Source for VERY small screws?

Shawn Rahman · Jul 16, 2011

I am looking for a source for very small (I mean TINY) screws. While cleaning an old Box Tengor, I seemed to have ruined one of the very small (thin and short) screws that holds the front plate to the camera.

Can I find these things in typical hardware stores? Will a Lowes or Home Depot carry them? I'm also thinking maybe crafts stores like JoAnns or Michael's may carry them.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

anikin · Jul 16, 2011

Lowes and Home Depot are usually useless for such things. Try ACE hardware store. That's where I got a missing tiny screw when I was repairing my Retina IIIc. Also watch and jewelry repair places usually have assortment of small screws.

Bill Burk · Jul 16, 2011

The only place I ever found them was inside cameras that I took apart.

Model / Toy stores sometimes have small screws but then they still might not be small enough.

Sirius Glass · Jul 16, 2011

I cannot comment on all older large format cameras, but some of the early Graphics and Graflexes have hand made screws. These screws are screwed into the wood body. The shape of the screw, the threads, the pitch of the threads are not used any longer. The holes need a screw of that shape and that shape only. If you loose one of these screws, there are no commercially available substitutes. The result is that in that situation one is screwed.

Steve

alanrockwood · Jul 16, 2011

There is a company called Small Parts. See if they have what you need.

Dan Daniel · Jul 16, 2011

Watch repair shop, optician, model railroad store.

On wood, can you not either fill the hole and re-tap with a standard, or drill it out to a larger size? This is also a possibility with metal if there is enough material.

paul ron · Jul 16, 2011

Perhaps if it is only a couple and you do have another as a sample, someone may be generous enough to give a few?

How many screws do you need? Do you have another as a sample to compare it to?

bdial · Jul 16, 2011

Micro Tools also sells some, and hobby stores that cator to model railroading or (flying) model planes are a possibility too. But as Sirius says, some screws are unique to the manufacturer and the only way to get a proper match is from another camera from that maker.
If you don't mind not staying original, then you may be able to substitue a slightly larger screw of a similar type, but if you're dealing with machine screws then you'll also need to locate the proper drill and tap for the size screw you end up with.

bsdunek · Jul 16, 2011

Old cameras had 'optical' screws which are like model railroad screws. They come in sizes like 00-90, 0-72, etc. 00-90 is what is generally used on glasses. Later manufacturers went to metric screws. They come in sizes like 1.2X5mm, 1.6X4mm, etc. These can be obtained from Micro Tools Dead Link Removed

Hope this helps.

mhcfires · Jul 17, 2011

Don't forget McMaster Carr. http://www.mcmaster.com/#brass-wood-screws/=d7l6jk The have a fine selection of everything from size 0 on up.

Curt · Jul 17, 2011

It's getting harder and harder to find a place to get a good screw. Some eyeglass repair kits have screws in them, it seems that eye glass wearers need a screw once and a while too.

Junk store glass frames might be a source.

Good luck.

Ralph Javins · Jul 20, 2011

Good morning, Shawn;

The best place I have found so far for small screws is down in Anikin's Territory. Well, actually, not far from him up in Portland, Oregon. Parkrose Hardware on NE Sandy Boulevard just a little east of I-205 is were I have gone to get small screws. They have both US and Metric, mild steel, brass, stainless steel, round head, pan head, flat head, oval head, socket head, and others. Truly a place to warm Tim Allen's heart and set it afluttering.

While I do live up here in Latte Land, Washington, yes, I have driven down there just to get small scews, because I know that I can get them. While I have not been able to get a true exact replacement for every screw I needed, I have been able to get engough screws to replace all of the screws of that type on the camera so that it all looks the same again. In many cases, this has been an improvement, because the replacement screws were stainless steel, and I think they look nicer.

Others have already suggested Micro-Tools, Small Parts, hobby shops, and others, and perhaps even a local watch repair shop. I also suggest checking your local independant, non-chain store, hardware store. You might be surprised at what they carry, and I have found that their selection was better than "the large box stores."

steven_e007 · Jul 26, 2011

Anywhere that glazes spectacles - lots of high street opticians have a workshop area where they can at least repair glasses - many can make them on the premises.

I asked in one shop and the optician took me to the area where the technicians repaired and adjusted glasses. Te screws were so small that if they dropped one - it stayed dropped. On the floor, under the bench, behind the computer keyboard were literally thousands of screws. I got a dust pan and brush full in a paper bag for free....

Having said that - amazing how many different sizes and threads there are and how few fitted any camera application :-(

BetterSense · Jul 26, 2011

You can find tiny screws at RC/hobby stores sometimes. Also McMaster Carr and Small Parts. McMaster carr in particular has a really good website.

nsurit · Jul 26, 2011

I got a bunch of different size screws from a model railroad supply place online. http://www.micromark.com and think is the place. Bill Barber

Dan Grisez · Jul 26, 2011

+1 for McMaster-Carr

Source for VERY small screws?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency