Let's talk screws

[Kevin54]

Basically automotive screws. Where do you get your screws from, and do you get an assortment in a kit, do you get a kit that is car specific, or do you just run to the local farm store and get what you need?

I've been digging around to find one specific screw and finally found one in my parts drawer. It is a screw for the sill plate on the car. Oval head, countersunk Phillips. Luckily I had one.

I never thought about looking at the swap meet, and if kits are out there that have just a huge assortment of automotive screws, where do you get them?

 

[metaleltr]

Recently i needed a small trim screw that i had lost, i went to the junk yard with my screwdriver and got several of them

I'm not sure if fastenal has anything like this, but they tend to deplore anything automotive,

Mcmaster carr seems to have every fastener under the sun however. they may offer assortments

 

[Zeke]

We're lucky to have this company nearby:
http://hillcofasteners.com/

 

[phred]

I buy almost all my hardware from Mcmaster Carr. They have just about anything you could want usually no minimum. I use a lot of 1/4-20, 5/16, 3/8 and 1/2 stuff so I by them in 100 or 200 lots. Big stuff like 3/4 and 1" gets used some but I can order just one of a particular size if need be. Shipping is fast.
Oh wait I just realized your talking screws. They also have just about any screw you could imagine.

 

[justsam]

I am a big fan of Bolt Depot. http://www.boltdepot.com/

I tend to plan in advance just what I need, get it ordered and delivered to my door. I also tend to say if I need ten of something, order a box of 25.

Interestingly I just ordered some stainless steel, oval head sheet metal screws in various sizes for some restoration work on my Alfa GTV, sill plate screws among them.

I am not a fan of using anything but the right fastener, the right alloy, right plating, right hardness, etc. Good fasteners are not cheap.

Years ago, I did myself a service or disservice, by reading Carroll Smiths book, Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing. Amazing how many race cars got DNF's or much worse due to poor fastener choices. Now that I know what is right, it is hard to compromise.
https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=1659

 

[High5]

If you're restoring a classic car, most fasteners can be bought as a kit. If you're looking for general inventory then I would google fasteners and the city you are nearest to. There should be a dealer somewhere nearby.

Most of us have amassed our inventory with leftover's from projects. At least that is how I acquired most of mine.

 

[Kevin54]

I'm not really looking for OEM as I do know they can run into some big dollars. One reason is that a lot of the older screws are chromed, where they show on the trim. While I waqs putting on the sill plates, I got to thinking that on my truck, I had ordered some screws from a friend that owns Arrow Industrial. They supply shops with nuts, bolts, and such, but he is also an AU-VE-CO rep. I'll have to see if I still have a catalog, and see if I can find his card. Auveco does not sell to individuals, but he let me at the time, order through him, and box quantities are like 25 or 50 depending on size.

I'll look into that and report back when I find out. I don't know how many years Auveco goes back as far as their products, but they have everything as far as automotive plugs and such goes.

 

[Wingnut65]

This might be good info as I dive into the bus restore...

When I needed some rivnuts, I hit McMaster Carr. But, I'm open to some of these other options mentioned.

 

[cdestuck]

McFeeleys.com is a great source for fasteners.

 

[48RON54]

Usually I just go to Ace/Do it best and they have what I need. Guy usually even matches it up for me. If i stump them then it is off to Rainbow Bolt where I can find most any fastener needed...

 

[ChevyEFI]

I haben't gone junkyarding in forever but have a small drawer of OEM ones from JY or parting cars. Ace has a limited number of oem-type stuff. And the paint and body type places have selections. I download catalogs of that type of stuff. So I am set. For now.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Speaking of which, I need to find out what thread fits an 02-07 Liberty taillight. Or visit a dealer.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Here are a couple possible sources.
http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/
https://www.amkproducts.com/

 

[Travisnd]

We're lucky to have this company nearby:
http://hillcofasteners.com/

I'm in Virginia and use these guys!

 

[metaleltr]

I'm not really looking for OEM as I do know they can run into some big dollars. One reason is that a lot of the older screws are chromed, where they show on the trim. While I waqs putting on the sill plates, I got to thinking that on my truck, I had ordered some screws from a friend that owns Arrow Industrial. They supply shops with nuts, bolts, and such, but he is also an AU-VE-CO rep. I'll have to see if I still have a catalog, and see if I can find his card. Auveco does not sell to individuals, but he let me at the time, order through him, and box quantities are like 25 or 50 depending on size.

I'll look into that and report back when I find out. I don't know how many years Auveco goes back as far as their products, but they have everything as far as automotive plugs and such goes.

Ok kev despite my earlier statement saying fastenal deplores automotive i recall that when they were in the same building where the Chinese restaurant currently is down by the library that we went in there to get a few boxes of auveco products, not sure if they still carry them since they have moved

 

[sz0k30]

If you are looking for fasteners that are specific to cars, look at the MANY aftermarket restoration parts suppliers. A lot of the suppliers deal in parts for specific car makes. I'm a Chevy guy so I look at suppliers such as: CARS, Danchuk, Classic Industries, OPG (Original Parts Group), NPD (National Parts Depot), Year One.

 

[rsanter]

Look for the local automotive/autobody supply house. They tent to have most the clips, springs, and screws you will want or need.
For very specific applications you can go to a restoration place depending on the car you have

Bob

 

[Falcon67]

We have a hardware store downtown that carries all kinds of odd hardware and a LOT of stainless items. I usually find something there that will work. We also have a few bolt and nut places thanks to the oil field/industrial work around here. None of it cheap.

 

[metaleltr]

Another thought, im assuming this is for the impalla, in that case restoration world in huber heights may have something to offer

 

[Kevin54]

I sent an e-mail to the guy that is a friend and President of Arrow. Hopefully I will hear back from him as I can get stuff a little over cost. I forgot about Fastenal carrying Auveco stuff, but I remember seeing our Fastenal having that brand name. But Fastenal is really expensive.

When my dad worked for Miller-Meteor, and also at Superior Coach, screws and bolts that hit the floor got scrapped. It was easier and cheaper to just let them get swept up and tossed than to waste time picking up something that cost a few cents. Dad was always coming home with coffee cups full of sheetmetal screws, bolts, washers, nuts, and so on. Those lasted for years and years, probably close to 30 years as many as he had. He/we never had to buy any in all of that time while working on cars.

 

[Techie1961]

There is a company in Ontario Canada called Spaenaur. They have an amazing selection of weird fasteners. http://www.spaenaur.com/

 

[JakeKohl]

I buy almost all my hardware from Mcmaster Carr. They have just about anything you could want usually no minimum. I use a lot of 1/4-20, 5/16, 3/8 and 1/2 stuff so I by them in 100 or 200 lots. Big stuff like 3/4 and 1" gets used some but I can order just one of a particular size if need be. Shipping is fast.
Oh wait I just realized your talking screws. They also have just about any screw you could imagine.

Me too. When I need some hardware for a boat or car project, I usually buy a box or two. That ended up giving me a decent inventory of the hardware I use most often after a couple of years of doing that. the trick is keeping it organized!

 

[wrench409]

When I make a trek to the boneyard, I always come back with a pocket full of screws for the vehicle I went for parts for.


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[Charles (in GA)]

Many moons ago (about 1973) I went to Detroit to visit some friends that were up there visiting relatives. One of the things we did, was go to some big surplus outfit that had crates of tail light lenses, barrels of on specific type of screw, buckets of something else, crates of wiring harnesses........... They bought up stuff from the factories after production shifted to redesigned cars and the stuff was surplus to the automakers needs and spare parts allocations.

Today....... I would have no idea where to find repro screws for restoring automobiles.

Charles

 

[fteufert]

I go to the local U-Pullit yards and ask how much a sandwich bag of screws are. Most times they are free, or a dollar or two.

I have found that Fiero's share many fasteners with my 82 Trans Am, and are much cheaper than buying repo ones. A little elbow grease and they look like new.

 

[Kevin54]

Right now, I have some of the plastic containers that HF, and other places sell, that has an assortment. When I was at Menards a while back, they had the plastic containers that have separate compartments inside of them, for something like $2.00 each. I bought about half a dozen. I should have bought more, which I will do when I go back. I like those containers way better that the Akro-Mills parts cabinets that have the small pull out drawers. I need to make a rack to hold the plastic containers though.

I don't know if I have a pic or not, but one member on here built a rack system that holds the plastic containers. I'm not sure whether it was in his garage or basement, but it was very nice looking up against the brick walls. And he had each slot where the containers went labeled I believe, or the containers may have been labeled. He probably had 75-100 of the plastic containers.

 

[wssix99]

Is this the screw?

Any parts stores sell these as interior trim screws. The big chains have them in the Dorman/HELP! section and they come in bubble pack assortments.

 

[Matt M PA]

I too use an autobody supply house. They sell Car-Pak, W&E and Auveco. They even have catalogues and a display board. You can't buy a couple screws..they'll want you to buy a whole box.

 

[Bill Bowman]

This guy as an online catalog. http://www.henrysautomotivewarehouse.com/ Bill

 

[Kevin54]

Is this the screw?

Any parts stores sell these as interior trim screws. The big chains have them in the Dorman/HELP! section and they come in bubble pack assortments.

That's the screw(s). I would rather buy bulk though instead of 4 or 5 in the HELP section. I do have Auveco boxes of trim panel screws that are mostly for newer cars. These are the black Phillips head screws that have the head that looks like it has a washer built in.

I'll check out some of the links above, get some numbers or descriptions, and see if maybe Amazon carries them. I haven't heard back from my friend yet at Arrow, so I may try to give him a call.

 

[sselander]

Auveco has a hugecatalog, which is enormous.
Here is a link to the PDF catalog:
http://www.auveco.com/download/catalog/auveco_catalog.pdf

I usually look through it to find something close to what I need.
this gives me some kind of description to google.
Many places sell Auveco, just need the part number.

 

[wssix99]

Excellent Resources ^ - thanks!

 

[wnstwolf]

As others have stated this is how we end up wth bigger garages due to needing all those cool fastner holders and a place to put those boxes of items the big brown truck delivers.. McMaster Carr and Auveco have been great for my needs and at times a box of 100 cost the same as the bag of 5 from NAPA or Lowes. I scored half a fastner section from a Supply store closing down. wanted it more for the containers thank fatners but it has been a great $100 investment. Could have scored the entire section if the guy next to me did not think it was a great idea after I asked for the containers... Good luck!