8/32 or 8-32 Pan Head Machine Screws

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › 8/32 or 8-32 Pan Head Machine Screws

gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#243744 29-Dec-2018 17:42

So I have a little jig from the USA and the 1/2 inch long machine screws are not long enough to fit my application so I'm looking for 1inch long pan head machine screws - size 8 with 32 threads. Can i find them ? Nope.

Don't need stainless - think I've found them at anzor.. Just cheap and cheerful steel or zinc coated steel etc. I can find lots of 5/32 and even found some 5/32 at Mitre 10 but they are a fraction loose.

I can order them by the bucketload from overseas but local would be good - Christchurch first followed by NZ next. Appreciate they may not open until Jan but any pointers appreciated.

Thanks

Ged

1 | 2 | 3

28057 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2151972 29-Dec-2018 18:35

The sizing at mitre10 is some oddball one based on inches, its not actually a 5-32 screw. The little packs of zenith screws are a pain, since they dont seem to convert to any standard non metric sizes. Im guessing they are based on some old english screw sizes or something. The 1/4 inch one is the only one that has worked for me as a tripod screw but it seems to be cut differently.

I had a similar problem when I ordered some brackets and it said that it used a normal 6-20 or something, So I went and got some M6 screws before the brackets arrived and oh what a suprise when they were way too big and didnt fit and they meant something else.

I do recall getting some bastard inch size rack screws and bolts with my unifi switch, which I foolishly used in the rush to put it in and then found that I couldnt put my nice hex head screws in once I found my jar of them, so perhaps someone will have some sitting around that came with some gear?

Richard rich.ms

gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2151979 29-Dec-2018 18:50

Yeah. Ive been reading up on SAE, Imperial, UNC and Metric. Still none the wiser other than manufacturers / retailers here seem to mix them up :)

SomeoneSomewhere

1784 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2151982 29-Dec-2018 19:03

I think 8-32 is one of the US screws used in electrical (and probably everything else). First number is the gauge (diameter), larger number is larger. Second number is threads per inch.

A standard NZ flushbox screw is 6-32. Might fit ish?

gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2151986 29-Dec-2018 19:18

Hi. Thanks for that. Re the flushbox screws - are you talking about the faceplate screws ? Just tried one of them and it basically goes through the brass nut - it appears a good bit ' thinner' in diameter than the current 5/32's I have that are a little loose.

Having said that I just found these at bunnings which backs up what you just told me. Wierd......

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/hpm-6-32-american-screws-76mm-10-pack_p00155182

kiwigander

231 posts

Master Geek

#2152010 29-Dec-2018 21:39

Try Black's Fasteners or Konnect (formerly Hylton Parker).

Bunning's or Mitre 10 may have small (overpriced) packets of 8-32 machine screws but that's a long shot.

You are not going to find a satisfactory substitute. You need the real thing. This is not a matter of driving a nut, when an 8 mm driver may substitute for a 5/16" or an 11 mm for a 7/16". Screw threads are much more finicky.

gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2152019 29-Dec-2018 21:53

Thx Kiwigander. Been to M10 and the closest they had was the 5/32 at 40c each. Threads are good but the screw size is a fraction too small. I can bodge it with some ptfe tape on it to make it work in the interim ( I have discovered).

As per previous poster's advice - the 6/32 electrical box screws don't appear to be sized as such.

The screw size is smaller than the 5/32 that I already have. I'm assuming the 6 should technically be bigger. So either the 5/32 from M10 are the wrong size or bunnings have marked their electrical box screws incorrectly.

I'll try those other shops you recommended. Thanks again

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2152021 29-Dec-2018 21:57

Can you re-tap the holes with a metric thread? Maybe drill them out a little larger to remove the old thread?

A pox on Imperial threads.

Sharesies kids

Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

richms

28057 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2152025 29-Dec-2018 22:12

irongarment: Can you re-tap the holes with a metric thread? Maybe drill them out a little larger to remove the old thread?

A pox on Imperial threads.

They are not imperial, they are UNC or UNF.

Richard rich.ms

gedc

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2152028 29-Dec-2018 22:18

This is what I've got

https://www.microjig.com/products/zeroplay

Not a lot of brass left to drill out and retap and I'd rather just find the correct machine screws cheers

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2152030 29-Dec-2018 22:24

richms:
irongarment: Can you re-tap the holes with a metric thread? Maybe drill them out a little larger to remove the old thread?

A pox on Imperial threads.

They are not imperial, they are UNC or UNF.

Is that metric UNC and UNF, or Imperial?

kiwigander

231 posts

Master Geek

#2152035 29-Dec-2018 22:44

UNC and UNF are not metric and are not Imperial. They are American.

The non-metric American and British systems of measurement are similar but critically different.

Example:

US gallon = 4 US quarts = 128 US ounces = 3.785 litres (approximately)

Imperial gallon = 4 Imperial quarts = 160 Imperial ounces = 4.546 litres (approximately)

And no, I haven't committed a transcription error; the US and Imperial ounces are not the same either.

With respect to the present discussion, Google UNC, UNF, BNC, BNF and Whitworth threads.

Journeyman

1184 posts

Uber Geek

#2152037 29-Dec-2018 23:28

Just go to AliExpress.

richms

28057 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2152039 29-Dec-2018 23:35

Also the half inch size screws are different. I ended up getting mine from a place in wairau valley somewhere. The guy at mitre10 put me onto them, archers or target roads - around that area.

Richard rich.ms

irongarment

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2152093 30-Dec-2018 09:45

kiwigander:
UNC and UNF are not metric and are not Imperial. They are American.

The non-metric American and British systems of measurement are similar but critically different.

Example:

US gallon = 4 US quarts = 128 US ounces = 3.785 litres (approximately)

Imperial gallon = 4 Imperial quarts = 160 Imperial ounces = 4.546 litres (approximately)

And no, I haven't committed a transcription error; the US and Imperial ounces are not the same either.

With respect to the present discussion, Google UNC, UNF, BNC, BNF and Whitworth threads.

Yes, I know that, but the inch is the same.

Fine. A pox on American threads. Metric system FTW!

Gordy7

1900 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2152110 30-Dec-2018 10:07

https://nz.mouser.com/ProductDetail/APM-HEXSEAL/SFR8-32x1-2701?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtFmYSM%2fWUJwhfYc5pEd8%252btzZ8EabS%252bvVy41v1B8eXO6w%3d%3d

Pretty pricey...

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

1 | 2 | 3