Bodywork, Paint, Interior, Trim, & Wiring

discussions about bodywork, paint, interiors, trim, audio, electrical components, wiring, etc.

Go to Thread: PreviousNext
Go to: Forum ListMessage ListNew TopicLog In


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Found: Great Source for Top-Quality Hardware!
Posted by: Moderator
Date: June 26, 2008 02:31PM

Here in Colorado, it's hard to find top-quality hardware in local stores. Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, Budget Home Centers, and all the auto parts stores all sell sleazy Chinese hardware... often blatantly mislabeled, and over-priced too! McMaster-Carr and other mail-order catalogs sell the good stuff... but at an insane price premium.

So here's a tip:

"Automotive Fasteners" in North Carolina still sells the good stuff, and it's a bargain too!
In many cases, they sell hardware for less than half the price of McMaster-Carr!

One of my biggest pet peeves is cheap flat washers. If you put an inadequately-hardened flat washer under a grade-8 bolt, it won't hold torque and you end up with a weak joint. Also, the surface finish on cheaply made washers is corrosion prone (and easily galled by the nut). When it comes to flat washers, I have a strong preference for always-made-in-USA "Wrought Washer" brand "Mil Carb" washers, as described here: [www.wroughtwasher.com]
Note: I also prefer "SAE" sized washers over "USS" sized washers.

I don't think you can beat these prices:

1/4" SAE Round Mil-Carb High-Strength Hardened Washers (Yellow Zinc)
Automotive Fasteners item # FWG8-1/4-SAE: $2.00 per 100
(same as McMaster-Carr 98023A029 @ $5.55 per 100)
(boltdepot.com sells their sleazy imported version for $3.08 per 50)

5/16" SAE Round Mil-Carb High-Strength Hardened Washers (Yellow Zinc)
Automotive Fasteners item # FWG8-5/16-SAE: $2.04 per 100
(same as McMaster-Carr 98023A030 @ $4.20 per 50)
(boltdepot.com sells their sleazy imported version for $4.00 per 50)

3/8" SAE Round Mil-Carb High-Strength Hardened Washers (Yellow Zinc)
Automotive Fasterners item # FWG8-3/8-SAE: $2.84 per 100
(same as McMaster-Carr 98023A031 @ $4.99 per 50)
(boltdepot.com sells their sleazy imported version for $4.82 per 50)

7/16" SAE Round Mil-Carb High-Strength Hardened Washers (Yellow Zinc)
Automotive Fasteners item # FWG8-7/16-SAE: $3.56 per 100
(same as McMaster-Carr 98023A032 @ $4.90 per 25)
(boltdepot.com sells their sleazy imported version for $4.41 per 25)

Call Automotive Fasteners toll free at 800.632.0340
They're located in dear old Greensboro NC (a.k.a. "the southern part of heaven") .
They accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

While you're on the phone, why not order some good American bolts while they're still being made?
(One of the best bolt companies - "Rockford" - went bankrupt in January, but that's another rant...)


67MGBV8
Chris Jones
Denver, Colorado
(36 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 03:11PM

Main British Car:
1967 MGB Tourer 215 c.i. Buick

authors avatar
Re: Found: Great Source for Top-Quality Hardware!
Posted by: 67MGBV8
Date: July 12, 2008 05:52PM

Wow, They have a nice on-line catalog. I've already bookmarked them and intend to order. Thanks for the heads-up!


Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.