Help me identify screws - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: EVGAdrifter
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 02:43:50 am
content: I want to replace 2 different screws on an ATX power supply as the current ones are stripped but i don't know what to search for. I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to screws so i don't know much about them, I hope that someone here can point me in the right direction.Thanks in advance]

author: android
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 02:57:30 am
content: You could Dremel a slot into the head of each screw then use a flat screw driver instead. Just a thought.

author: EVGAdrifter
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 03:05:44 am
content: Quote from: android on January 01, 2016, 02:57:30 amI need new ones that look just like the original ones.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 03:37:40 am
content: Quote from: EVGAdrifter on January 01, 2016, 03:05:44 amWhy? What difference does the appearance make?

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 03:50:06 am
content: You should find a plethora of dead/obsolete ATX PSUs in friends' sheds or at the dump.It is strange that the screws have stripped not the female threads in pillars and/or pressed holes. Some of these screws are 'trilobe' (TapTite, Trilobite etc...) which are self tapping.BT

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 04:15:30 am
content: Specifying screws has three components:1. The recess, or driving cavity in the head. The best test is to use the specific screwdriver and see how well it fits. From a first glance they look like Torx, maybe T8.2. The thread. If you have a known screw you can see if the threads are the same (do they mate exactly side by side). But better is to use a thread gauge. Also notice if it is single or multi-start (check the number of threads that are at the the tip). There are widely-used thread series, with a small number of possible pitches for each diameter. But unfortunately there are multiple series. ISO Metric and Universal Fine are probably the ones to consider.3. The material and finish.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 06:20:13 am
content: You may have more luck finding a similar/identical power supply for spares.Buying specialist screws or bolts will usually impose a box or minimum quantity - and they can be surprisingly expensive!They are probably a standard tool (torx etc), and diameter / pitch - but the head style may be more difficult.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 06:33:53 am
content: The little ones look like M3 countersunk. The big ones are special purpose self tappers for plastics used to secure the fan. You can probably find the M3 ones if they are standard Torx and you don't mind buying qty 100. The fan mounting screws will be near-unobtanium unless you want to buy them in volume from china.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 06:45:11 am
content: I have a bunch of fans that came with mounting screws which in most cases weren't needed (case had snap-in holders), and also I have some fan mounting screws that came with some cases (didn't put fans in all the fan slots). I don't know where I'd get any extras, but I have a small supply of them in my bag o' screws - after building a few dozen PCs I have lots of extra screws of several sizes. None of those power supply ones though - agree the best thing to do would be to acquire a few junked power supplies and relieve the broken ones of their screws.It's one of those tough situations - if it's your first, you wonder where you can get extra mounting hardware. After a few it's more like, what am I ever going to do with all these screws?