Post by PeterW on Dec 4, 2009 12:01:46 GMT -5
Hi fellow camera tinkerers,
Several people have asked about a sorce for small screws. Most of the manufacturers of tiny screws pack them in boxes of 1,000 but there's a UK company, Precision Technology Supplies Ltd, who make up packs of small stainless steel, brass and plain steel metric thread screws in 50s and 100s with various types of heads, most types starting at 1mm diameter Their website is microscrews.easywebstore.co.uk/default.aspx
You can download a copy of their catalogue and handbook either as a Word document (large) or a pdf. In it you'll also find things like tiny plain washers and tiny headless grub screws starting at 1mm diameter (useful for lenses and control knobs).
If the hole in the camera body has stripped its thread they also do tiny stainlesss self-tapping screws in similar sizes. Alternatively, in a really good tool store you can get some tiny size drills and taps and retap the hole to the next largest size but be very careful not to break a tiny diameter hardened tap in the hole. It can be a bugger to get out.
Yes, it's relatively more expensive buying small quantities of screws than buying by the 1000, but how many of us need 1000 of each size? The small packs are still cheaper than similar tiny screws from Micro Tools.
If the heads don't quite match up with other screws on the camera you can mount stainless steel screws in a Dremel tool, run it on slow speed, reshape the head with a fine-tooth file and then polish it.
I discovered the company earlier this year. I don't know what their postage rates to the US are but I bought several packs and the total UK postage was only £0.75. I was very satisfied with them. They've come in very useful.
PeterW
Several people have asked about a sorce for small screws. Most of the manufacturers of tiny screws pack them in boxes of 1,000 but there's a UK company, Precision Technology Supplies Ltd, who make up packs of small stainless steel, brass and plain steel metric thread screws in 50s and 100s with various types of heads, most types starting at 1mm diameter Their website is microscrews.easywebstore.co.uk/default.aspx
You can download a copy of their catalogue and handbook either as a Word document (large) or a pdf. In it you'll also find things like tiny plain washers and tiny headless grub screws starting at 1mm diameter (useful for lenses and control knobs).
If the hole in the camera body has stripped its thread they also do tiny stainlesss self-tapping screws in similar sizes. Alternatively, in a really good tool store you can get some tiny size drills and taps and retap the hole to the next largest size but be very careful not to break a tiny diameter hardened tap in the hole. It can be a bugger to get out.
Yes, it's relatively more expensive buying small quantities of screws than buying by the 1000, but how many of us need 1000 of each size? The small packs are still cheaper than similar tiny screws from Micro Tools.
If the heads don't quite match up with other screws on the camera you can mount stainless steel screws in a Dremel tool, run it on slow speed, reshape the head with a fine-tooth file and then polish it.
I discovered the company earlier this year. I don't know what their postage rates to the US are but I bought several packs and the total UK postage was only £0.75. I was very satisfied with them. They've come in very useful.
PeterW
