Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] mounting screws

[Dale]

Peter Humphrey wrote:
> Hello list,
>
> This has nothing to do with Gentoo, but I don't know where else to ask.
>
> I have a couple of vertically mounted easy-swap disk caddies in the back of my
> workstation, and I'm having trouble finding screws to mount the disk in the
> caddy. Clearance is nil, so the screws must be countersunk so they aren't
> proud of the surface. They seem to be m3 perhaps 5mm long.
>
> I just can't find any via Google. Can anyone in UK please help out?
>


I'll add this just to show how confusing this is.  My old DVD burner and
new Blu-ray burner uses a different screw than the hard drives.  Luckily
my case has slots for hard drives but my external enclosures require
screws which is how I know they are different.  Some will work fine with
what looks like a bolt head while others, like yours, require a counter
sunk screw head that sits flat.  Generally, the local home type stores
don't have any of this either.  I checked my local Lowes once.  They
have tiny screws but either the head is wrong, the threads, length or
something. 

It is annoying.  I ended up getting two types of screws.  One that fits
my DVD/Blu-ray drive and one that fits a hard drive, so far at least.  I
mostly have WD and Seagate.  Some other brand may have something
different.  The one I have that seems to work best is this:  6/32 6-32
6#-32  I put all the combinations of that just in case.  The most common
is 6-32 but could vary by website.  Your mileage may vary tho.

My advice, buy a grab bag of hardware for puters.  Then pray.  Or, find
what should fit, even if it is more than one type, order them all.  I
have collected a storage bin full of screws over the years.  I got case
type screws covered but drives seem to be different. 

Why can't they pick one screw type and make it the standard??? 

Hope that helps.

Dale

:-)  :-)