Jeffrey Black Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Hi, I am currently restoring a '34 Packard & am trying to source a supplier for some 1/4"UNF oval head slotted head screws.I am in Australia & have tried the internet with no success,there must be someone out there can supply these. Can anyone help please? Regards,Jeff Black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 (edited) Have you tried McMaster-Carr or Restoration Specialties? Edited September 14, 2016 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Have you tried industrial fastener suppliers in Australia? Not car part places There used to be a company based in Perth who had a good range and a very good book (that I do not have access to now) http://www.unitedfasteners.com.au/ http://www.fastenersaustralia.com.au/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMc Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 (edited) Jeff, I have bought those from each of the following at various times: Classic Fasteners, Totally Stainless & Restoration supply Co: http://www.totallystainless.com/ http://www.classicfasteners.com.au/ http://www.restorationstuff.com/ They also supply the various types of mating cup washers. Edited September 14, 2016 by DavidMc Error (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 I got some oval headed slot drive machine screws for my car from Jamestown Distributors, though I don't see 1/4 fine thread on their site. They seem to be mostly a boating supply. Maybe a marine or boat supply in your area would be a place to check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 1/4" UNF slotted oval head screws are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Sometimes fasteners are available in stainless that are not available in other materials. We have a stash but need them for our projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friartuck Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 (edited) I use Gardner Westcott in Michigan http://gardner-westcott.com/ for chrome plated and stainless hardware. They list slotted oval screws up to 5/16-24. FYI, they also offer Round, Flat, Truss, Pan, & Filister head types. Pictured is G-W page 30 of their catalog. Tioga Stainless also offers multiple head styles in coarse and fine thread. Their website does not do them justice, ask for a catalog to be emailed to you. http://tiogastainless.com/ Edited September 14, 2016 by Friartuck Information added (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Gardner-Westcott does not list oval UNF screws smaller than 3/8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 1 hour ago, Restorer32 said: 1/4" UNF slotted oval head screws are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Can someone explain the designation to me, for learning? Are the heads actually oval-shaped? And what is UNF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 UNF is Unified Thread Standard Fine thread, more commonly referred to as just "fine thread". Oval head screws are indeed oval just as round head screws have round heads. Oval heads are most often used in areas where cosmetics are important or where clearance is an issue as in door hinges. Even if Mcmaster-Carr does not list a particular size or style screw they will happily do a search and see if they are available commercially. If they are they will get them for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 18 minutes ago, Restorer32 said: Even if Mcmaster-Carr does not list a particular size or style screw they will happily do a search and see if they are available commercially. If they are they will get them for you. McMaster-Carr, supplier of all things and owner of the best web site on the planet. But sadly the stingiest dispenser of print catalogs on the planet.................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 They send us a new catalog every year. Almost 4000 pages and must weigh 5 pounds. After all these years I about have it memorized. If we order by 5 we have our order by 11 the next morning and very seldom is anything not is stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV Puleo Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 I probably order from them every week... but as far as I know they will not sell out of the country unless you were already a customer when the policy went into effect. This has something to do with being heavily fined for selling to a "terrorist" group... although the group in question was not openly identified as such. They were apparently on the secret watch list... but MMc didn't, and couldn't, have known that, nor could they have found out if they asked. In the past I've ordered things for friends out of the country and sent them on myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Saxton Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 I have never seen machine screws that are oval, rather than circular in profile, as though manufactured from oval bar stock. Can someone post a definitive photo? I imagine you could create oval section as a final step with some sort of cam-grinding arrangement, possibly utilizing a Brierley drill grinder. Incidentally, if you need to make odd items from stainless steel, you will find that stainless with a 2 % lead content is unimagineably more friendly to work with. I recently had to make a new water inlet ( from the water pump) into the bottom of the water jacket on the Rochester Duesenberg engine of the Roamer. The mild steel original was about the wall thickness of exhaust tubing, but actually theaded with about 1.750"diameter, fine pitch, tapered thread. The fit of the tapered thread was a breeze freehand, by guess and by gosh, using a thread file of the correct pitch with cutting lube with the work spinning in the lathe; measuring carefully, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 The head is round in profile. The part that sticks above the surface is oval in cross section. Picture a round headed screw that has been hit on the top with a hammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV Puleo Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Illustration from the MMc Catalog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 A round head has the profile of a 180 degree arc. An oval head has the profile of half an ellipse. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 There you go. There are round heads, truss heads, flat heads and oval heads. Slotted fasteners of all types are getting increasingly difficult to find. Our local hardware store sold us all their slotted steel fasteners for pennies on the dollar, along with the shelves they were displayed on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackofalltrades70 Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Hillman fasteners is where I go for everything. Just have to go to my local Ace hardware and they have from stainless, to polished ss and chrome plated also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Black Posted September 15, 2016 Author Share Posted September 15, 2016 Hello guys,thank you all very much for your responses, this has given me some new places to try & some of the suggestions I have already tried. The internet is at its best when needing assistance like this, very difficult pre internet days, don't know how we managed! Thanks again. Best regards to all you people, Jeff Black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidAU Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 In our part of the world and England that type of screw head is also known as "countersunk raised head" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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