Need UK Supplier For PC Expansion Card Screw

[dhwilliams]

You all know the type of screw - hex head with crosspoint and a serrated flange acting like a shakeproof washer but actually part of the screw. Thread length about 6mm, diameter about 3.5mm used for securing PCI expansion cards in PCs. I need to buy these in batches of about 500 - too many for my local Computer shops to supply. Anyone know of a UK distributor that stocks them?

I've asked this in Computer Engineering Forum but no replies! Perhaps it's too mechanical for them...

 

[EnglishMuffin]

Funnily enough, (I live in US), I was looking for one last week in a local ACE hardware store - thought it would be easy to get - but noo... ! In the US they are 6-32 threads.

 

[dhwilliams]

Went to Maplins (UK equivalent of Radio Shack?) yesterday, they sell a bag of assorted computer fixings, Motherboard Mounting Pillars, D-Type Socket Pillars and the screws I want! To get 500 screws I would have to pay for all the other bits and throw them away. No way!

I've looked at lots of online hardware catalogues but none of them stock this particular item. There's probably a factory in the far east that makes billions of them but only sells them to computer case manufacturers.

 

[harrisj]

Talk to TR fasteners in Uckfield, East Sussex.

 

[dhwilliams]

Harrisj,

Rang TR, they don't stock them and said they would try to source them if I sent a sample. They also said that their suppliers usually have a 50,000-piece minimum order. Also, as we do not have an account with them there is a GBP100.00 minimum order charge. No chance!

Thanks anyway,
Dave

 

[diamondjim]

I think the terminology is sems that have
the washer and screw combined. Some of the
old computers simply had philips points
and button heads. The hex heads have become
the latest standard and should be available
from McMaster Carr and/or any large supplier
of industrial equipment. I am surprised that
you cannot buy these at a computer store already
packaged in a bag of 20 or so.

 

[dhwilliams]

diamondjim,

You may not have read the subject line properly, I'm in the United Kingdom so an American firm ain't much good, the postage would be more than the cost of the screws. I have tried all the UK screw suppliers I can find and none of them stock this screw. I can't visit every computer shop in Liverpool buying small bags of screws from each one, my boss wouldn't like it! Anyway it's too late now, we've just sent an order off for bog-standard self-tappers.

Thanks to those who tried,
Dave