Can anyone recommend a good post-war screw kit?

I would also be interested in such a screw kit if one is found or created.

Common Screws used on a layout.  Most would be available at a local hardware store.  Top #6 drywall screw, Middle #4 screws, Bottom #2 screws, long black screw is an Atlas track screw. Note the difference, some are pan head screws, others flat head.   #6 screws are available many lengths.  Smaller screws, longer lengths more difficult to find.

Try Micro Fasteners  and search "trains".

They have two different sets and list the parts that come in each set; which may be what you're looking for.

The problem is usually finding blackened screws in the correct size.  :-(

Len Carparelli has taken over Ted Nyerges Fasterners.

http://www.llmodeltrain.com/NyergesBaSList.pdf

I don’t see assortments listed and few are listed by size, rather application. One of the oddballs are 4-36 screws. Used on a lot of postwar but not easy to find today. Carried by only a handful of specialty fastener outfits.

Pete

Len is the best source for specific screws, but I do not think he sells assortments. For assortments try David Laughridge, Dr. Tinker, at

drtinkertrains.com

His screw assortments are at the bottom of the parts lists.

Interesting thread.  Just last week, I was wondering if I could buy an assortment kit of the most common machine screws used in locomotives.   

In the gun repair world, there are dozens of different types of machine screws used,  going back for more than a century.  And yet, you can just buy a kit with a hundred or more of them, all black, in a very very wide assortment, for around $35.  And, if you need a really odd-ball machine screw, for a rare firearm,  most good gunsmith shops have a screw-making machine and will just make if for you right there.

You guys mean to tell me that after 100 years of Lionel and other model train engines being mass produced, there are not readily available screw kits?  Really hard to believe.  Plainly, the repair experts are not buying the screws one by one.

Mannyrock

I think a generic assortment is a waste of money.    If the assortment is not specific to Lionel products, it will probably not be as usefull as hoped.

I would take samples of screws I need to the local hardware, and see I could find duplicates and build up my spares that way.    maybe do a few sizes per month or something.

My hardware stored used to be willing to order special screws for me.    The store is still there, but I have not tried to do that for about 10 years.    But they did it then.   I just had to order a "box" which was usually 50 or 100.

I just checked a few of the Lionel screw sets offered on the bay. Most are common 6-32 and 4-40 which can be had at any hardware store. Get bright plated (not stainless) and they can be blackened with gun blue. Save money, buy boxes of 1" long screws plus a screw cutter and cut to size needed. 4-36 and 3-48 will likely have to be ordered from a specialty fastener outfit unless you have access to a local hardware store thats been in town for say 100 years. They might have some buried in the back storeroom somewhere.

Pete

Hmm,. . .  hard to understand why a generic assortment would be a waste of money, especially if you are repairing or rebuilding your locos and rolling stock fairly often.

There is nothing like needing a screw, flipping open an assortment box, and plucking out exactly what you need.  :-)

@David Johnston posted:

Len is the best source for specific screws, but I do not think he sells assortments. For assortments try David Laughridge, Dr. Tinker, at

drtinkertrains.com

His screw assortments are at the bottom of the parts lists.

I bought Dr. Tinkers first assortment (he has two).  He's included quite a good variety in that set of 18 screw types.  Many may not be precisely the screw shown in a parts list, but among those types I usually find one that will do the job.  Sometimes shortening with a saw may be necessary or the head may be not exactly right, but I can usually find something that will work.

Two of them are 4-36 and long enough for many uses.

Most important if you are working on an unpredictable assortment of equipment, as I am, never discard a screw.  I have a 15 (or 18) compartment box of random screws sorted by thread size and whatever else seems reasonable.  Between that and Dr. Tinker's assortment, I can find 97% of the screws that I need.

Malcolm LAughlin

Good idea Malcom.

I just threw away a really beat up, poorly running, NW2 with Pullmore in it.  I think I will get it out of the trash, and remove all of the screws to start my assortment.

Mannyrock