Home > Archive > Homebuilt Computers > May 2004 > Re: Who was asking about PC screws and what screwdriver to use?
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| Author |
Re: Who was asking about PC screws and what screwdriver to use?
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| Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH 2004-05-20, 2:15 pm |
| "Timothy Daniels" <TDaniels@NoSpamDot.com> wrote in
news:R5ednRs9BJmBhv7dRVn-gQ@comcast.com:
> Three months ago I was struggling to find a couple of these screws.
> I finally paid Dell Computer 25 cents apiece for some 6x32 1/4"
> *skirted* (built-in washer) hex head screws. When you're constantly
> dis-asembling and re-assembling your PC, you appreciate not having
> little washers drop down inside the case. But try and find a source
> for them in small (i.e. retail) quantities....
Any really good hardware store should have them in the bins. Even the
local bozos here almost always have something suitable in stock.
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| Timothy Daniels 2004-05-20, 2:15 pm |
|
"Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH" opined:
> "Timothy Daniels" wrote:
>
> Any really good hardware store should have them in the bins. Even the
> local bozos here almost always have something suitable in stock.
I tried numerous electronic hardware stores here in L.A. - all the
kind which sell bits-'n-pieces - and none of them had the kind and
size that Dell uses. I even went to hardware stores which pride
themselves in having every size of every screw or bolt that is made -
no luck. And.... of course, neither did Home Depot or Ace Hardware.
The rare feature is the "skirt", sometimes called "washerless" or "tophat".
That feature is only of value for the very specific need for there to be no
washer to fall into circuitry. Of course, if I wanted to make a special
order for a whole box of such screws, they could be ordered. But
in small quantities, there's not enough demand to support retail sale.
Given the quantity I needed, 25 cents apiece from Dell was reasonable.
*TimDaniels*
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| Toshi1873 2004-05-20, 2:15 pm |
| In article <Xns94EF697E5823Ekd5nrhyahoocom@
38.144.126.106>, kd5nrh@yahoo.spam.com says...
> "Timothy Daniels" <TDaniels@NoSpamDot.com> wrote in
> news:R5ednRs9BJmBhv7dRVn-gQ@comcast.com:
>
>
> Any really good hardware store should have them in the bins. Even the
> local bozos here almost always have something suitable in stock.
>
Or go dumpster diving or thrift store diving... even old
AT-style cases use the same screws. After a while,
you'll have a bag full of screws and you'll never need
to go dumpster diving again. I got mine over the years
from stripping down old units prior to tossing the
unusable bits out.
Or you could go shop at www.cyberguys.com who sell all
sorts of small parts (including screws).
| |
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| On Thu, 20 May 2004 09:01:18 -0700, "Timothy Daniels"
<TDaniels@NoSpamDot.com> wrote:
>
>
> I tried numerous electronic hardware stores here in L.A. - all the
>kind which sell bits-'n-pieces - and none of them had the kind and
>size that Dell uses. I even went to hardware stores which pride
>themselves in having every size of every screw or bolt that is made -
>no luck. And.... of course, neither did Home Depot or Ace Hardware.
>The rare feature is the "skirt", sometimes called "washerless" or "tophat".
>That feature is only of value for the very specific need for there to be no
>washer to fall into circuitry. Of course, if I wanted to make a special
>order for a whole box of such screws, they could be ordered. But
>in small quantities, there's not enough demand to support retail sale.
>Given the quantity I needed, 25 cents apiece from Dell was reasonable.
I've had similar observation, that it's not common to find those with a
hex head. However, a mom-n-pop computer shop would typically have so many
they throw them away, or would be more than happy to beat Dell's $0.25/ea.
price.
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| On Thu, 20 May 2004 09:01:18 -0700, "Timothy Daniels"
<TDaniels@NoSpamDot.com> wrote:
| I tried numerous electronic hardware stores here in L.A. - all the
| kind which sell bits-'n-pieces - and none of them had the kind and
| size that Dell uses. I even went to hardware stores which pride
| themselves in having every size of every screw or bolt that is made -
| no luck. And.... of course, neither did Home Depot or Ace Hardware.
| The rare feature is the "skirt", sometimes called "washerless" or "tophat".
| That feature is only of value for the very specific need for there to be no
| washer to fall into circuitry. Of course, if I wanted to make a special
| order for a whole box of such screws, they could be ordered. But
| in small quantities, there's not enough demand to support retail sale.
| Given the quantity I needed, 25 cents apiece from Dell was reasonable.
Did you try some of your local mom and pop computer shops? One near
me usually has about anything related to odd computer screws and has
given me a few on several occasions when I've needed them. When they
accumulate too many, they often put random sizes in little plastic
bags and sell them on the clearance table for 50¢ per bag just to get
rid of them.
Another good source is some of us computer "tinkerers." I probably
have dozens of exactly the screws you were looking for, but I'm on the
east coast.
Larc
§§§ - Change planet to earth to reply by email - §§§
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| Timothy Daniels 2004-05-20, 2:15 pm |
| "Larc"
> Did you try some of your local mom and pop computer shops?
That's a good idea. I'll look in the Yellow Pages under "M" for
hex screws next time. "Hello, Madam. Do you sell hex screws?"
:-) Actually, I did look under "Computers" for those Mom 'n Pop
places, and I called one. A Taiwanese accent said "Wha?", and I
gave up. Maybe I should have first asked "Do you install hard
drives?" Come to think of it (!), maybe I should have asked Madam
that as well.
*TimDaniels*
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| Overlord 2004-05-20, 11:15 pm |
| On Thu, 20 May 2004 12:09:36 -0400, Toshi1873 <toshi1873@nowhere.com> wrote:
>In article <Xns94EF697E5823Ekd5nrhyahoocom@
>38.144.126.106>, kd5nrh@yahoo.spam.com says...
>
>Or go dumpster diving or thrift store diving... even old
>AT-style cases use the same screws. After a while,
>you'll have a bag full of screws and you'll never need
>to go dumpster diving again. I got mine over the years
>from stripping down old units prior to tossing the
>unusable bits out.
>
Oh sure, I never ditch anything without gutting it and stripping every potentially
useful part and screw. It's a XXXXX when next year you're looking for that case/PS
and you Know it's in This corner of the storeroom and you Know it has the right
part that would be damn near unique for what you need it for.... and then realize
it's been recycled into toasters along with your part...
>Or you could go shop at www.cyberguys.com who sell all
>sorts of small parts (including screws).
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| |
| Timothy Daniels 2004-05-20, 11:15 pm |
| "Overlord" wrote:
> Oh sure, I never ditch anything without gutting it and stripping
> every potentially useful part and screw. It's a XXXXX when next
> year you're looking for that case/PS and you Know it's in This
> corner of the storeroom and you Know it has the right part that
> would be damn near unique for what you need it for.... and then
> realize it's been recycled into toasters along with your part...
The10th Law of the Universe says:
"No matter how long you store a piece of junk, it will be
Just The Thing You Need two weeks after you finally
throw it out."
*TimDaniels*
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| Jon Danniken 2004-05-20, 11:15 pm |
| "Timothy Daniels" wrote:
> "Overlord" wrote:
>
>
> The10th Law of the Universe says:
> "No matter how long you store a piece of junk, it will be
> Just The Thing You Need two weeks after you finally
> throw it out."
That's the story of my life, there.
Jon
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| Timothy Daniels 2004-05-20, 11:15 pm |
| "Jon Danniken" commented on:
> "Timothy Daniels" wrote:
>
> That's the story of my life, there.
The Corollary to the 10th Law says:
"Your spouse made you throw it out."
*TimDaniels*
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| Overlord 2004-05-20, 11:15 pm |
| On Thu, 20 May 2004 19:25:39 -0700, "Timothy Daniels" <TDaniels@NoSpamDot.com> wrote:
>"Jon Danniken" commented on:
>
>
> The Corollary to the 10th Law says:
>"Your spouse made you throw it out."
>
>*TimDaniels*
Hmmm, believe I shall call this Gscheidle's subclause;
"You will spend months on and off searching for it. as you
will not remember throwing it away and believe you just
misplaced it, or will not believe you would have done
something so stupid; it must be here somewhere".
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