We are about to order knobs and pulls for the job, and will need fixing screws at the appropriate length for attaching hardware to doors and drawerfronts.
Problem is that my supplier is saying he cannot get the screws at the different lengths I am specifying. We need screws for doing doors at 3/4″ nominal thickness, and for drawerfronts that are 3/4″ plus the 5/8″ drawerbox front.
He is saying that the screws will all come long, with “breakoff” grooves machined at intervals, to facilitate easy shortening.
My door and drawer count is 105 and 56, respectively. That is over 100 screws to whack, and I don’t want to.
What is going on here? Why doesn’t the hardware industry recognize the need for screws at different lengths?
Replies
Around here we have this thing called a hardware store.
happy?
I haven't looked, but wonder if McFeeley would offer various screw lengths for drawer pulls?
In our store we sell machine screws of various lengths, don't see why you wouldn't be able to secure them locally.
That said, the break-off screws are not that bad to work with. Get your wire strippers out and they should have a threaded hole that fits the thread on the screw. Thread the screw through to the appropriate length and snap! Pretty painless.
Generally, HW mounting screws are 8-32. I use 1/2" BB for drawer boxes, and 3/4" material for faces, so a 1-1/2" works fine. The knobs and handles I use usually have about 1/4" till bottom. Try a 2" 8-32. The snap-offs work OK, but sometime you have to chase the bottom thread to get it started.
cabinet harware usually comes with one inch 8-32 screws suitable for the doors, but drawer screws of the right length can be tricky to find, our cabinet shop carries lengths from 1 1/8 to 1 5/8 for various configurations, of course we order them by the 1000's
if you cant find the right length, cutting or breaking them is your only option, and yes i've had to do it a few times
the easiest and fastest method is to clamp a bunch of screws between two wooden blocks at the correct length, thread a nut onto each one and use a small grinder to cut them, the nut will clean up the threads after cutting
do not be tempted to fasten the hardware just the drawer front then fasten the front to the drawer box, the hardware screws should go through the drawer box to reinforce the drawer front fastening
Stinger,
Your looking for a 8-32 Combination Trus Head machine screw. Try this link, they sell them from 3/8's to 2" long.
http://www.quickscrews.com/
Howard Burt
My local Ace Hardware carries a decent supply of Hillman branded bolts, screws, grommets, etc. In addition to the standard #8 machine screws, which only come in 1/2 inch lengths, their truss head section comes in 1/8 inch lengths. Worthwhile if you don't want to wait for inbound shipping.
Where are you ordering the pulls from? I've recently came across several cabinet installs that I needed to go looking for metric screws. I can usually find them fairly easy though.
Doug
http://www.woodworkershardware.com
They have it all, cabinet-wise. Metric and english, all the lengths you could possibly need for hardware fixing, and breakoffs, too.
Go to their website and check out the Glu-Bot. Maybe you have one. If you are a glue-guy like me, you will have one in the full-size for the bench, and the baby-bot for the bags. Forget about squeezing Titebond straight out of the bottle.
Gene
I have one of those glue bots, the large one, didnt know that there was a smaller version. I dont know where I got it but I like it.
http://wwhardware.com/showimage.cfm/type/product/productid/TNT195
You were looking for some false front conectors on another thread, try this link. I like wwhardware, they have all sorts of neat stuff.
Doug
Electrical supply house sells kits of multiple lengths of 8-32s for about $8. Buy a couple and you should have all that you need.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
Stinger, Those breakaway screws are a piece of cake. It only takes seconds to wack them off and they don't have threads at the breaks so you dont have to worry about rethreading. It sounds like a PITA but it isn't bad at all a pair of Kliens or any side cutter will knock it out.
Scott
These guys are cheap, freight might be more than screws. Midway down the page.
http://www.dlawlesshardware.com/dlawlesshardware/screws.html
Hardware store that sells out of a bulk supply are best bet locally... harder and harder to come by. The stupid little blister packs that have 5 screws stink. I really don't like the segmented screws, seems to be a seller's good deal...one size fits all. I'd only putz around with them as a last resort, screw cutter or not.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Edited 1/28/2006 8:37 pm ET by PeterJ