When did slotted screws become extinct?

[craigb]

I don't know what it's like in the other states, but it appears that it's impossible to buy a slotted screw from a hardware shop in Sydney these days.

I've been to two separate Bunnies, a Mitre Ten and a Thrifty Link and all any of them stock is Phillips or Posidrive screws.

I realise that they are catering to the lowest common denominator but I can't believe that I'm the only person that wants to use a slotted screw from time to time.

At the moment I'm installing some brass box hinges and for me, philips head screws just don't look as good as slotted.

I actually bought the hinges of the web from Veneer Inlay in WA expecting that they'd come with slotted screws, but nuh 'fraid not.

It just seems ridiculous to me that I have to buggerise around hunting down something as simple as a slotted bloody screw.


:mad:

Sorry about the rant

Craig

[silentC]

Craig,

Come down to Pambula and I'll give you as many brass slotted screws as you want. I worked in a sheetmetal shop years ago and we frequently used brass hinges on toolboxes. The hinges were always fitted with pop rivets and I kept all the screws. I chucked out a heap of them a while ago but I still have hundreds. Good thing they don't rust because they'll probably last me a lifetime.

[craigb]

Darren,

From what I've seen I think you made a wise choice keeping them.

Craig

[craigb]

Well I managed to find what I was after at Paul's.

It's great to have an old time hardware store that is not part of a chain - must be one of the few still around these days - and is still prepared to sell screws loose.

Long may they remain.

[journeyman Mick]

Aaah, shouldn't that be sell to loose screws? Maybe not, BTW is that one of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces in your Avatar? Falling Waters or something like that?

Mick

[Wood Borer]

I think you'll find heaps of loose screws in Canberra. They collect there from time to time from all over the country. The only trouble is they are not straight.

I agree with you Craig, I also mentioned this a few months ago on this BB. I put the word out amongst friends and they have gladly donated thousands of slotted brass screws to me.

- Wood Borer

[silentC]

I was going to suggest William Street if you were looking for a loose screw but then thought better of it. :eek:

Bugger, I've gone and said it anyway...

[craigb]

Mick,

Yep. Falling Water it is. I'd love to visit it some day.

I thought screws loose reference would get a response.

Glad to see you blokes didn't dissapoint

Craig

[Shane Watson]

The brass ones are still very easily attainable. Certainly not from the likes of Bunnies though.

[outback]

OOOOOPPPS I think I mighta missed the point.

You were after wood screws.
However I can't figure out why you would want loose ones, wouldn't they just fall out and then your hinge would come away.

What you really need are tight screws!

[journeyman Mick]

Q: When did slotted screws become extinct?
A :When tradesmen started using cordless drills instead of Stanley "Yankee Clipper" screwdrivers.
And a bloody good thing too I reckon! I once built a very upmarket house on a 170acre property and it had 18 sets of french doors, 2 openings with 2 pairs of bifold windows each, and mortice locks, barrel bolts and cabin hooks on the lot, all held on with slotted brass screws. After I had hung and fitted the lot using a couple of boxes of temporary steel philips head screws I went around and fitted all the brass screws by hand. It took 3 days just to fit the screws (and I worked 12hr days back then) . Never so glad to see the end of something.

Mick

[Sir Stinkalot]

If slotted screws are all but gone why is it the case that when you buy a pre arranged set of screwdrivers to you get 10 slotted and 2 phillips heads?????

[journeyman Mick]

Screwdriver? What's a screwdriver? You mean that's not a paint tin opener/pry bar?:confused:

Mick

[silentC]

The last time I bought a set of 'Screwdrivers', it came with:

4 Phillips Head Screw Drivers
1 Small probe/scraper/marking knife
1 Gadget for undoing the screws on old electrical fittings
1 Paint tin opener
2 Cold Chisels

I found the handles on the cold chisels to be a bit soft and prone to shattering when hit with a lump hammer.

[AlexS]

Jeez Silent, don't you know anything? They're not cold chisels - one's a paint stirrer and the other one's a motor bike tyre lever. What ever happened to 'use the right tool for the right job'?