Radio Hardware list

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I have been there allot times those old screws are great and better then that Chinese stuff to

I should add that buying by the box from a specialty company, such as Tacoma Screw Products, if you buy a lot, you might be able to negotiate a price.
 I was looking for screws  by the thousands, and the Tumwater Fastenall never bothered to respond to my RFQ, after I dropped off my page long list.
Tacoma Screw OTOH, was right fast in reply to my RFQ.

Another greatly overlooked source is Habitat For Humanity. They often get in boxes of screws, nuts, bolts, and asst'd hardware. You probably can't beat the price either.
 One of the local ones got in a tube tester, heavily water damaged, but the case alone was worth way more than the price I paid for it.

But I still end up needing to buy stuff I don't have.

I know, that happens to me too!

One day I felt really machoistic and sorted thru over 300 lbs of old tv and radio hardware, screws, etc. I had saved over 30 years.
But I still end up needing to buy stuff I don't have.

I save as much hardware as I can from radio's which end up junked. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to that container and found just what I need.

Cliff,
In our area there are 3 good places to buy hardware in bulk that I have found (Now that Boeing Surplus is no more):
Tacoma Screw Products, Ace Hardware and Fastenall.

Based on MY personal experiences:
Tacoma Screw happily will sell you small amounts of anything they carry. You can get SUBSTANTIALLY lower prices by buying the hardware by the pack or box however.
GREAT service and very helpful folks, both in the Olympia and Tacoma stores. (The only ones I have dealt with). In fact, even in smaller amounts they beat the prices on the big box places all hollow.
 Ace Hardware charges, IMHO, way too much for what they have, but they are the only alternative here on weekends. They also carry some really oddball hardware items that no one else seems to carry in their nut n bolt section.
 The other co. seems to only really wants to sell by the pkg. or box, as per the salesman I spoke with.
I did request price quotes in 1000 piece lots on many items, (I was going to do a production run of some prototype guitar amps) and they never bothered to return a call to me, even though I asked at the one store 2X about it. :evil:

Both companies will however, sell you box lots for massively less than the "Big Box" hardware "We sell everything" stores.

I have purchased box lots of bolts, washers, screws, and nuts many times for less than the cost of a dozen pieces at the "Big Box" stores.

This is a list of what I have learned is the most useful for Radio Work.
In fact I am going down to my local Hardware store to see if they have this stuff. If they don't There is a company  here called Tacoma Screw (there prices are higher but its better quality), and of course you can go to Lowes or Home Depot or, one of my favorites is ACE Hardware. Then there is Allied Electronics mail order.

Hardware for Electronics
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Screws
4-32 x 1/4 steel machine screw
4-40 x 1/4 steel machine screw
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#6 x 1/4 Cadmium plated self-tapping screw
#6 x 1/4 Bronze finish self-tapping screw
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6-32 x 3/8 steel machine screw
6-32 x 3/4 Brass Philips head machine screw
6-32 x 1/4 steel Machine Screw
6-32 x 1-3/4 steel machine screw
6-32 x 1/2 round head steel machine screw
6-32 x 3/4 round head steel machine screw
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8- 32 x 1 1/4 steel machine screw
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Nuts
4-40 hex nut
6/32 x 1/4 Hex Nut
8/32 Hex Nut
3/8 - 32 Hex Nut
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Spacers
1/4 x 1/4 Brass spacer for #6 screw
1/4 x 1/8 spacer for #8 screw
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Washers
#4 steel washer
#6 steel washer
#8 steel washer
#4 internal tooth lock washer
#6 steel washer
#6 internal tooth lock washer
#8 steel washer
#8 internal tooth lock washer
3/8 internal tooth lock washer
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Misc
3/8 rubber grommets
Solder Lugs #4 and #6
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Here is a good hardware chart from Bolt Depot

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