Want to Buy WTB captive screw and sleeve

[removed account4]

looking to buy a captive screw and the threaded sleeve it screws into.
if you don't know what a captive screw is ... it is a thumb that is partially threaded
you have seen them on your tripod head ( it secures your camera, and doesn't unscrew out of the head )
it is also the screw that secures your extension rail or drop down rail to your camera if you have a large format camera.
i need one for a camera ... not my tripod
i've searched the web, ebay &c but haven't really found what i needed ... have an extra? have a beater camera you can harvest it off of ?
let me know and i will see if i can afford it !

thanks !
john

 

[Xmas]

Hi John

Thread size and lengths?

Noel

 

[removed account4]

hi noel

i don't have a tap/die so i can't measure them
it would be a new captive screw and sleeve, not one
to fit into a pre-existing screwed sleeve / tapped outi thread hole..
it needs to be a couple of inches long to fit through the end of the
rail bed and then into the camera's stationary bed.

 

[Xmas]

HiJohn

If you don't know the sizes and thread standard you need to say who made the camera model name and what position but unless it is a standard fitting you will still need lengths to 1/8 an inch tolerance.

A tap size would help.

Or trip to machine shop...

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

There are tons of them on the 'Bay.

 

[bdial]

John,
First off, have you looked here? http://www.mcmaster.com

Often the screw is held captive by a small snap-ring, this is common on tripods, for example. One option would be to find a screw that fits the receiving threads, then file or grind off all but the end threads and add a snap-ring. Tedious, but doable. Destructive power tools help.

If you have a real hardware store handy, you can identify the thread and size by hauling the camera or its pieces in and trying out different screws. If they are really well stocked they may have what you need, but it's not likely. But you'll have a better idea of what to look for.

Another alternative might be to call or email Richard Ritter, he may have something suitable on-hand. He has a lot of bits and pieces of old LF cameras. Or else, he may know what to tell you to buy from McMaster.

If you can identify the size and perhaps add a picture of what needs to fit where, I might be able to come up with something.

 

[removed account4]

thanks for your helps and suggestions !
i'll look into all of them !

there is no receiver threaded part it is screwing into, just a hole so i will
be starting fresh ... i don't really need this new screw to match the old brass one ...
i just need something better than the long bolt i am currently using

 

[bdial]

That makes it a lot easier.
Sounds like you need something from this page;
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-threaded-inserts/=yh9b6p
And then one of these;
http://www.mcmaster.com/#captive-screws/=yh9ani

 

[removed account4]

thanks barry !

i hadn't gone to mcmaster yet,
as they say around here, i'm stoked!

john

 

[removed account4]

...

 

[Rick A]

Your local hardware, it's called a Chicago screw, sometimes a bolster screw.