for want of a screw...

sloan · Post by **sloan** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:42 pm

I just lost the screw that snugs the leadpipe to the bell on a "new, new, King 2341".

Last time I lost a screw on this horn, it was one of the many that attach
the valve cluster. Those are plain, ordinary #8 machine screws.

anyone know the size of the one I just lost? anyone got an official King screw in stock? Ill take 2.

alas, the lyre screw is too small...

I know - some people claim the tuba plays better withOUT the screw. Perhaps i should consider this as an upgrade?

sloan · Post by **sloan** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:07 am

Hey, dummy - just go into the shop, rummage about until an 8x32-1/2" bolt comes to hand, and screw that sucker down.

No handy knurled surface for insta-fix, so be sure to tighten before each performance! ...where did I put that Lock-tite?

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:28 am

At least an American standard screw-widely available, fits.
My Russian Army issue tuba had screws that defied replacement-even metric ones. I finally jammed a self-tapping screw in place until I could buy an American tuba with parts that really exist.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:28 pm

Although pretty rare, there exists what corresponds to a Nylock screw--has a slot with a nylon insert in the threads. That might be more resistant to loosening through vibration.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:52 pm

Some old-style harware stores have pull-out trays with lots of cool stuff in them- brass, knurled, standard, metric, nylon, who-knows-what? May want to dig around in some of that stuff... there's usually a bank of them in a store that has them, and even better, they're priced by the piece...

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:07 pm

sloan wrote:Hey, dummy - just go into the shop, rummage about until an 8x32-1/2" bolt comes to hand, and screw that sucker down.

No handy knurled surface for insta-fix, so be sure to tighten before each performance! ...where did I put that Lock-tite?

Edit: Oh, hell. I wish McMaster-Carr would provide linkable item numbers that actually work on their otherwise excellent online catalog.

Go to www.mcmaster.com and search for part number 91830A304. It's an 8-32x1/2" knurled-handle thumbscrew in stainless steel.

Or, if you want brass, the part number is 98816A238.

If you order them, they are likely to arrive before you press Send. I have ordered stuff in the evening and had it arrive the next morning. Shipping can be high for such an inexpensive part, so you might do a little shopping for other needed goodies, too.

Rick "a VERY GOOD McMaster-Carr customer" Denney

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:25 pm

Rick Denney wrote:Go to www.mcmaster.com and search for part number 91830A304. It's an 8-32x1/2" knurled-handle thumbscrew in stainless steel.

I used to do a lot of that until I discovered that the local hardware store (not Home Depot or Lowe's but a genuine hardware store) had a wonderful assortment of hard-to-get fasteners--for a lot less than McMaster-Carr.

Sometimes ya gotta ask--although I got a strange look from the owner when I asked for a button-head screw. It wasn't until I found them and pointed out to him that there was really such a thing that he believed me.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:25 pm

Hmmm. Vibration; loss of parts. Reminds me of the old adage about why British motorcycles get faster as they go down the road.

MA, no longer a biker but I still look.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:27 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:I used to do a lot of that until I discovered that the local hardware store (not Home Depot or Lowe's but a genuine hardware store) had a wonderful assortment of hard-to-get fasteners--for a lot less than McMaster-Carr.

Sometimes ya gotta ask--although I got a strange look from the owner when I asked for a button-head screw. It wasn't until I found them and pointed out to him that there was really such a thing that he believed me.

Believe me, I have the specialty fastener bins memorized at nearby Lowes and Home Depot stores. I've NEVER seen a stainless or brass knurled-handle thumbscrew in 8-32. I've seen flat-wing screws and even screws with plastic handles, but the latter are usually 1/4-20 and the former are usually zinc-plated and cheap looking.

And sorting those bins to the point where I can see what I'm looking for is usually an exercise in extreme frustration. The goons at those stores who stock those bins obviously can't read their own labels, or never bother to sort out the messes made by other customers. Too often, the bin I need is full of what I don't need, and stays that way for a year because the goon can't tell that the bin has the wrong contents and needs refilling.

McMaster-Carr may not be that cheap (neither is it as expensive as a specialty fastener supply house), but it is convenient, has a comprehensive online catalog, and nearly always has exactly what I'm looking for. It has been invaluable in my motorhome renovation project.

Rick "who thinks a visit to West Marine, the only local source of stainless screws of any variety, will redefine 'expensive'" Denney

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:54 pm

Dontcha just love those Germans?! The Mirafone guys brad the screws so they won't vibrate and fall out!

tbn.al · Post by **tbn.al** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:47 pm

TubaTinker wrote:The Mirafone guys brad the screws so they won't vibrate and fall out!

So that's why I cant get my 184 apart.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:41 pm

tbn.al wrote:
TubaTinker wrote:The Mirafone guys brad the screws so they won't vibrate and fall out!
So that's why I cant get my 184 apart.

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:46 pm

So that's why I cant get my 184 apart.

This is the result of one of those natural laws about the way things are based on the fact that when putting things back together you always have at least one part left over: If you take something apart and put it back together enough times, you eventually end up with two of them.

But you're not allowed to have two 184s from one. So the laws of physics don't allow you to take it apart.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:19 am

SplatterTone wrote:
So that's why I cant get my 184 apart.
This is the result of one of those natural laws about the way things are based on the fact that when putting things back together you always have at least one part left over:....

Huh! I always wondered where all these extra parts come from. Seems like every six months or so I have enough stuff in the 'hellbox' to build another horn. Any of you guys missing anything?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:38 am

tbn.al wrote:So that's why I cant get my 184 apart.

If you want a part, look just past the euphonium parts!

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:36 pm

If you'd like a self-locking screw, there's a McMaster-Carr part:

http://tinyurl.com/y6vuaz

Stainless, with nylon insert, nice clean socket head that won't loosen with vibration.

sloan · Post by **sloan** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:40 pm

Rick Denney wrote: ...

Go to www.mcmaster.com and search for part number 91830A304. It's an 8-32x1/2" knurled-handle thumbscrew in stainless steel.

Ordered 2 in stainless. (I'm a belt&suspenders kind of guy...) Soon I'll have a bag full of spares, and will start to think about building a new
tuba from the spare parts.

Gee...can you silver plate stainless?

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:58 pm

Talk about "Ode to Joy" when you get one unlocked....

sloan · Post by **sloan** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:13 pm

Measure twice, cut once.

The bolt I picked out of the 8x32-1/2" drawer was actually 8x32-3/8".
It fit...but the way cool one with the knurled edge that I mailordered
does not.

Oh well....once more - with feeling!

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:03 pm

sloan wrote:Measure twice, cut once.

The bolt I picked out of the 8x32-1/2" drawer was actually 8x32-3/8".
It fit...but the way cool one with the knurled edge that I mailordered
does not.

Oh well....once more - with feeling!

You don't own a hacksaw or a file?