Designer Hardware

[Hagbard]

Does anyone out there know where I could get some nicely finished hardware? When I buy furniture, the screws are always chrome or some other nice finish, but you can't get this stuff at Home Depot.

I would love some nice chrome hex-head screws to attach my drivers to the baffle, instead of the boring old black panhead variety.

When I Google for "Designer Hardware", all I find are kitchen cabinet pulls.🙄

 

[Lionel]

An example of a google search with fasteners :

http://www.microfasteners.com/catalog/index.cfm
http://www.microfasteners.com/catalog/products/SSC.cfm

 

[Lionel]

Ooops I forgot...
If you are builting for futur generations 😉 , you should not mix bolts, nuts and washers of different metals.

 

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

I would love some nice chrome hex-head screws to attach my drivers to the baffle, instead of the boring old black panhead variety.

Based on my experience it will be easier to find them in stainless than chrome. I would be surprised if there were no specialty hardware store in Chicago that didn't have them.

 

[Hagbard]

Hardware vs. Fasteners

An example of a google search with fasteners :

http://www.microfasteners.com/catalog/index.cfm
http://www.microfasteners.com/catalog/products/SSC.cfm

Doh! That seems obvious, now that you mention it. Thanks for the helpful links.

 

[BobEllis]

then you could plate the fasteners yourself - chrome, gold, copper...
http://www.caswellplating.com./kits/plugnplate.htm?PHPSESSID=113ad8c2a210a49147155d3cff9c882d

I haven't tried it, but probably will someday.

 

[Hagbard]

Bill - Stainless would perfect. And there are specialty hardware stores just a few blocks from my home, but they cater to professionals, and are not open on evenings/weekends. So the internet is actually more convenient for me.

Bob - I'll probably just buy some stainless screws, but that mini plating wand looks pretty slick. Let us know if you try it.

 

[Hagbard]

Self Tapping vs. Wood vs. Sheet Metal

Does anyone know if a "Socket Head Sheet Metal Screw" such as this would be appropriate for fastening drivers to an MDF baffle (pre-drilled, of course)?

 

[sreten]

Re: Self Tapping vs. Wood vs. Sheet Metal

Does anyone know if a "Socket Head Sheet Metal Screw" such as this would be appropriate for fastening drivers to an MDF baffle (pre-drilled, of course)?

Will be fine, and are used in a lot of commercial loudspeakers.

A tip : insert screw fully but do not excessively tighten, remove
screw and insert some wood glue, with a cotton bus or matchstick.
This greatly reduces any stripping problems when fully tightening*.
(edit : Allow glue to dry !)


🙂 sreten.

* If the screw is tightened once, it will be fine, but
knowing DIY types IMO this is extremely unlikely !