I'm probably going to a hardware store other than Home Depot and I wanted to get some 2-56 screws.
What are useful sizes to have around. For trucks, chassises, engines, couplers, car bodies.
In other words, what does a person who likes to mess with things need?
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I started out with an assortment of both standard and metric. I found over the years there are more metric in our hobby so I expanded my metric collection. Now I pretty well use metric in all of my projects mainly because I buy them in packages of 100.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I try to stock a number of 2-56 screws in various sizes, but also nuts and washers. I like some small self-tapping screws in the same general size. A stock of nylon screws probably won't get used much, but you'll be glad to have them when you need one. Get the appropriate drill bits and taps, too. I probably use my screw collection more for coupler upgrades to Kadees than anything else.
The train show I used to go to, a Greenberg show, had a vendor I referred to as "The Screw Guy." He had little bags of a lot of screws and hardware. He also had odd detail parts, vehicles, and a large, well-sorted array of Accurail kits. Because of him, I always brought a printout of my rolling stock so I wouldn't duplicate road numbers.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Chip,
Most likely HD will not have or carry any 2-56 screws and fasteners. The smallest size is usually 4-40. McMaster-Carr is a great source for those in both plastic and stainless steel. 1/8", 5/16", and 1/4" would cover most of your modeling needs. For metric, 1.4mm x 3mm & 4mm are common.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
SpaceMouseI'm probably going to a hardware store other than Home Depot
Hi Chip,
I have 2-56 screws from 1/8" to 1/2" in 1/16" increments and matching nuts and washers. I also bought a 2-56 tap and drill set from Kadee. It has the tap as well as a pre-tapping drill and a clearance drill. It has been very handy.
I also have a selection of 0-80 screws in various lengths, again with nuts. I also make a point of stripping small screws out of any electronic equipment that I am scrapping, including an old 35mm camera and a cassette tape player. You never know when you might need one!
Here is where I buy all of my small nuts, bolts, screws and washers. Great prices and great service:
https://www.microfasteners.com/
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
For model building I keep a good selection of 00-90, 0-80, 1-72, and 2-56 brass round head screws on hand. I keep them stored in little plastic bins I bought at the Dollar Tree that are perfect.
I also have plastic screws in 0-80 and 2-56 for when I need something electrically isolated.
00-90 I have in lengths from 3/16 to 3/8
0-80 I have in lengths from 3/16 to 1/2
1-72 I have in lengths from 1/4 to 1/2
2-56 I have in lengths from 3/16 to 1, and threaded rod
I also have 2-56 brass flathead screws for those odd cases where that style is needed. I have never had need for miniature hex head, allen head, or fillister head screws. I also have 2-56 nuts in three different hex sizes and two different syles of brass flat washers.
2-56 is my go-to size for threading.
I found an on-line supplier that sells bags of 100 good quality brass screws for about 1/8 of what they cost in a hardware store or hobby shop.
In metric, I bought two bags of every size that NWSL sold. These come in zip-lock bags for about a dollar each, which is how I store them. That way I have any screw I need on hand, but I use the metric screws for repair only, not for new construction.
I have not bought a miniature screw in about three or four years now. I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that I might have accumulated a lifetime supply of these.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks guys, I think I found an assortment that covers most of your suggestions. Right now, I just need the screws that will attach the trucks to my Roundhouse 2-6-0.
I would suggest you also get a thread gauge for micro screws - both inch and metric.
Paul
I rarely leave the house so my wife is my Energizer Bunny so I do most of my buying off eBay. I shop around for my hardware with just an eBay search.The screws I use the most are 2mm, a 2mm screw search brings up hundreds of potential screws, the same for 2-56.I keep both Philips and slotted head as well as Allan head screws in my stock with cap heads, round heads, pan heads and flat heads. From very short to 1” long. Having a good stock on hand really keeps the projects moving.I try to keep around 25 as the reorder point then looking for pricing in 100 packs, around $2-$4 per 100. Once I put together a good selection the reorder cost is very low.I store the screws, washers and nuts in 24 compartment organizers, one for SAE and one for Metric. I don’t use the dividers so there are 20 compartment. With the locking top lid it makes it easy to take the screws with you to the project if necessary. Clumsy Mel has dropped one or the other organizers several times without screwing up the sizes, the parts stay put with the lid in place. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
This is a great thread! I bought tiny 2-56 screws from Amazon. Would love to see if there is a variety pack available? The cost of getting various sizes individually is prob too expensive.
Back when Athearn parts were 1) sold in hobby shops and 2) very cheap, I loaded up on just about all the lengths of 2-56 for mounting trucks to the various blue box kits, because I had a tendency to use the Athearn frames (also cheap) for other projects such as train set quality freight car conversions. Here are parts numbers and lengths
99003 is 5/16"
99004 is 3/8"
99005 is 7/16"
99007 is 1/4"
I also have 99006 but no measurement for them. Looks close to 1/2 inch.
Then at an estate sale for an avid kitbuilder I lucked onto a 2-56 screw bonanza when I bought his entire collection of parts.
Needless to say another good investment is a drill and tap set that works with 2-56. In one or another of his books Jeff Wilson makes the good point that 2-56 is such a common size to use that he has one double ended pin vise dedicated just to 2-56, drill at one end, tap at the other.
By the way, nice skirting on the edge of danger with the title to the thread.
Dave Nelson
I have been very fortunate. I have two LHS in my small city. Local hardware store with all kinds of SAE and Metric.
I did notice that tapping for 2-56 can puncture the thin tape is why I had to file down the metal and use the meter and program track last.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
dknelsonBy the way, nice skirting on the edge of danger with the title to the thread.
I have a switcher named Speedy. Here's a picture of Speedy getting rerailed.
Speedy should have been a slot car.
Going over the edge on the title would have been like flooring Speedy on an a straight section of track and not letting up going into an 18 inch curve.
You can do it, but no good is going to come of it.
Okay, here's the deal. I'm at a point where I have to make tough choices about moving forward on my layout because of money. So, even though I can get a nice set of fasteners for $25, I'm choosing to get just the screws I need to attach the trucks and body to the tender of my Roundhouse 2-6-0. Unfortunately, I don't know the size of those screws. I figure they are either #2-56 3/16" or 1/4".
Anyone know for sure?
SpaceMouse Okay, here's the deal. I'm at a point where I have to make tough choices about moving forward on my layout because of money. So, even though I can get a nice set of fasteners for $25, I'm choosing to get just the screws I need to attach the trucks and body to the tender of my Roundhouse 2-6-0. Unfortunately, I don't know the size of those screws. I figure they are either #2-56 3/16" or 1/4". Anyone know for sure?
Is this the Old-Time 2-6-0? Those are 3/16", per HO Seeker. The drawbar takes a 1/4" and the power lead and coupler take 1/8".
Gary
garyaIs this the Old-Time 2-6-0? Those are 3/16", per HO Seeker. The drawbar takes a 1/4" and the power lead and coupler take 1/8".
Thanks. It's what I needed.