Metric Hardware - where do you buy?

[kbs2244]

At most of my local ACE stores the nuts and bolts stock is a commission sales area inventoried and stocked by an non-store company.
Talk to the store manger.
It will not cost him anything to get a wider selection of metric in stock
It may cost him a few of the SAE items to make room though

 

[coljar]

Rural King nearby.

 

[Jagmandave]

I find I can buy 20 of something from BoltDepot for what 2 cost at Ace, and shipping is FAST!

I also found that on inch stuff (I work on classic Minis, so no metrical stuff on them - except when working on a Mini Innocenti! ) at Bolt Depot, grade 8 is cheaper than grade 5 stuff!

Home Depot is pretty good on prices but limited on the expanse of their metric stuff.

 

[Red 17]

JIS is a Japanese standard for metric fasteners, used in most Asian cars and machinery. So Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, etc.

The main differences are finer thread pitch on 10mm and larger threads, and smaller hex heads on 8mm and larger.

So on an American car, an 8mm thread bolt will usually take a 13mm wrench. On a JIS car, 8mm thread bolts usually take a 12mm wrench.

10mm threads - 14mm wrench, 1.25mm pitch
12mm threads - 17mm wrench, 1.25mm pitch
14mm threads - 19, but sometimes 21 or 22mm wrench, 1.5mm pitch.

The other main difference is that many JIS bolts are flanged, sort of a built-in washer under the head:
https://www.boltdepot.com/Flange_bolts.aspx?nv=rel...........
XZN!

Abreviated quote there. I noticed working on Honda vs. Suzuki vs. Yamaha that your 8mm taking a 13 or a 12 was in play. Honda would be 10, 12 & 14 and Yamaha (iirc) would throw a 13mm in the mix there.

 

[Bert_]

In the last several years I have bought metric hardware once or twice. Anything that doesn't have a hole already tapped in metric is going to get sae hardware.

Just isn't much demand for it. The few times I've wanted a metric bolt or something the hardware store had something close enough.

 

[DGersic]

For hobby reasons (Italian pinball machines), I keep a supply of M4 Phillips head machine screws in stock. Last night, making a minor upgrade to my snowblower, I needed an M4 machine screw. Win for me. They came from McMaster Carr originally.



Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Jazz1]

I stripped a couple donor cars and saved every nut and bolt. Rarely have I had to buy a metric fastener but when i do its a small hardware store that carries them and they are 3x the price of SAE


Old boat motors are a great source of premium SAE nuts and bolts.

 

[chrismenke]

This PRECISELY!!!! It drives me insane how many "One Off" style bolts and fasteners are on modern american cars!!!!! WTF a bolt should be a bolt should be a bolt....but no it always has to be some weird obscure flange/partially threaded odd head style crazy a$$ fastener.

-Tyler

How else we gonna keep a great American company like Snap-on in business other than selling crazy a$$ obscure tools for crazy a$$ obscure fasteners?

 

[ClappedOutBport]

I buy the majority of my hardware from an outfit called SZS Fasteners in Dorr, Michigan. Great company. The salesman comes by every few weeks and re-stocks my bins.

I also buy lots from McMaster- Carr.

I will also say the the vast, vast majority of hardware that I use is SAE/inch. Most of the industrial world still runs on inch hardware.

I don’t work on cars, so I don’t use the weird fasteners they use.

Metric is only used in my world when I’m working on a European machine or something like that.

...And there is your answer. All of your construction workers, farmers, machine shops, etc are still using imperial. I use mostly imperial as I work on old equipment and build things using imperial stock on imperial machines. Naturally, I'm going to use imperial hardware as well. Until I can start finding metal stock cheap in metric sizes, I have a supply of metric measuring tools, and a DRO on every machine, I will be sticking with imperial bolts. I like it as little as you all, but that's the way it is.

 

[Stephanorf]

I agree with the OP. I needed some M5 nuts for a project, and when to Home Depot to ge them. The only metric fasteners they have are in the "specialty" drawers. The selection stinks and the prices are high.

 

[4xdog]

IIRC, and if you have them in your area, I believe Rural King has basic metric fasteners in bulk and sell by the pound.

You're right on, John in OH. But the truth of what you stated is a example of how odd our country's approach is to standardization. (My emphasis above.)

 

[bctexas]

I've had good luck finding oddball metric fasteners at Metric & Multistandard in Irving, TX. Have only done business there in person so no feedback on shipping. Catalog is online.....

http://www.metricmcc.com/

Happy Motoring!

 

[kbs2244]

Shouldn't bulk metric be sold by the kilo?

 

[laser3kw]

Shouldn't bulk metric be sold by the kilo?

winner
what I don't get is if metric is the most prevalent hardware in the world, why is it so much more expensive? We all know most of our hardware is made outside the USA. In those countries, imperial would be the odd ball, therefore should cost more to make. And, the companies in the USA that make hardware are supplying a world market and probably bang out as much, if not more metric hardware.
Our company uses far more metric than imperial (thousands of pounds) and, even when we buy at oem pricing through Fastenal, our metric hardware is always more expensive.

 

[Wrench97]

winner
what I don't get is if metric is the most prevalent hardware in the world, why is it so much more expensive? We all know most of our hardware is made outside the USA. In those countries, imperial would be the odd ball, therefore should cost more to make. And, the companies in the USA that make hardware are supplying a world market and probably bang out as much, if not more metric hardware.
Our company uses far more metric than imperial (thousands of pounds) and, even when we buy at oem pricing through Fastenal, our metric hardware is always more expensive.

Probably since there is more variety M10 having 4 thread pitches and M12 3 different, head sizes vary by spec I've seen M10 with 14mm, 15mm, 16 mm and 17mm head sizes. The head size alone is enough to make you want to use standard fractional sizes..................................