M2 x 2mm brass grub screws - do they exist?

I've been looking in vain for the above - the shortest I've found in brass are 6mm. Accu do them in stainless, but ideally (for aesthetic reasons) I'd like brass. Maybe such short screws in brass would be so feeble (only 5 threads long) as to be useless for most applications and nobody makes them. I don't know!

If anyone can point me to a source, or even tell me that that such things are so unlikely to exist that I shouldn't waste more time searching, I'd be grateful.

Robin

Why not cut them down from the 6mm ones?

Just a thought. If stainless is heated in a flame it turns a straw colour. Could this effect be used to satisfy your aesthetic sensibilities?

Also they'd be a lot stronger than real brass.

EKP Supplies have some M2 x 3mm ones one their eBay store (oddly they're not listed on their website) if 3mm isn't too long for what you want them for **LINK**

Thanks.

Old mart - I had thought about that, but I cutting a 2mm bit off the end of 6mm would be difficult with the kit I have!

I did wonder if I could tap an M2 hole in the end of a bit of bar, screw the grub in 'backwards' then grind off the excess, but then I'd be faced with the problem of getting it out again...

Clive - sounds like an idea. I have some short M3 stainless grub screws, and shall subject them to a blowtorch and my aesthetic sensibilities tomorrow. If I can get the workshop above 15C that is - a finger numbing 8C at the mo.

Robin.

" screw the grub in 'backwards' then grind off the excess, but then I'd be faced with the problem of getting it out again"

Make the threaded hole in the bar a thru-hole and lock the screw in place with a second screw. An Allen key (hex key) can be inserted from the opposite end.

Paul.

Robin, you are half way there with your shortening idea, just get a short piece of round or hex material 12mm long or so, drill and tap an M2 hole right through. screw the screw to be shortened into one end, leaving the end to be cut sticking out, then screw another one in to the other end to lock the first one in place, shorten the screw, chamfer the cut end using a lathe or even a bench drill , then remove the backing screw, then the shortened one.

Chris Gunn

Snap

Chris Gunn

Hi Chris, Ya gotta be quick on this site

Paul.

Thanks chaps - ingenious- problem solved I hope!

Robin

Robin, I just looked at pts_uk.com and they stock M2 x 3 grub screqws. About £13 100

Thanks Clive. I eventually found some M2 x 3 brass screws on eBay, but they're still going to need shortening:

It's going to be a challenge - the screws are so tiny! Unsurprisingly one has already been sucked into the vortex of the workshop floor.

The part is a balance weight. In principle, when it's in the right place on the beam it should just stay there, so I could use shaft retainer. But that would be too easy - and I like to make things adjustable when possible.

Robin.

Edited By Robin Graham on 03/02/2021 23:18:22

Make the balance weight 1mm greater OD (and remove material elsewhere if total mass is important).

Drill through hole in weight 1mm offset so one side has 3mm wall.

Machine a piece of stock to 2mm thick. Tap a 2mm hole. Insert the screw with the head flush with the plate. Use a Dremel or a file on the back side of the stock to remove excess length.

Thanks for further suggestions.

DC31k - I had thought about making the balance weight fatter - but my pesky aesthetic sensibilities! It wouldn't look right. I've got a bit of a 'thing' about old brass / hardwood instruments. Back in the day they made things that worked and looked good - I'll never achieve that level of craft, but plan to die trying.

John. Doh! I've got 2mm gauge plate. Thanks.

Robin.

Double Doh! I got too focused on dimensions. Eventually I realised I could just screw in the screw then run a reamer down the bore to chop off the excess. That's worked fine. Screws are now probably about 1.5 mm long, which is OK for purpose, but I wouldn't want to try to find them again if I took them out!

Many thanks for suggestions though - all filed away in the 'maybe useful' drawer.

Robin

Edited By Robin Graham on 13/02/2021 00:19:00