Bicycle Mechanics - where to get screws?

I strip, break and round-out heads of alot of screws. I usually just head over to the local ace or true value hardware stores for a replacement. Is this okay to do or are special bike shop screws recommended?

Uless the screw has a special head or shank, the hardware stores screws are fine. I will often replace a rusty screw with a stainless steel one fro the hardware store. The problem is, the local mom and pop stores that had metric stainless crews are getting hard to find, the big box stores just don't have the variety.

Nothing wrong with a hardware store but a "fastener" store will usully have a better selection.

Al

I've been using an online shop called Fastener-Express with good results. They have plenty of metric stainless-steel fasteners available in small quantities at good prices.

Sorry, it seems to me the OP is a few screws short. Sorry about the screw joke we will be returning you to the orginal programming

Here's a couple to look at online if you'd like.

BikeToolsEtc (http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=575491793334&h=main&m=top_ten)

LooseScrews Bicycle Parts (http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?h=main&m=top_ten&id=55315715242)

These folks are great:

http://www.boltdepot.com/

Everything comes neatly labelled and in individual bags. Fast service and shipping. Good prices. I've tried a bunch of different places and these folks are the best I have found.

Uless the screw has a special head or shank, the hardware stores screws are fine. I will often replace a rusty screw with a stainless steel one fro the hardware store. The problem is, the local mom and pop stores that had metric stainless crews are getting hard to find, the big box stores just don't have the variety.

I think this is a good perspective on what's available "down the street". In my experience, the local h/w store or Home Depot is less than a 50/50 shot for what I want. The specialty fastener websites, such as the one I listed in the last post, seem to do much better - especially for stainless metric fasteners. I usually buy the sizes I think I need and some bigger and smaller. For bikes, 90% of what you need is 4, 5, or 6mm.

These folks are great:

http://www.boltdepot.com/

Everything comes neatly labelled and in individual bags. Fast service and shipping. Good prices. I've tried a bunch of different places and these folks are the best I have found.

+1 on Bolt Depot.

Word to the wise for those upgrading to stainless bolts: put a dab of anti-seize on the threads otherwise they may gall when you tighten them. If they gall you may have to break them to get them off. Worst case you will have to drill out the remains.

I strip, break and round-out heads of alot of screws.
The several sources recommended for replacement bolts are all good info but maybe you should consider a more fundamental question. I hope this doesn't come across as condecending but why do you damage so many fasteners? Would better quality tools, replacing worn allan wrenches and developing better tightening technique reduce the damage?

these guys supply anything you like. if they don't have it, they'll make it.

http://stigfasteners.easywebstore.co.uk/

Sweet!

.... I hope this doesn't come across as condecending but why do you damage so many fasteners? Would better quality tools, replacing worn allan wrenches and developing better tightening technique reduce the damage?

Hillrider has a good point.

How are your fasteners failing? Are they failing during installation (too much torque) or removal? Is the tool mating area getting messed up (perhaps the tool is messed-up)?

maybe I don't pay enough attention to what I'm working on? maybe I'm too strong? :rolleyes: maybe I just wreck the cheap stuff, maybe it's the tools? Probably a little of everything.

example, I put on a new chainring. started tightening the first bolt, got allmost tight, and stripped it. same thing happened on the second bolt. no problems with new bolts from the hardware store.

replacing brake pads on my road bike, it's has those tiny little screws for the pad. 2mm hex/allen head. first one was allready rounded out. another one I rounded because it was real tight. ended up using a plyers to get them all out.


The several sources recommended for replacement bolts are all good info but maybe you should consider a more fundamental question. I hope this doesn't come across as condecending but why do you damage so many fasteners? Would better quality tools, replacing worn allan wrenches and developing better tightening technique reduce the damage?