Melodeon.net Forums
Discussions => Instrument Design, Construction and Repair => Topic started by: Broadland Boy on July 31, 2017, 01:25:27 PM
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A recurring question is where can small screws be obtained. While grazing amongst the items available from one of my favourite ebay sellers, I noted several varieties of #2 gauge traditional woodscrews available, mostly NOS GKN, so thought I would share.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_odkw=brass+round+wood&_ssn=hootflipflopandfly&item=262875943631&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xwood+screws+x2.TRS0&_nkw=wood+screws+x2&_sacat=0
No commission received here, but having bought all sorts of hardware over the years, have found them a most reliable and obliging outfit, who seem to specialise in buying up stock from the diminishing number of proper hardware stores that we used to be able to walk into for such things and much more.
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Nice!
But it's almost as cheap to buy up old PA's from the Norfolk area, I find. (Hehehehe!)
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You are heading towards a terrible end Mr Jennings, which almost certainly involves a PA and a sugarbeet ;)
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You are heading towards a terrible end Mr Jennings, which almost certainly involves a PA and a sugarbeet ;)
Or a plague of Bishy Barnabees. >:E
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I'm looking for good quality* stainless steel small self-tapping screws - specifically:
Size/gauge: A2
Lengths: 6 mm and 9 mm
Head: Pan/dome
Slot: Pozi/cross-head
Material: stainless steel*
* by good quality I mean steel which is hard enough so that the cross-head/slot does not does not crumble after the first couple of screwing in and out cycles.
Previously I've used screws available from Kay's Fastenings (Ebay UK shop) but the hardness is little better than aluminium, and is only weakly ferro-magnetic.
Castagnari utilise excellent quality screws in their instruments. The screws are strongly attracted to a magnetic tip screwdriver which is very useful when placing the screws in fiddly situations. I would love to obtain some from their source.
Can anyone help please?
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Steve, I think you are not sure about the stainless steel and magnetism. Good grades of SS with a high chromium content are non-magnetic. Most of the screws I see on Castagnari models new and old are not stainless steel, they are chrome or nickel plated carbon steel. The only exceptions are some of the very small slotted heads used to secure keyboard back and front plates which are nickel plated brass. I have screws from Carini which as far as I can see are identical to most of the screws used on Castagnari boxes. The only ones I don't have are those where the head has the look of a built in washer that are used on flat treble grills.
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Steve, I think you are not sure about the stainless steel and magnetism. Good grades of SS with a high chromium content are non-magnetic. Most of the screws I see on Castagnari models new and old are not stainless steel, they are chrome or nickel plated carbon steel. The only exceptions are some of the very small slotted heads used to secure keyboard back and front plates which are nickel plated brass. I have screws from Carini which as far as I can see are identical to most of the screws used on Castagnari boxes. The only ones I don't have are those where the head has the look of a built in washer that are used on flat treble grills.
Aha! Thanks, Theo! The plated carbon steel screws would be just what I'm looking for. Are those the same as Emmanuel uses to secure reed plates to the reed blocks? They always seem to be good quality.
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Similar. The reed securing screws are slightly thinner and slightly wider heads.
The standard screws are 2.2mm diameter in various lengths. The reed plate screws are 2.0mm and 9.5 or 13 length
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Thanks, Theo!
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I use these guys (http://www.modelfixings.co.uk/fixings.htm)
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Steve, I'm sure that you will be aware of this, but I'll mention it for the benefit of those who perhaps aren't.
Cross head screws come with different shaped recesses, and it follows, of course, that the drivers needed to turn them also have different shaped ends.
The patented Pozidrive screws are an excellent development of the Philips screw, and the Japanese seem to have developed their own cross head pattern as well. In fact, I suspect that there are many different patterns now in use, which to the lazy eye look the same. But using the wrong drivers on any cross head screw wears the driver away and, to come extent, the screw as well (depending on its composition, needless to say).
40 odd (?) years ago, grease monkeys like me were getting into a right tizz over our Philips drivers suddenly wearing out after years of good service, being too thick to notice that the shape of the screw recesses had changed dramatically!
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I use these guys (http://www.modelfixings.co.uk/fixings.htm)
Thanks Lester!
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Steve, I'm sure that you will be aware of this, ...
Thanks Edward. I am indeed aware of the different types of cross-head screwdrivers and I do my best to use the correct type for the screw.
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As Edward notes, the Japanese use their own particular variant which is very noticeable in the instrument sizes, so those screws used in Jap cameras, lenses etc. are not easily operated when approached by European drivers.
There are two distinct families of stainless steels, Austenitic and Martensitic, the former generally less magnetic than the latter, which are far less magnetic than most other steels. Horses for courses (as with leathers and glues) tends to result in higher corrosion resistance traded for lower hardness.
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Steve, I have millions of the Pariselle type, both 9mm and 13mm from Carini.
Let me know how many you need (durn, should have brought some last weekend!).
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Steve, I have millions of the Pariselle type, both 9mm and 13mm from Carini.
Let me know how many you need (durn, should have brought some last weekend!).
Thanks Rees, that's very kind of you. I'll get in touch off-forum. (:) :|glug
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Browsing one of my favourite ebay suppliers earlier I noticed an increase in the number of woodscrews they have on offer, good quality new old stock in brass and steel from gauge '0' up to 16, in brass and steel, countersunk & round head.
No connection other than a very satisfied customer for all sorts of ironmongery no longer made or available locally !
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/hootflipflopandfly-at-kibworthdiy/NETTLEFOLDS-GKN-WOOD-SCREWS/_i.html?rt=nc&_storecat=4276421017
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Nice!
But it's almost as cheap to buy up old PA's from the Norfolk area, I find. (Hehehehe!)
Not when you live in the Med, it isn't!! ;)
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Size/gauge: A2
Lengths: 6 mm and 9 mm
Head: Pan/dome
Slot: Pozi/cross-head
Material: stainless steel*
I think you'll find that A2 is actually the grade of stainless material (otherwise known as 304). This is a good versatile stainless for use in non-aggressive environments. In the marine context it is used extensively within the cabin, but external and underwater parts are usually of A4 (316) material which resists corrosion from salt.
Rob
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This outfit https://www.margnor.co.uk/ (https://www.margnor.co.uk/) are a mile or so from my house. They supply a lot of small engineering and other manufacturers in the Guildford area. They are very helpful in my experience.