Where do people get their generic spares?

[Sega]

Contrary to my signiture I do try to avoid left overs but sometimes stuffs missing, specific parts can usually be sourced by searching but where to you get stuff like tiny screws and conventional battery contacts?

I've used RS in the past for Radio parts but it proved expensive for a small private order and regular DIY stores tend to only have bigger screws not really intended for devices, we did have a chain in the UK for many years called Maplin that occasionally could be good for bits but agan could be quite pricey which in part could have contributed to their collapse.

Space is limited so Donor units aren't really feasable.

 

[RichC]

eBay... Even stuff you think is unlikely is often available - for example, search for "tiny screws".

 

[johnf04]

I scrap old unrepairable cameras.

 

[Dan Daniel]

On the space and donor issue- break them down! I've stripped out screws and springs and such from a variety of cameras over the years. Some end up in generic 'screw' jars, etc. Some end up in small plastic bags with labels if I think the assembly might be useful. Just pulled some screws from a jar of 'Zeiss' screws for a Russian lens. Etc. Etc. Most companies don't develop their own threading, etc. so they can be made to work in a variety of models.

Also look at model railroad suppliers, and radio controlled car and plane suppliers. Watch repair (yep, hard to find these days).

 

[B-9]

Find a broken SLR camera and crack it open.

SO MANY little screws that hold tiny plates, contacts, gears, and buttons.

Are you in the states? I have a bin I call the “Graveyard” and I would gladly send it your way!

 

[xavyr]

and when all else fails, McMaster-Carr...

https://www.mcmaster.com/

 

[oftheherd]

It is surprising how many different srews ACE Hardware, Home Depot, and Lowes, among I am sure man others, may have. Sadly, the more odd the pitch and length, the less likely camera/lens screws are to be found. Some camera repair places may sell some for a price, and may even know exactly what you need.

 

[Sega]

On the space and donor issue- break them down! I've stripped out screws and springs and such from a variety of cameras over the years. Some end up in generic 'screw' jars, etc. Some end up in small plastic bags with labels if I think the assembly might be useful. Just pulled some screws from a jar of 'Zeiss' screws for a Russian lens. Etc. Etc. Most companies don't develop their own threading, etc. so they can be made to work in a variety of models.

Also look at model railroad suppliers, and radio controlled car and plane suppliers. Watch repair (yep, hard to find these days).

I was into my R/C's in my teens but I have ran so low on storage I've had to purchase another Shed to put stuff in, you have reminded me though that I still have a laptop to gut and chuck.

 

[Sega]

Find a broken SLR camera and crack it open.

SO MANY little screws that hold tiny plates, contacts, gears, and buttons.

Are you in the states? I have a bin I call the “Graveyard” and I would gladly send it your way!

Sadly not, I'm in the UK although you could call my room a graveyard in a way, at one point there was 20+ Radios in it and 6 PC's in various states, I have cut way down since though.

 

[Sega]

It is surprising how many different srews ACE Hardware, Home Depot, and Lowes, among I am sure man others, may have. Sadly, the more odd the pitch and length, the less likely camera/lens screws are to be found. Some camera repair places may sell some for a price, and may even know exactly what you need.

We basically have 2 widespread in the UK now, Wickes and B&Q, both sadly are naff for the smaller stuff (I even used to work in one years back), you get sort of the auto factor stores like Halfords (I think the US equivlent is something like O'Riellys and in AUS its Super cheap) that occasionally get the odd useful bit in but its rare.

 

[Sega]

eBay... Even stuff you think is unlikely is often available - for example, search for "tiny screws".

Have you got any recommended sellers?

 

[RichC]

Have you got any recommended sellers?

No, I just search for what I need...

Outside eBay, I've used http://www.inoxbolt.co.uk for almost 20 years! They only do threads down to M3 though.

 

[Sega]

Cheers, I need to get one of my notebooks out and start noting down sizes of things the projects use.

 

[hanskerensky]

Here in The Netherlands we have an internet shop dedicated to small screws :
https://www.microscrews-shop.nl/

They probably also will sell to the UK, just send them an e-mail.

I do buy stuff from them from time to time though most of my tiny screws come from broken cameras and NOS sparepart sales.

 

[Sega]

Here in The Netherlands we have an internet shop dedicated to small screws :
https://www.microscrews-shop.nl/

They probably also will sell to the UK, just send them an e-mail.

I do buy stuff from them from time to time though most of my tiny screws come from broken cameras and NOS sparepart sales.

Thats not too bad, Google translate is a bit iffy on the page so I may have to get help from my Aunt to figure out how to locate which ones I need, eu post rates are usually fairly good too.

Thank you 🙂