I solved a problem today that I have had since I have been building computers.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Metspitzer
  • Start date Start date
Metspitzer said:
No more trial and error in screw sizes.

I bought one of each of these (nuts):
6-32 x .25": Used in PC case cover and I/O plates
6-32 x .15": Used to install hard drives
M3 x .25": Used to install floppy drive, CD-ROM drive and motherboard
4-40 x .18": Used in I/O plate connector

And one of these:
http://www.toolup.com/empire-level_...scplp1085879&gclid=CL7qh4jqnLwCFZDm7AodYkAAhg
Click to expand...

I use those magnets here. At one time, The Source (our
equivalent of Radio Shack) used to carry them. But I've
also found them at the hardware store. The price is
highly variable, with some stores trying to gouge
you for those magnets. The ceramic magnets will "chip"
on the edge, if struck or dropped. Otherwise, I like them.
I have around 20 to 25 of those magnets, and they're all
busy "doing stuff" :-)

If you build your own computers, and purchase a computer
case in a cardboard box as part of your build, those come
with a bag of screws. And if I needed a fastener of the
sort you list, I'd go through the left-overs from those
bags, to see if I had any.

At one time, a "retail" hard drive purchase, came in a
cardboard box, with a foam liner. And include 3.5" to 5.25"
U-shaped pieces for drive mounting conversion, as well as
eight screws to fit that stuff. And that's where some of
my drive screws came from. Even if the Maxtor drives
that came in those boxes died, the screws lived on to
help the replacement drives.

Paul
 
And if I needed a fastener of the
sort you list, I'd go through the left-overs from those
bags, to see if I had any.
Click to expand...

Mine's so large I've 6x6x6" box to hold them (several bags;- I
subcategorizes them :))
 
No more trial and error in screw sizes.

I bought one of each of these (nuts): 6-32 x .25": Used in PC case
cover and I/O plates 6-32 x .15": Used to install hard drives M3 x
.25": Used to install floppy drive, CD-ROM drive and motherboard 4-40
x .18": Used in I/O plate connector

And one of these:
http://www.toolup.com/empire-level_2708_all-purpose-magnets-2-pcs.aspx
Click to expand...

If you ever see a microwave oven on the side of the road waiting for the
trashman, you can harvest two nice ceramic donut magnets from the
magnetron inside. You do need to be careful around the deadly capacitor
inside there, as it is of the order of 1uF at 2kV, so discharge it once
you get inside.

I've got about sixty or so of them; put them in series and they've got a
pretty good tug.

Jon
 
Jon said:
If you ever see a microwave oven on the side of the road waiting for the
trashman, you can harvest two nice ceramic donut magnets from the
magnetron inside. You do need to be careful around the deadly capacitor
inside there, as it is of the order of 1uF at 2kV, so discharge it once
you get inside.

I've got about sixty or so of them; put them in series and they've got a
pretty good tug.

Jon
Click to expand...

Jon will be giving a safety course later, on how not
to die while playing inside your microwave oven :-)

Paul
 
No more trial and error in screw sizes.

I bought one of each of these (nuts):
6-32 x .25": Used in PC case cover and I/O plates
6-32 x .15": Used to install hard drives
M3 x .25": Used to install floppy drive, CD-ROM drive and motherboard
4-40 x .18": Used in I/O plate connector

And one of these:
http://www.toolup.com/empire-level_...scplp1085879&gclid=CL7qh4jqnLwCFZDm7AodYkAAhg
Click to expand...

What is the magnet for? To magnetize a screwdriver, so it can pick up
nuts that fall? You can use any standard fridge magnet for that.

Yousuf Khan
 
What is the magnet for? To magnetize a screwdriver, so it can pick up
nuts that fall? You can use any standard fridge magnet for that.

Yousuf Khan
Click to expand...
magnetic tip screwdrivers, magnetizer/demagnetizer block for regular
screwdrivers when assembling; stacks of rare earth magnets from China
via Ebay are always handy for when old cabnet door-closed, retaining
mechanisms go on the fritz: just drill out a little circular mating
holes to cabnet and door to retain neomags with liquid nails
 
What is the magnet for? To magnetize a screwdriver, so it can pick up
nuts that fall? You can use any standard fridge magnet for that.

Yousuf Khan
Click to expand...
I use a fishing tackle box to keep spare screws in. I put the magnet
in one of the spare trays and stick the nuts to them so I can always
find them when I need them.

I was on the lookout for a block of metal that had the 4 holes tapped
to use as a gauge for size, but I couldn't find one. A magnet with
nuts stuck to it is the second best thing.
 
Jon will be giving a safety course later, on how not
to die while playing inside your microwave oven :-)
Click to expand...

Indeed I will! I saw a video on YT recently where a fellow hooked up a
mangetron (and associated components) outside of a microwave, and turned
it on. I don't think I've cringed that hard in my life.

Jon
 
Jon Danniken said:
Indeed I will! I saw a video on YT recently where a fellow hooked up a
mangetron (and associated components) outside of a microwave, and turned
it on. I don't think I've cringed that hard in my life.

Jon
Click to expand...

Social Darwinism....

Chris
 
No more trial and error in screw sizes.

I bought one of each of these (nuts):
6-32 x .25": Used in PC case cover and I/O plates
6-32 x .15": Used to install hard drives
M3 x .25": Used to install floppy drive, CD-ROM drive and motherboard
4-40 x .18": Used in I/O plate connector
Click to expand...
Just take apart a scrap computer, and mark the screws so you know what
they were used for.
And one of these:
http://www.toolup.com/empire-level_...scplp1085879&gclid=CL7qh4jqnLwCFZDm7AodYkAAhg
Click to expand...
Take apart a hard drive and you'll end up with some of the strongest
magnets you'll come across.

Michael
 
I use a fishing tackle box to keep spare screws in. I put the magnet
in one of the spare trays and stick the nuts to them so I can always
find them when I need them.

I was on the lookout for a block of metal that had the 4 holes tapped
to use as a gauge for size, but I couldn't find one. A magnet with
nuts stuck to it is the second best thing.
Click to expand...
My tap and die set came with two gauges, one metric one "standard", for
figuring out the threads of a screw or bolt. I would think one could find
those separately.

The thing about threads is that one can get by with other threads, within
some variant, so they may go some of the way but not all or just wear out
the existing threads over time. Then there are self-threading screws.

Michael
 
Think you also needed a 5-40.

Occasionally you'll run across a brass screw with nickle plate. They
may stick to the screwdriver, then drop. So if you haven't verifed that
the magnet holds them you are at risk of losing one in the works.

In the 8088/80286 clone days they gave a good number of extras. I've had
to send some to the recycle spot a couple of times.

One day you may run across a 1.44 with 6-32s. Comes as a surprise when
it happens.

Do enough and you will eventually sift them without sizing.
Click to expand...

I use as few as possible. My HDs may lay in there with nothing other
than a screw, some ribbons, whatever to prop them up. MBs are about
the only thing spec-secured, PCI slotted cards;- bought a few bags of
large furl-knucled tops, most common thread size, (no female
screw-tips, made for hand-tightening), and they do nicely, a couple to
hold a PS in, one or two for the back of the case to quickly get in.
Fans, and I'll secure whatever size stuffs in there vaguely to fit,
are usually the worst.

Of course, built like, and then with a screw that does occasionally
fall in, say, beheath a MB, and I definately don't like picking up 30,
40lbs., "the works," upside-down and shaking it for the screw to drop
out. Nope, not at all -- enough to gibes me the hebie geebies.
 
Mine's so large I've 6x6x6" box to hold them (several bags;- I
subcategorizes them :))
Click to expand...

Go to the hardware and get one of those many-compartment boxes. Ideal
for organizing your screws.
 
Go to the hardware and get one of those many-compartment boxes. Ideal
for organizing your screws.
Click to expand...

You should see the garage. Finding deals for awhile turned into
collecting tools. (Lot of metal oriented, table drills, welders,
grinders, air tools, and various stuff. Not a wood guy.) Seems I'd
buy more tools just to keep the existing tools organized. And I'll
stop a job, totally weirds me out, if I don't knowing -exactly- where
everything I've pulled out for the job setup is located. (Oh, well,
buy and use a tool once from China/Harbor Freight, and it'll usually
pay for itself many times over.)

O - the organizing boxes. Yea, I've got them, couple of big ones,
except they're only storing tear-downs on scavenges on whatever's
worth keeping.

Computers I can build in my sleep.
 
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