Square Headed Screw Supplier

If you look around you can fin cap screws with decent convex ends that don't burr over.

Neil

Why bother with sq hd screws if they cost so much ? Hex Hd will work just as well.

I wondered why they used square head screws. Must say though that I’ve not had any problems with swarf when using socket screws in my four way.

The (normally four) holes in the holder are so close together that the points of standard hex. screws would clash.

It is assumed that you have a lathe, so, it should be possible to make as many square headed setscrews, as you want.

You can cut blanks to length and then hold them in the toolpost to mill the squares, before holding the square in a 4 jaw independant chuck to turn down, chamfer the end, and cut the thread.

If you have a vertical slide, milling the squares should be even easier.

Howard

OK lets put this to bed, I have stuck with cap head screws and just slightly domed the ends. The Tool "Holders" are now finished.

A few piccies.

Some people might not recognise this toolpost design, it was originally intended for an Emco lathe. I bought the original block and one tool holder from Neil Hemingway in Rochdale many years ago.

The quick change toolpost visible at the back of the cross slide is like a miniature Dixon type but the tool holders are less than 2" long so it is tiny. It gets used with various parting and grooving tools as well as chamfering and boring bars, all upside down of course. I have made a few special holders for this one as well.

Phil

I found some square headed 5/16 BSF screws on ebay to replace the SHCS on the four way toolpost. Why, you ask, well the front and rear saddle lock screws, the left and right stops and the travelling steady all use them and one spanner is more convenient. The spanner is a 1/4" drive double square socket pressed onto a shaft with a sliding tommybar.

I haven't seen any 5mm square head screws unfortunately.

It is relatively easy to make your own from square key steel. This has the advantage that you can have heads the size you want - ie to fit an existing small spanner.

Dare I also suggest ? that you could set the job up in a four-jaw chuck but not 100% tight, and knock the stock through a bit at a time - saving the tiresome setting up each time.

Cheers Tim