Grub screw sets

[Pete F]

Today seems to be my day to NOT be able to find things I need for projects ;)

I'd like to buy a kit containing grub/set screws (or whatever you'd like to call them as it seems to vary between regions), of various sizes however I'm after SMALL sizes. M2.5 and M3. I guessed there may be some modellers here who may have come across a kit of various length screws (if available), I presume buying them individually will work out to be quite expensive. I would also like to a have a selection of this type of thing as it's always handy to have around. If not a kit of different sizes do model stores sell these weeny screws?

Pete

[rsser]

Yeah, sometimes feast, othertimes famine. With me it's self-tapping woodscrews.

Those are pretty small grub screws you want.

If you go to a decent auto supplies place they'll have bubble packs of various sizes but most will be bigger than that.

Failing better advice that may follow, head down to your nearest industrial supplies place with examples in hand.

Sometimes at my local they can't be fagged doing the invoice thing and just give me a bunch to get me out of the queue ;-}

[Kiwibrucee]

Hi, Bolt.com.au have them and will sell them individually (the listed price is for a packet of 100) I found these tiny screw sizes are suprisingly expensive when I wanted some to fasten a nameplate on my lathe.:oo:
In my experience I've found that it dosn't matter how many screws etc you have on hand you always need a size you havn't got !!
The link should take you to the metric cup point page but they have other types as well.
https://www.bolt.com.au/plain-cup-point-metric-c-1010_1994_2015_2028_2031.html

Sorry I don't know of anyone who has sets with sizes that small.

regards
Bruce T.

[Pete F]

I'm pretty sure they're used in RC models and the like, hence why I thought about model shops. That's the sort of hits I was getting from USbay anyway. There's an engineering supplies place just around the corner from me but I won't give him any business except as an absolute last resort. I appreciate he's a specialist and needs to charge more than say a hardware store (hardly what you'd call a bargain centre either when you see what they wholesale stuff at), but the guy is just absurdly expensive. By that I mean you'd typically double the price and often just add a zero to what would be a reasonable price, literally! He relies on government departments etc who couldn't give a toss when they need a widget. Often I don't care about the extra either, but it's the principle. Of course these are the same guys who will be whinging that the economy is tough :rolleyes:

There's a model store not too far from me and I'll check with them. I just realised I don't have an M2.5 tap either. So I'll either need to get one or redesign the fixing method. All the parts are quite small so simply jamming in a larger fastener isn't a straightforward option. As long as I know I can get all these parts without too many difficulties that's probably good enough for now. I can machine them up and just leave the tapping and fastening for the last stage.

Pete

[witch1]

have you tried taking a screw of the required size and thread and sawing to length and cutting a slot in it?
witch1

[Pete F]

have you tried taking a screw of the required size and thread and sawing to length and cutting a slot in it?
witch1

No I haven't, but that's a good point. Looks are as important as function (little black grub screws of the correct length would look fine), and I could certainly thread some 3 mm brass to make set screws which would also look good and should provide enough holding power. The 2.5 mm I don't have a die for, so the grub screws would still be my preferred option, but that could be a handy backup.

Pete

Edit: Ok, well thanks to the wonders of evil-bay I now have the weeny size tap and die set :) While I'm not normally into models, I'm making a few of these to give to friends. Deceptively simple to look at but actually quite a lot of machining involved. Very fiddly too! http://heetgasmodelbouw.ridders.nu/Webpaginas/pagina_koffiekop_jan/koffiejan_frameset.htm

[burraboy]

Have you tried Small Parts and Bearings? They are my go-to for that sort of stuff.

[Bryan]

This recent thread may help: http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/online-supplier-small-screws-123867/

[.RC.]

Champion is the brand name of the people who make a lot of assorted kits...

They make a grub screw kit containing BSW and Metric sizes..

BSW & Metric Grub Screw Assortment - Champion Parts (http://www.championparts.com.au/bsw-metric-grub-screw-assortment.html)

[krisfarm]

Pete F,
I recently needed some 2.5 mm Countersunk Head Stainless Steel screws and found this company had a good range at fair prices. If you use this link then download their Minature Catalogue you wil see the range, from memory the Metric range is on page 21.
Miniature Fasteners « Micro Fasteners Pty Ltd (http://www.microfasteners.com.au/catalogues/miniature-fasteners/)
Regards Bob

[Anorak Bob]

Pete,

If you are after some odd pitch taps and dies, this seller provides some good stuff -http://stores.ebay.com/ICT-industrial-cutting-tools

I've purchased quite a few items from him. A lot of his gear is Czech. Good quality and cheap registered post. Worth a look.

Bob.

[Dave J]

That link is dead Bob.

Dave

[Anorak Bob]

Dave, I've obviously cocked something up. All I did was copy and paste the bloke's address . I wonder if this works-

NEW M16.0x1.50 HAND TAP/ SET OF 2 PCS/ BRAND NAREX CZ - eBay (item 180542842461 end time Jan-02-11 06:44:58 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-M16-0x1-50-HAND-TAP-SET-2-PCS-BRAND-NAREX-CZ-/180542842461?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0931265d)

If it does then you can check out the rest of his gear.

Bob

[Dave J]

Thanks for that Bob, has some handy taps their.

Dave

[Pete F]

Thanks for that link Bob, that could be very handy. You've found the taps/dies reasonable quality? I have a "set" of metric taps/dies, supposedly reasonable quality but in reality only average. Since I mainly use metric I'm looking to replace the lot with individual HSS tap sets for each size and also new dies. I was threading some 3mm steel of poor quality the other day, quite frustrating as the steel was tearing and not threading properly. A sharper die may have saved the day ... and lots of reworking!

I'm fortunate in that I get to travel a lot for work, one place I go to is India. While most stuff there is absolute crap, one thing I normally have plenty of there is time, so can sort through the rubble to find some real gems. Interestingly enough I've found a source of taps and dies, a local brand that is actually quite good. Definitely not of the same standard as a company like Sutton HSS versions, but for just a buck or 2 each I can buy HSS taps for MUCH less than brand name carbon steel taps here and they're definitely better than the CS versions. It sounds like these Czech versions are a similar deal, possibly even better still?

Pete

[Garry Edwards]

CBC Bearings on Canterbury Rd Bankstown have some assorted sizes in plastic boxes,

Phone number 9709 3355

ask for Vince

Regards

garry