gerritv
Gerrit
buy from a canadian source: https://www.pacfast.com/
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Several Regions have held meetups already, but others are being planned or are evaluating the interest. The Calgary Area Meetup is set for Saturday July 12th at 10am. The signup thread is here! Arbutus has also explored interest in a Fraser Valley meetup but it seems members either missed his thread or had other plans. Let him know if you are interested in a meetup later in the year by posting here! Slowpoke is trying to pull together an Ottawa area meetup later this summer. No date has been selected yet, so let him know if you are interested here! We are not aware of any other meetups being planned this year. If you are interested in doing something in your area, let everyone know and make it happen! Meetups are a great way to make new machining friends and get hands on help in your area. Don’t be shy, sign up and come, or plan your own meetup!
CA-ON Small Fasteners
- Thread starter possum1104
- Start date
Ontario
slow-poke
Ultra Member
I had no idea Quinn was Canadian, shame she doesn't frequent this forum because she makes great videos and could no doubt contribute to the forum. I liked her before and now I like her even more. Other favourites: Clough42, Mr.Pete (the shop teacher)Quinn (blondiehacks on YouTube) lives in Canada and is using a ton of small brass hex heads (you have to but them long and cut to length).
If you scroll to the bottom of her homepage there is an email link so you can ask her what her source is:
Blondihacks
blondihacks.com
ChazzC
Ultra Member
I passed your "invitation" on to Quinn via Patreon.
Blondihacks
Active Member
I have been sourcing small fasteners in steel and brass from two main places- McMaster-Carr and MicroFasteners.
McMaster-Carr will ship to Canadians, you just have to supply a business name when you order the first time. They don't actually verify you are a business. They will email you once to confirm the name of your business and presto- second day delivery of their entire catalogue from their warehouse in Ontario from that point onwards. No import fees or other shenanigans. Well worth the few minutes to set up a business account. I end up ordered most of my materials there as well because they have everything, they sell short lengths, and it's always two-day shipping. If you want to make it official, declare yourself a sole-proprietorship and get a business license from your town hall. This is not tax advice, but make sure your accountant knows you did this.
MicroFasteners is in the US, but they ship by postal mail (usually a small padded envelope) so the shipping charges are very reasonable. I've found they have a few things that McMaster doesn't.
I've also sourced some small fasteners from UK model engineering suppliers on eBay. For example, I could not find anyone in North America who sells 1/16" plain copper rivets with round heads. However a few bucks on eBay and a few weeks of waiting netted a lifetime supply from a shop in the UK.
McMaster-Carr will ship to Canadians, you just have to supply a business name when you order the first time. They don't actually verify you are a business. They will email you once to confirm the name of your business and presto- second day delivery of their entire catalogue from their warehouse in Ontario from that point onwards. No import fees or other shenanigans. Well worth the few minutes to set up a business account. I end up ordered most of my materials there as well because they have everything, they sell short lengths, and it's always two-day shipping. If you want to make it official, declare yourself a sole-proprietorship and get a business license from your town hall. This is not tax advice, but make sure your accountant knows you did this.
MicroFasteners is in the US, but they ship by postal mail (usually a small padded envelope) so the shipping charges are very reasonable. I've found they have a few things that McMaster doesn't.
I've also sourced some small fasteners from UK model engineering suppliers on eBay. For example, I could not find anyone in North America who sells 1/16" plain copper rivets with round heads. However a few bucks on eBay and a few weeks of waiting netted a lifetime supply from a shop in the UK.
I tend to enjoy her content too. I like her openness about her successes and failures and her experimental approach. I usually learn something and I like that very very much. Learning is my biggest hobby.
Some on here may know more than I do. So please correct or complete any voids. She was a Canadian farm girl (another reason to like her) but she moved to the USA in her early 20s. As her content succeeded, and became less "rooted" she decided to move back home to Canada just a few years ago.
She also has a good gaming and electronics background and enjoys making things.
Ya, I like her.
Clough42 is ok, but not on the same level despite being an engineer. Once in a while he has some good content and I confess watching a number of his videos end to end.
Mr. Pete, not so much. Got past his intro once, but he totally turns me off. A great example of wasting my time with waaaaay too much droning on and on and on about nothing worth listening to.
I also enjoy some of Joe Pie's content. Again, too much droning on and on but he comes through at the end with some good ideas, suggestions, and content. I have found that fast forwarding his stuff works pretty well.
I find it hard to watch OxTools. I can't put my finger on why.
I really like Rhenzetti and Gotteswinter. They do some amazing things. Obviously two very talented people. But still quite hard to watch end to end.
My favorite YouTube videos have been off-limits for a long time. They are the ones by our very own @Mcgyver. He never tries to entertain (which I hate), nor does he seem financially motivated (which I hate too), but he does have some amazing projects which have been well documented and I have very much enjoyed watching them.
So ya, that my 2 cents for what it's worth.
Blondihacks
Active Member
That's pretty accurate, yep.
Oh oh..... That's what I get for not looking before I post!
Welcome Quinn! You don't need an introduction for most of us, but if you want to, you can feel at ease doing so in the new members section.
As a Canadian forum, members are not shy about making fun of each other so best to buckle up for the ride. It's all good fun. Enjoy the laughs and please pitch them back twice as hard as they come.
Lastly, nothing better that the subject (you) correcting the author (me) in the post about you above. Especially make sure I didn't say anything incorrect about you.
Again, welcome and enjoy!
Edit - damn, beat again!
Welcome Quinn! You don't need an introduction for most of us, but if you want to, you can feel at ease doing so in the new members section.
As a Canadian forum, members are not shy about making fun of each other so best to buckle up for the ride. It's all good fun. Enjoy the laughs and please pitch them back twice as hard as they come.
Lastly, nothing better that the subject (you) correcting the author (me) in the post about you above. Especially make sure I didn't say anything incorrect about you.
Again, welcome and enjoy!
Edit - damn, beat again!
slow-poke
Ultra Member
Welcome from Ottawa, I see you also like to tinker with electronics, there are quite a few of us that do the same.
To make slow talking/lots of fluff YouTube presenters slightly less annoying I usually set the playback speed to 1.25 or 1.5 (use the gear settings thingy at the bottom of the screen).
Carrying on with the YouTube channels, one of my favourites is Cutting Edge Engineering Australia, one of the stars is a Staffy named homeless.
To have a model look great, you really need finish it with model sized bolts, studs, nuts etc - i.e. Model Engineer fasteners have a more proportion hex that is smaller than
Problem is, if for a model, they will be way oversized. There used to be several US suppliers, the main I remember are gone unfortunately (Coles, Power model supply). What about the guy in Elmira, Canada Models or something? He took over for Ted McJannet. Here found link. He might have them or have ideas on where to get them.
For 2/56 I believe the standard ME size is a hex 1/8" across the flats and like .058 hex head hight. As Peter says, they are easy to knock off and it makes such a difference to the final appearance.
Problem is, if for a model, they will be way oversized. There used to be several US suppliers, the main I remember are gone unfortunately (Coles, Power model supply). What about the guy in Elmira, Canada Models or something? He took over for Ted McJannet. Here found link. He might have them or have ideas on where to get them.
Canadian Model Engineering - About CME
Welcome to the Canadian Model Engineering website. You will find Steam Engines, Boiler Kits, Gas Engines, Hot Air Engines, Milling Machines, Lathes, Tooling, and more.
www.cmodele.com
For 2/56 I believe the standard ME size is a hex 1/8" across the flats and like .058 hex head hight. As Peter says, they are easy to knock off and it makes such a difference to the final appearance.
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Wow dude, high praise, thanks. I'm working my curbing my affection for droning and promise never to be entertaining!
What do you mean off limits? I went through a miserable 3/4 of year "termination" but grovelled enough they let me back in.... all up and running now
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gerritv
Gerrit
Great stock, esp in BA including hex stock. BUT, they don't (they say can't) ship to Canada or US. (as of 2 months ago). I ordered BA hex stock, had it delivered to a friend in UK who posted it on to me.I thought this outfit carried around this size in UNF but maybe I'm mistaken with their BA stock
EKP Supplies UK Screw Manufacturer and Stockist - EKP Supplies - Precision Turned Parts for Model Engineering
EKP Supplies sell engineering tools and model engineering supplies, screw manufacturer,www.ekpsupplies.co.uk
I process it into nuts using a Sherline with Downriver Tools Lever Cross slide and nut taps. Down to M3 so far, smaller to come. Hex bolts will get done when my Downriver Tools bed turret is finished later this year.
Production baby,...... on a baby lathe.
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Thanks, good to know. It kind of smells like a vendor specific choice unfortunately. Or put it this way, I'm still getting other (RC) hobby hardware from UK supplier no problem, arguably more potential customs hair on it than teeny bolts. Probably not a good time to order anything if its coming in by CanPost with our current situation anyways.
I saw your lever mechanism on MEB, very cool!
I thought about silver soldering nut / hex stock stock onto threaded rod & then dressing the end on the lathe. Not sure it would be strong enough but I guess depends on the application. Aesthetically probably would see a slight annular ring of SS on the head, unless it was painted anyway. I haven't seen it done so probably there is a good reason.
The only thing I've found making my own bolts is stick-out turning to OD before die threading. At a certain length it really needs support. The trick is supporting while cutting, potentially at different diameters, but not spending copious time adjusting things. I made a rudimentary mini travelling steady. It worked but also a bit fiddly.
A source I have used in the past for rivets, screws, and assorted Hardware, is Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. Largely caters to Homebuilt Aircraft makers, Certified Aircraft maintenance and repair parts, and the like, some of which can run to the VERY eye-watering range, but I have told folks in the past, that if you can browse through their catalog, without getting a head full of ideas and finding solutions to problems you didn't know you had, you probably are ready to quit being fed, and they can plant you in the ground and water you instead!
Do some looking at Lathe Box Tools, online. Essentially it is a turning tool with a built in steady rest, to allow you to do the take-down to threading diameter in a single pass, same as happens on a capstan production lathe (where a Box Tool is certainly more common). Then, if yer really ballin', keep yer eyes out for a small Geometric Die Head and appropriate inserts....
The one I have will do a max size thread of 5/16 inch diameter, and over the years I have managed to find a decent enough selection of insert sets, which can still be got new.These are good ideas.
Am I understanding correct? Red = stock diameter. Yellow = reduced diameter. The SHCS are kind of fine tuning traveling steady's? I guess it would pretty much be a single pass operation but that should be perfectly fine for screws where the head is not appreciably bigger than the shank. Ball ended + sprung set screws come to mind.
I can see this working great for cylindrical stock. But if one was feeding hex stock for bolts.... would just a travelling bushing with slightly oversize hole ID be OK? Obviously adjustment screws are out. Or would dimensional variation of hex corners vs hole ID be problematic?
Am I understanding correct? Red = stock diameter. Yellow = reduced diameter. The SHCS are kind of fine tuning traveling steady's? I guess it would pretty much be a single pass operation but that should be perfectly fine for screws where the head is not appreciably bigger than the shank. Ball ended + sprung set screws come to mind.
I can see this working great for cylindrical stock. But if one was feeding hex stock for bolts.... would just a travelling bushing with slightly oversize hole ID be OK? Obviously adjustment screws are out. Or would dimensional variation of hex corners vs hole ID be problematic?
Attachments
gerritv
Gerrit
SHCS hold the bushing. Yellow is stock diameter, you support the uncut material. Hex would require appropriate circle of course.
General rule for turret/screw machine operations such as this is taper the end, cut in one pass unless you are taking a realy large amount off the diameter. Which is unlikely in model engineering bolts.
Chronos.co.uk used to sell them but no longer do.