ECN Forum
Posted By: Attic Rat Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 03:02 AM
...I once bought a box of 10-32 x 1" self-tapping/drilling, hex head,stainless steel screws..tho' Ive been told they don't make such an animal.I've searched everywhere,and the only thing I can come up with is a "thread-cutting" screw..with that,ya gotta drill a pilot hole first,then thread in your screw in..With the other,ya just drill it in with your 5/16 hex-bit,and you're done..I know I'm not cracking up..(yet)...has anyone seen,or used this kind of screw..?
I use them for bonding ground lugs on FS boxes,and swimming pool ladders,structural members etc..I then attach a 10-32 nut,and cinch it up real tight,to make a good bond...
Russ
Posted By: Bjarney Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 03:48 AM
AR — In a pinch, McMaster-Carr is a fairly decent industrial-hardware house. www.mcmaster.com/
www.mcmaster.com/param/asp/psearch....mp;desc=Thread%2DCutting+Pan+Head+Screws
Posted By: DougW Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 04:04 AM
MCMaster Carr is the BOMB, baby!

They may not have the lowest prices, but if you need a left handed wire twist remover, they'll have it!
Posted By: Big Jim Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 04:36 AM
As soon as anybody says stainless, the first thing that comes to mind is aircraft supply houses. I do some restoration on older vehicles and I have a place that has 5/32 stainless steel closed-end flat head pop rivets on the shelf. Try and find them in a hardware store. Check you local phone book.
Posted By: NJwirenut Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 12:43 PM
McMaster-Carr part number:

90106A219--unslotted hex head, SS #10 x 1" self drilling screw.

The "10-32" requirement may be what is killing you. I have never seen a self drilling machine screw, only the thread forming type. Self drillers are generally a sheet metal screw type of thread. If you need a 10-32 machine screw thread, thread formers would be the way to go.




[This message has been edited by NJwirenut (edited 04-28-2004).]
Posted By: SteveMc Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 09:43 PM
I can't find the code reference at the moment, but a self-drilling (tek) screw is not allowed to be used to attach a ground lug. The hole must be drilled and tapped.
Posted By: iwire Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 09:59 PM
There are Tek screws available with machine threads instead of typical sheet metal threads.

These Teks with machine threads are not prohibited for grounding use.

Here is the code that prohibits sheet metal screws.

Quote
250.8 Connection of Grounding and Bonding Equipment.
Grounding conductors and bonding jumpers shall be connected by exothermic welding, listed pressure connectors, listed clamps, or other listed means. Connection devices or fittings that depend solely on solder shall not be used. Sheet metal screws shall not be used to connect grounding conductors to enclosures.

Here is a picture of a Tek screw with true machine threads.

[Linked Image from boltland.com]

[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 04-28-2004).]
Posted By: JCooper Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/28/04 10:50 PM
Mcmaster is one of those places I would like to run free like a kid in a candy store, and seeing as how I can look out my front door and almost see them, only about 200' down the road, maybe they will let me... or I can wait till it gets dark... Find my bfh.... [Linked Image]
Posted By: maintenanceguy Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/29/04 12:02 AM
I've had a couple of emergencies where I needed something really weird right now! I've called mcmaster and picked up at the plant. Thousands of feet of conveyor belts all criss-crossing each other as boxes are being automatically bumped from one conveyor to the next.

They didn't let me play with anything.
Posted By: Lostazhell Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/29/04 07:20 AM
Id NEVER heard of this place!!!!

A supply house open on Saturdays!?!? in LA!
My boss is gonna have an account for us there yesterday! [Linked Image]

-Randy

I spent 3 hours trying to find these for a deli owner with $27K worth of "Boarshead" meat in a walk in cooler on a dead panel! at 2pm on a Saturday(feeder was loose, arced the back of the panel, put everything back together... "where's the breaker?".. "what breaker?" "for the panel?" "Oh, you mean the fuses?".. "ummmmm..."

[Linked Image from littelfuse.com]
Posted By: Joe Carpenter Re: Screw Hunting... - 04/30/04 06:56 PM
McMaster Carr. They have it all. As a maintenence dept we get anything from cleaning supplies, plumbing supplies, pneumatic supplies, safety supplies, some of our electrical supplies and much more from them.
Try to get a catalog from them however. It is a real catalog/reference book but many people cannot get them to send one. You cannot even buy the catalog from them. If you are on their list you will get them regularly for free. But if you are not, you will likely never get one free or paid. I sell my used ones one Ebay when I get a new one. Sold one a year ago for 100 bucks.
Posted By: Electric Ian Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/01/04 01:50 AM
When I first saw the subject of this thread, I thought I was at the wrong forum [Linked Image]
Posted By: Bjarney Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/01/04 03:20 AM
McM-C catalog policy: www.mcmaster.com/aboutus/catalogs.html Paper publishing is becoming expensive compared to web publishing, especially for 3500 pages. They might come up with a cdrom version eventually. Online search features get easier/more intuitive to use with experience, and are unfortunately becoming a default mode of product description.
Posted By: Bjarney Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/02/04 07:48 PM
AR, if you want to get thoroughly insane about FS-box grounding, add one of these to each 10-32 screw… [McM Cat No 95795A012] Teeth on both sides let you use washer as an insert between two adjustable pieces to maintain position after setting. Use for electrical bonding. www.mcmaster.com...washers&FT_138=6320




[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 05-02-2004).]
Posted By: Trainwire Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/02/04 08:42 PM
Man I wish I got a percentage of the money we spend each year in that place.

Them and Grainger and MSC.

TW
Posted By: DougW Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/02/04 11:23 PM
The wife just got a gig working for Grainger, so I gotta back the home team. (WOO HOO! Good money & better bennies than I have! [Linked Image] ) They still have a better overall supply of (regular) tools, motors, general equipment, fans & pumps (of course, fans and motors are what they started out with).

But when it comes to hard-to-find-ware such as weird screws, metal & plastic stock, and mecha-nickel type stuff, McM has 'em beat. The McM catalog always reminded me of the old hardware store in your hometown, as a kid, put on paper. (Pulleys, turnbuckles, and nails, oh my!) You can just imagine the old guy with the 1/2 glasses in the plaid flannel shirt, painter's jeans, and canvas nail apron (with a pencil behind his ear, of course) saying "Oh, you need a left-handed conduit stretcher? We got one in back, I think. Hold on a second" as he wanders off behind the bins full of roofing nails and the rack of conduit...
Posted By: dwilliams35 Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/03/04 03:05 AM
My MSC catalog has exactly that animal: except not in 10-32. They've got other thread patterns, but that's the one gaping hole. Maybe their customer service could put you in touch with the manufacturer: they may have one that didn't make the catalog.
Posted By: mvpmaintman Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/03/04 03:46 AM
McMaster-Carr, Grainger, MSC are all available on CD-Rom too.

Anybody ever go ga ga over a Newark In One catalog????

Several thousand pages of electronics parts!!
Posted By: NJwirenut Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/03/04 12:36 PM
Newark's catalog is pretty amazing, as is the one from Digi-Key. They must kill a LOT of trees for that one, though. A new issue every month or so, and it has doubled in size in the last year or so. Last one is over 1300 pages, in much smaller type than the Newark catalog....
Posted By: Joey D Re: Screw Hunting... - 05/03/04 09:12 PM
Greenlee has been touring the local supply house's and they have a kit to drill and tap in one shot. Then you install your screw. Not what you want but may be usefull.
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