AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: DavidC on September 22, 2021, 07:09:59 PM
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Im looking for some screw or maybe blacksmith's nails for holding things like the backplate on a sliding patchbox lid. What's a good place to find hardware that won't stick out like newly machined screws seem to? Any good place for handmade hardware?
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Blacksmithbolt.com
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For wood screws, you can get unplated screws in different sizes as noted by Wayne at Blacksmith Bolt and Rivet Supply. Make a countersink plate out of spring steel or something tough that will cover sizes @ #4 to #10 or so. Take the unplated screws and beat the heads down into the countersink of appropriate size until you close up the machine cut slot. Now you can shape the head and cut the slot by hand for a more authentic look.
They sell long blanks or long rivet blanks that are awesome for making tang and lock bolts but *warning* they are EXTREMELY soft and easily bent while working and threading. Once they're cleaned up, shaped and threaded as needed, they should be casehardened.
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Agree with the other 2 posters about screws. You can always reshape the awful lock and tang bolts readily available from M/L suppliers in your drill press or lathe with a file and sandpaper and remove the obvious machining marks. As for handmade nails, Lee Valley has various sizes hand made square nails that might work for what you want.