after. Any ideas?

I thought UNC was the name for the US style threads - I'm sure I've seen "6-32 UNC" in a hard-drive
spec somewhere

UNC stands for Unified National Coarse and is the coarse thread pitch series of screws that were
introduced in the mid 20th century in the US and also used in Canada and the UK. The fine thread pitch
series is called UNF or Unified National Fine. I think that UNC and possibly UNF were slight
adaptations of a screw thread pattern developed in the US in the 19th century. The original purpose of
UNC and UNF was to develop a standard system of fasteners used by the military in the US, Canada and
the UK during WWII.

UNC and UNF sizes smaller than 1/4 inch in diameter are specified by numbers rather than their
diameters in inches. They were commonplace in the US but rarely encountered in the UK apart from in
imported American machinery which is why they are so difficult to find in UK hardware stores. After
WWII Britain (un)officially abandoned its BSW and BSF series of fasteners and adopted UNC and UNF
until metrication crept in during the 1970s. For sizes smaller than 1/4 inch in diameter Britain stuck
with BA which is still in use today as it provides a better selection of sizes than offered from the
ISO metric range.

6-32 means size number 6 and 32 threads per inch. This fastener can also be specified as #6 UNC.

There is a small reference book that is handy for all kinds of reference
material. "pocket Ref" third edition by Sequoia Publishing ISBN
1-885071-33-7

I picked up my copy at Harbor freight, but it is available on line.
--


Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[The Technical Manager]

Gary Reichlinger wrote:

On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 14:27:06 +0100, The Technical Manager
techman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Are metric screws difficult to find in the US ? I was expecting just about
every hardware store would stock the major sizes as they are found on
vehicles, electronic equipment and machinery of Japanese or European
origin and increasingly used by US manufacturers as well.

Most hardware stores and auto parts stores stock a few. If you
want an unusual size or made from a special material they can be
difficult to find. I have a supplier that specializes in metric so I
can generally get what I need if I order in 100 piece or greater lots.
For comparable inch dimension screws, I can walk into the local
hardware store and buy them one at a time. (Life can be tough for a
lonely guy looking for a screw.)

UNC and UNF fasteners are hard to find in the UK. Sizes 1/4 inch and larger
were available from most automotive parts suppliers but they rarely stock them
today as very few post 1980 vehicles use them. BSW and BA fasteners and
studding are sold from some of the better hardware suppliers but DIY stores
only sell metric. Electronics and model making suppliers normally sell BA
fasteners as well as metric. BSF fasteners are also hard to find as well.

I have a photo that looks as if it was taken some time in the 1970s containing
a screw cabinet display from a British hardware store. All sizes are UNC, UNF,
BSW and BA. No metric.

 

[Roger Hamlett]

"Jim Backus" <JHB@jita.nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vdCZ2p92dNiH-pn2-wyOoWUwLX9Vk@localhost...

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 16:29:14, "Costas Vlachos"
c-X-vlachos@hot-X-mail.com> wrote:

Hello,

First of all, apologies for the off-topic question but I thought some of
you
may be able to help. I'm looking for "6-32" threaded screws, whatever
that
means. I've checked Farnell and RS (I'm based in the UK) and they mostly
have the standard ISO Metric (M3, M4, etc.) screws. I can also find
screws
in some weird specs like BA, Imperial (BSW, UNC), but I haven't seen
anything resembling the "6-32" designation. I ordered something called
6BA
screws, but those turned out to be teeny weeny little ones, much smaller
than the ones I'm after. Any ideas?


6-32 is a US size #6 size 32 tpi (threads per inch) IIRC they are
about the same size as M4 which in turn is similar to 4BA.

They are almost impossible to get in the UK. Your best chance is to
try a local screws and fixings outlet. If you're only after a few, I
could send you some, but if you need a lot I can't help. I bought some
the last time I was in North America on business.
Been on holiday for a while, so coming in here late.

Unfortunately, the 'metrication' in the UK, has made some of the imperial
sizes quite difficult to source. RS does a few (very few), and decreasing
with each catalogue. However 6-32 bolts are readily available (for a bit
more money), from all the aviation suppliers. Basically probably 75% of the
World's aircraft, use the UNC threads, and hence these sizes are readily
available.
Specialist fastener suppliers will also be able to help (for instance,
'Group Components', in Waltham Abbey, ESSEX, have some in stock, and will
source others if larger quantities are required, and I am sure most of the
similar suppliers round the country will help).
Historically, the larger UNC sizes, are normally listed as (for instance)
1/4 UNC, while the smaller sizes use the '-' designator. The UNC sizes are
very close to many of the Whitworth threads (except one uses a 55degree
tooth form, while the other uses a 60degree tooth). You should also be able
to find large quantities of the 6-32 size, in shorter lengths, at many
computer shops, and amateur radio rallies, since this is the thread commonly
used in disk drives made for the US market (you will find some drive makes,
have models with M3 threads for European distribution, and 6-32UNC, for
American units...).

Best Wishes

 

[Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun]

In article <1TWNa.65$Kv6.24879@newsfep1-win.server.ntli.net>,
rogerspamignored@ttelmah.demon.co.uk mentioned...
[snip]

tooth form, while the other uses a 60degree tooth). You should also be able
to find large quantities of the 6-32 size, in shorter lengths, at many
computer shops, and amateur radio rallies, since this is the thread commonly
used in disk drives made for the US market (you will find some drive makes,
have models with M3 threads for European distribution, and 6-32UNC, for
American units...).

Many CD drives come with both metric and US kits of four screws each,
so if the metric screws set does the trick, then the 6-32 screws are
left over and are often discarded. But they are usually only 1/4 inch
long, maybe 6 mm. If you need longer, then you'll have to hunt for
them as was stated in the part I snipped.

Best Wishes

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[Costas Vlachos]

"Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun'" <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in message

Many CD drives come with both metric and US kits of four screws each,
so if the metric screws set does the trick, then the 6-32 screws are
left over and are often discarded. But they are usually only 1/4 inch
long, maybe 6 mm. If you need longer, then you'll have to hunt for
them as was stated in the part I snipped.

Just tried some leftover screws from a hard drive and they are indeed 6-32!
I don't need large quantities anyway, and 6mm length is just right for what
I want.

Thanks guys!

Costas

 

[Tim Shoppa]

Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun' <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.196c0a082304591f9899e4@news.inreach.net>...

So, 25.4 mm divided by 32 threads per inch, gives a pitch of .79375,
which is real close to .8 mm. So if you could find a metric screw
with the proper diameter and a pitch of .8, it would probably work
okay. If you screw it into a regular nut, it shouldn't have a
problem. If you screw it into a deeply tapped thread, such as a
standoff, it might bind at some point, but then that point might not
be reached normally.

M5x0.8 is *almost* interchangable with 10-32. As you point out after
you get a few turns in then you start to notice the difference in pitch.

Tim.

 

[Tim Shoppa]

Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun' <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.197579fa26f8ac25989a43@news.inreach.net>...

In '96 we moved into our new bldg and computer center at work and got
a bunch of racks that came with the bldg, in closets, etc. These
racks are made by some German company, might be Schrofft(sp), and had
bags of snap-in nuts for the square holes, and bags of screws. I
dunno what the metric size is, but they're larger diameter and coarser
threads than the 10-32 and 12-24 screws that are found on most
American racks.

I remember back in the 80's when we got a Russian rack that had built-in
plumbing for water cooling. (Big rack of Soviet ECL!) The drawings we got
with it specified some seemingly strange (lots of decimal places)
metric thread for the chilled water lines. We called all
over the greater Chicago area for several days trying
to find any sort of connector that might fit, but all the supply houses
(and even manufacturers who specialized in metric threads) had never heard
of this metric thread specification.

Eventually I stopped looking at the drawing and went to look at the rack,
and immediately recognized the connector as being identical to the thread
used on plain old garden hose!

Lesson: when you see something specified to 5 decimal places in a metric
measurement, you should convert it back to inches and see if it's a nice
standard number

Even here, it's really difficult to find 12-24 screws
for racks, they're really uncommon and only a few hardware stores have
'em.

One supplier that I use is MSC. They're on the web at
http://www.mscdirect.com/ . They're sort-of like Granger's meets DoAll
but they have no problem at all shipping their gigantic printed catalog
to small-time buyers like me, and no problem at all shipping small orders
either. When I place an order it arrives the next day via UPS ground.

small screw used in equipment. One screw size one will seldom see
here is 5 (not sure if it's 5-36 or what), which is now getting even
rarer, because barrier terminal strips that used to have them are now
using metric screws instead. Maybe because they're being imported
from overseas?

It's 5-40, and it hasn't disappeared yet. 3-48 I still occasionally see too.

Sizes 7, 9, and 11 really have disappeared.

Tim.