I have some bookshelves that use machine screws and cross dowels to
hold their frames together. The machine screws are metric: M6 50mm
long, brass plated (antique?) over steel and (here's the real killer)
flat head (countersunk). As luck would have it, since moving house I am
missing some of the cross dowels and the screws, so I need to find
replacements. Ideally I would like to stick with metric fasteners, but
here in the USA that seems to be a tall order, so I could switch to
1/4-20 at a pinch.
I can find 1/4-20 cross dowels easily enough, but finding a source of
brass plated flat head machine screws seems to not be so easy.
Can anyone suggest a supplier who might be able to help (ideally
staying metric, but going the 1/4-20 route at a pinch)?
--
Peter Headland
> Silly question - why do these have to be steel? Would straight brass
> work?
Good (not silly) question! I realised that the wood (looks like some
kind of pine) would tear long before the thread on a 1/4-20 brass screw
would ever strip, so I bought some brass screws and the job's a good
'un.
My thanks to all of you who replied.
--
Peter Headland
On 11 Jan 2005 19:40:11 -0800, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I can find 1/4-20 cross dowels easily enough, but finding a source of
> brass plated flat head machine screws seems to not be so easy.
Silly question - why do these have to be steel? Would straight brass
work?
On 19 Jan 2005 13:05:37 -0800, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Silly question - why do these have to be steel? Would straight brass
>> work?
>
> Good (not silly) question! I realised that the wood (looks like some
> kind of pine) would tear long before the thread on a 1/4-20 brass screw
> would ever strip, so I bought some brass screws and the job's a good
> 'un.
Not directly relevant here, but I've also used steel screws to get
a hole in wood ready for a brass screw. Brass can't take the torque,
but putting a steel screw of the same size in first makes the hole ready.
Try LeeValley
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=40984&category=1,43455,43833&abspage=1&ccurrency=1&SID=
Or HomeDepot - the one in my neighborhood has a full selection of metric
fastners, but I'm in Canada
If there is an Ikea store(www.ikea.com) near you, they too will have them,
as most of their fastners are metric - and they use cross dowels in almost
everything.
Matt
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have some bookshelves that use machine screws and cross dowels to
> hold their frames together. The machine screws are metric: M6 50mm
> long, brass plated (antique?) over steel and (here's the real killer)
> flat head (countersunk). As luck would have it, since moving house I am
> missing some of the cross dowels and the screws, so I need to find
> replacements. Ideally I would like to stick with metric fasteners, but
> here in the USA that seems to be a tall order, so I could switch to
> 1/4-20 at a pinch.
>
> I can find 1/4-20 cross dowels easily enough, but finding a source of
> brass plated flat head machine screws seems to not be so easy.
>
> Can anyone suggest a supplier who might be able to help (ideally
> staying metric, but going the 1/4-20 route at a pinch)?
> --
> Peter Headland
>
On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 23:39:19 -0500, Roy Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
> Lew Hodgett <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> [email protected] wrote:
>> > I have some bookshelves that use machine screws and cross dowels to
>> > hold their frames together. The machine screws are metric: M6 50mm
>> > long, brass plated (antique?) over steel and (here's the real killer)
>> > flat head (countersunk). As luck would have it, since moving house I am
>> > missing some of the cross dowels and the screws, so I need to find
>> > replacements.
>>
>> Go down to you nearest GOOD hardware store that has a good selection of
>> fasteners with sample in hand.
>>
>> Have them special order a box (100 pcs) of what you need.
>>
>> HTH
>>
>> Lew
>
>Or try www.jamestowndistributers.com. Truly awesome selection of screws
>in all sorts of sizes, materials, head styles, etc. If they don't have
>it, you probably don't need it.
Works better if you try: www.jamestowndistributors.com. I've used them
in the past, their brass prices are very good.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Now we'll just use some glue to hold things in place until the brads dry
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
[email protected] wrote:
> I have some bookshelves that use machine screws and cross dowels to
> hold their frames together. The machine screws are metric: M6 50mm
> long, brass plated (antique?) over steel and (here's the real killer)
> flat head (countersunk). As luck would have it, since moving house I am
> missing some of the cross dowels and the screws, so I need to find
> replacements.
Go down to you nearest GOOD hardware store that has a good selection of
fasteners with sample in hand.
Have them special order a box (100 pcs) of what you need.
HTH
Lew
In article <[email protected]>,
Lew Hodgett <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > I have some bookshelves that use machine screws and cross dowels to
> > hold their frames together. The machine screws are metric: M6 50mm
> > long, brass plated (antique?) over steel and (here's the real killer)
> > flat head (countersunk). As luck would have it, since moving house I am
> > missing some of the cross dowels and the screws, so I need to find
> > replacements.
>
> Go down to you nearest GOOD hardware store that has a good selection of
> fasteners with sample in hand.
>
> Have them special order a box (100 pcs) of what you need.
>
> HTH
>
> Lew
Or try www.jamestowndistributers.com. Truly awesome selection of screws
in all sorts of sizes, materials, head styles, etc. If they don't have
it, you probably don't need it.