Looking for low cost black M2.5 x 6-10 mm flat head screws for enclosure - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Martin F
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2021, 07:42:04 am
content: Hi all,I've been looking for quite some time now to find a screw along the lines of below:https://www.mcmaster.com/91294A016/https://uk.misumi-ec.com/vona2/detail/221000551376/The above screws would be fine, but they cost ~0.4-0.5€/screw.In contrast, I'm able to find multiple cross-recessed screws of the same variant at ~0.02-0.03€/unit, e.g. below:https://uk.misumi-ec.com/vona2/detail/221000547315/?CategorySpec=00000230744%3a%3amig00000002056574%0900000230683%3a%3amig00000002027322%0900000230766%3a%3aalI need the screws to be black, M2.5, 6-10 mm and hex type, ideally at 0.02-0.05€/unit.Do you have any suggestions for where to look for such screws, beyond e.g. Misumi, monsterbolts, TME, ASMC, RS-components?Thank you!

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2021, 08:52:33 am
content: There are fastenings companies everywhere although not all have full online catalogues, as long as you want 1k+ one of them will have what you want. A UK example would behttp://www.bml-hayley.co.uk/we buy all sorts of bolts & screws from these guys in nickel plated brass, stainless or black.Or what abouthttps://www.trfastenings.com/products/Catalogue/Screws-and-Bolts/Machine-Screws

author: 48X24X48X
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2021, 09:37:30 am
content: I found these on Taobao but they are not black. Pricing example: 50 pieces for M2.5x10mm at RMB6.

author: NorthGuy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2021, 04:58:33 am
content: I buy all screws on AliExpress. They're usually good quality. It's hard to screw up screws.

author: SVFeingold
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2021, 06:20:03 am
content: Quote from: NorthGuy on January 13, 2021, 04:58:33 amYou'd think so right? IME the majority of screws even in high end products are pot metal garbage. Snazzy Labs had this issue with the VESA mount for their $$$ iMac pro. Screws were cheese-grade and snapped right off before they were even tightened.I don't really get the obsession with saving literally a few cents per product in exchange for having terrible screws that can only be installed once before stripping, but c'est la vie.Curious what OP's application is. I doubt you will find screws that cheap unless you're buying in huge volumes. Or getting terrible quality screws. For what it's worth, McMaster will gladly tell you the supplier and part number for any product in their catalog. Usually same day. Ask them and then get in touch with the OEM, see if they can make you a better deal.Keep in mind also that black-oxide provides vanishingly little corrosion protection. If the app is cosmetic at all it could be a concern.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2021, 06:23:39 am
content: You left out a very important number: the quantity desired. It's not even worth looking for you if we don't know that.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2021, 10:44:33 am
content: Quote from: NorthGuy on January 13, 2021, 04:58:33 amYou'd think wouldn't you...I've had some truly dreadful quality ones, I've also had some really good ones, if you find a good seller, stick with them.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2021, 06:25:59 pm
content: Quote from: CJay on January 13, 2021, 10:44:33 amTherein lies the rub - finding an honest/cluefull seller is almost a career unto itself. And even if they carry a good quality product today, how do you know they won't substitute it with lower quality (ie higher margin) product tomorrow? Better to use a more established supplier that has reputation riding on the quality of their deliveries.

author: Matt Coates
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2021, 12:11:26 am
content: These are great quality, although you do pay for it at £0.22 @ 1k.https://www.accu.co.uk/en/socket-button-screws/155217-SSB-M2-5-6-A4-BLI'm using these for a premium product to bolt front panels onto subracks and they look great.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 14, 2021, 12:52:52 am
content: This is the AliExpress seller I buy most of my bulk screws and standoffs from, although I mostly use nylon or stainless parts.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32789380347.html- seems to meet you requirements.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2021, 08:17:11 am
content: Quote from: phil from seattle on January 13, 2021, 06:25:59 pmIt certainly can be, but there are quite a few sellers who are actually the manufacturers selling direct on Ali so you stand a chance of them staying 'good'.I guess it depends how critical the application is, I'd not buy safety critical parts there (or anywhere else) without doing due diligence but for holding a cabinet together or fixing a board into something, yeah, no problem.

author: 1276-2449-1-ND
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2021, 03:48:21 pm
content: I also get screws from AliExpress. They're the only place to get large amounts of metric screws without a second mortgage. The last order was for black M3x8 hex cap heads.LCSC has decent plain M3 screws and nuts for fractions of a cent each, but few specialty ones.

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2021, 09:13:32 pm
content: We use these guys on other projects. They are a division of Barenco.https://blackfasteners.co.uk/

author: mon2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2021, 04:27:31 pm
content: Hi. Are you ok to buy in some volume? Can share a manufacturer in China whom we have used with excellent results with savings. The black screws we purchased from Aliexpress looked like crap compared to the pix on the webstore.

author: mon2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2021, 10:58:28 am
content: Here is the contact details for the screw manufacturer we are using with excellent results and great pricing:David LinVEDALI HARDWARE CO., LTDTel / Fax: 86-769-82601418Email : group@vedalitech.com , chinatophardware@yahoo.comwww.vedali.com,http://vedali.en.alibaba.comSkype : life1010goThe best recommendation here is to find the best looking screw and finish that you like and share this information with David. He will then offer their equivalent clone. Even better if you can send him the sample but catalogs are fine. In the past we crossed a special M2 screw from Tyco that was $0.85 usd each in 1k qty to $0.06usd when we purchased right from China. Dead ringer for the original with no issues to date. This is an exotic screw so others are much cheaper in cost.Due to the low cost of the screws, you may have to work with MOQs like 3k or so but the savings are there.