Set Screw Question

[agreatheight]

Does anyone know what type of set screws most bridges use?

http://www.mcmaster.com/#set-screws/=nz4g4d

I lost one off of my Zon Sonus and it appears to be a cup point set screw, but it doesn't look exactly like the pics. Any ideas?

Eric

 

[Slowgypsy]

Generally, bridge set screws do have cup points. But, why don't you contact Zon directly and ask the source...
http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/contact.html

 

[P Town]

I am not sure you want to use cup points on a chrome plated bridge. I would fear that they may damage the chrome, and if the base metal is ferrous, it may rust.

 

[202dy]

There is no standardization.

The quickest, easiest way to obtain the missing screw:

Remove one of the screws. Take it to Large Home Center on the Four Lane or to the Cool Hardware Store with Dusty Wooden Floors. Compare to their stock. Purchase. Install.

We generally prefer the latter retailer as their clerks tend to have knowledge of the products.

 

[agreatheight]

Generally, bridge set screws do have cup points. But, why don't you contact Zon directly and ask the source...
http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/contact.html

Tried that. Still waiting for response.

 

[agreatheight]

There is no standardization.

The quickest, easiest way to obtain the missing screw:

Remove one of the screws. Take it to Large Home Center on the Four Lane or to the Cool Hardware Store with Dusty Wooden Floors. Compare to their stock. Purchase. Install.

We generally prefer the latter retailer as their clerks tend to have knowledge of the products.

Tried that - no one in town has a matching screw.

 

[202dy]

Tried that - no one in town has a matching screw.

In that case forget the hardware store. The machine shop/industrial supply store will have it.

 

[agreatheight]

In that case forget the hardware store. The machine shop/industrial supply store will have it.

I am honestly not sure what that is, lol. I am outside of Portland Maine. Any specific suggestions?

 

[F-Clef-Jef]

Just make sure that the set-screw you buy is made from the same material as the others, or it will totally change the sound of your bass...

 

[202dy]

I am honestly not sure what that is, lol. I am outside of Portland Maine. Any specific suggestions?

Yellow pages.

Or a one minute Google search:

Fastenal
38 Diamond St
Portland

 

[JLS]

Just make sure that the set-screw you buy is made from the same material as the others, or it will totally change the sound of your bass...

What set screws are best for metal?

 

[Slowgypsy]

Tried that - no one in town has a matching screw.

Might be metric?

 

[bassmanbiff]

Take one of the other screws to a machine shop and have them make another?

 

[ArtechnikA]

Take one of the other screws to a machine shop and have them make another?

They just can't be _that_ special...

Even a boutique maker like Zon and whatever bridge they use are going to have 'standard' small-parts hardware.

I agree hardware stores are going to be fairly useless - where OP needs to go is a hobby store. Maybe some place catering to model makers and slot cars.

What you might be able to find in a big-box hardware store is a thread gauge - if you can narrow down the size and the pitch (and maybe the head style, although they're virtually certain to be inhex ("Allen") ...), the rest is pretty easy. (In the unlikely event the screws have Torx heads, you have determined that they're not metric - for some reason the Torx concept doesn't seem to be available except with 'English' threads.) But I don't think I've ever seen a set screw that was not either inhex or slotted.

Since teeny set screws have to be very strong for their size, they're almost all heat-treated. Getting a bit of rod threaded with the right pitch is easy - heat treating afterwards not so much...

 

[agreatheight]

Yellow pages.

Or a one minute Google search:

Fastenal
38 Diamond St
Portland

This was helpful. I gave them a call and they say they have what I need. Will go tomorrow am and check it out.

Thank you!

 

[agreatheight]

They just can't be _that_ special...

Even a boutique maker like Zon and whatever bridge they use are going to have 'standard' small-parts hardware.

I agree hardware stores are going to be fairly useless - where OP needs to go is a hobby store. Maybe some place catering to model makers and slot cars.

What you might be able to find in a big-box hardware store is a thread gauge - if you can narrow down the size and the pitch (and maybe the head style, although they're virtually certain to be inhex ("Allen") ...), the rest is pretty easy. (In the unlikely event the screws have Torx heads, you have determined that they're not metric - for some reason the Torx concept doesn't seem to be available except with 'English' threads.) But I don't think I've ever seen a set screw that was not either inhex or slotted.

Since teeny set screws have to be very strong for their size, they're almost all heat-treated. Getting a bit of rod threaded with the right pitch is easy - heat treating afterwards not so much...

Big box stores have had the right screws but not in the correct length - all were too short.

 

[Slowgypsy]

Big box stores have had the right screws but not in the correct length - all were too short.

So... what is the correct thread size? What length are you looking for?

 

[96tbird]

+1 for hobby shops.

 

[agreatheight]

6 32 5/8" hex / cup point

Like I said, it appears that in Portland has them, checking it out tomorrow am.

 

[96tbird]

I am not sure you want to use cup points on a chrome plated bridge. I would fear that they may damage the chrome, and if the base metal is ferrous, it may rust.

Not really a concern.