Anyone found a source for the old washer head screws?

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

  Anyone know where to buy the old slotted round washer head screws Homelite used back in the day?  I'm getting tired of buying them piecemeal and paying thru the nose, and really want to buy in bulk.  I've looked online at the usual bolt supplyhouses and all I can find is phillips....or slotted in metric.....so no go.  I'm thinking of calling a few places that make custom head bolts and ordering some, or having a machinist friend turn down some truss heads to make 'em, but figured maybe one of you guys has already found a source.  If so, can you let me know?

thanks,
bob

[charliec]

I hear you.... I hate having to buy any screw/bolt or nut piece meal as many of the Homelite size screws are not common place sizes in today's world. I am in for buying a piece of your "bulk" buy depending on the size you are attempting to buy ( e.g., 10- 32, 10-24, 8-32, etc.). I assume you would order something in the 2" length and then cut them down to fit the length needed via a cut-off wheel or similar device. I have occasionally considered the same thing but the price point made me run for the hills (e.g., 1,000 piece minimum). Have you thought about what grade hardness you would want ( e.g., grade 5, 8, etc.). I am a fan of grade 5 ( not too hard but not the soft/cheap junk you normally find in today's market-place/stores). Even when you can find some Homelite NOS screws half the time they are crap (my opinion). For example, many of Homelite's cap head screws ( shallow overall head depth) had very shallow slots (regular screw driver) due to the head depth and they where not hardened making it very easy to "bugger-up" the head causing a real PIA situation.

Charlie

P.S., I am a fan of slotted hex head full depth across the slot verses just a shallow center with a raised edge/perimeter which can easily get buggered up. I know, sometimes a round head just works, fits or looks better but that is the exception in my opinion. In other words, if you are willing to pay for a custom order why not swing for the stars.... ha!

[charliec]

Do you have a specific screw size and length ( e.g., flanged button head, slotted, 10-32 X 1-3/16") you are trying to find or is your comment more of a generic inquiry?

If the picture you attached to your inquiry is what you are after ( i.e., appears to look like Homelite part # 80841 (10-32 X 1-3/16")) then check out the following link to McMaster Carr (I assume you checked them out already but perhaps you missed this listing). I know, it is not a button head screw but it is low profile (if you need that) and has a slotted head plus a hex head.... ha! However, it is stainless steel and provides no hardness grade rating. Please note, this particular screw only comes in 10-32 so if you are looking for some other size..... you are SOL with this listing.

www.mcmaster.com/products/bolts/thread-size~10-32/stainless-steel-flanged-hex-head-screws-with-slotted-drive/

[w30bob]

Hi Charlie,

I'm interested in finding a source for these screws for restoration purposes. You're right that their not very good for their intended purpose, which is probably why they were discontinued and no one else uses them anymore. The two sizes I needed the other day were 8-32 x 1/2 and 10/32 x 1/2....used to hold the bodywork on the older saws. I have to go thru the IPLs to make a list of all the sizes. Then I can see if it makes more sense to have them all made to a larger length and cut them down or order them in different sizes. I think the expense is in the head design, not the length, but like you said their maybe minimum buys for each length as well. So if I had then made they'd be exactly like they were made originally. I'm sure there's boxes of them sitting in old hardware stores and such, but I'm not lucky enough to ever find things I need. I did talk to a machinist friend of mine and he agrees we can turn down truss head screws to make these, but it's really time consuming and thus expensive. I'm going to be talking to a protyping house next week........we'll see what they have to say. Of course if I go thru the expense of having them made I know a couple NOS cases of them will pop up on Ebay......it's just how things go.

;O)

[charliec]

Bob,
I just sent you an email (i.e. check your HOH inbox)

Charlie