Metric screws hunt

[rodregier]

I like to replace hex drive screws with Torx / metric Star / lobed / Hexalobular drive screws. (I hate hex drive).

I'm hunting for a retail source where I can buy a few of the following:

M4x0.70x16mm Torx Cap Head Screw.

Longer is ok, I can cut them down.

These would work, but I don't want to pay $US39 shipping for a 50 machine screw minimum order.

http://www.accuscrews.co.uk/torx-cap-head-screws/14354-SHC-M4-22-A2.html

Any source suggestions? Canadian hardware stores don't have diverse collections of machine screws - certainly not cap head torx.

 

[Odd Job]

The very best UK supplier is Clerkenwell screws in London, who will sell you any quantity of screws but they are used to doing over the counter business.
+44 (0) 20 7405 1215

Might be worth giving them a call anyway, they should be there on Friday.

 

[rodregier]

Realistically a UK vendor is going to drive up the shipping cost. I'm in Halifax, N.S.


I understand why vendors want to use shipping services with tracking numbers,
but that usually makes the shipping cost an order of magnitude more expensive than the goods for shipment from the UK to Canada. Domestic shipping for the same order in the UK would be say $7, while int'l is quoted at $39.

The primary factor driving me towards UK vendors is that SAE hardware is more popular in N. America, but metric is more popular in the rest of the world.

Yet another overly-constrained problem...

 

[earlthegoat2]

McMaster-Carr

Id link it but MC site wont work that way. The home page is the only reliable link. http://www.mcmaster.com/#

Just search under fasteners. The website is very good and intuitive.

 

[Old Shooter]

Is there a Lowes or Home Depot or something similar in your area?

I know Lowes in the US has a decent selection of metric fasteners in their hardware department that could probably be cut down for your use.

 

[rodregier]

Both chains here, but content can vary significantly from the US incarnation.

Metric Torx cap head is pretty exotic, I can't find them online in the US at all.
Metric Hex cap head I can find all day online in the US.

 

[rodregier]

No Torx metric cap-head on McMaster Carr - just hex :-(

 

[me26245]

screws

Just a thought I found some screws for a saddle I needed on E-Bay.

 

[Sol]

Freight frugality for these fancy fasteners?

Go to a self serve junkyard or scrapyard and bring your tools. Look for Audis, Mercedes Benzs, BMWs , volkswagens etc... Start stripping the screws off the things particularly the interior. You should find what your looking for.

You could even go to a euro car dealer and ask the parts dept for the screws your looking for. Even modern higher end bicycles are coming with them so see if a bike store could source what your looking for.

 

[earlthegoat2]

My bad, I thought you were looking for button head

 

[Snow Dog]

Have you tried these guys?
http://www.fullermetric.com/index.aspx
http://www.fastenal.com/web/home
https://www.acklandsgrainger.com/AGIPortalWeb/WebSource/Main/begin.do

 

[rodregier]

Already looked at Ackland Granger - no joy

Fullermetric - only hex cap head

Fastenall - only hex cap head

Good suggestions otherwise.

 

[Speedo66]

http://www.stainlesscycle.com/presta/index.php

http://www.metricmcc.com/

 

[rodregier]

Stainless cycle - no Torx in socket head cap screws

Metric MCC - no Torx in socket head cap screws

{sigh}

 

[rodregier]

Recutting the holes to the next size up SAE bolt thread is another option, but the body is anodized aluminum, so the result would be weaker Also that would either cost shop time or price of a tap.

Apparently this is an overly constrained challenge in N. America. I'm going to get a 3mm hex driver bit (field tool kit) and use the existing hex head M4 bolts.

{sigh}