Greetings Royce & Group, BA screws are readily available in bulk, very cheaply and quickly. Let me introduce you to my supplier: 'Items' Mail Order Ltd., Specialist BA Screw Stockist.
http://www.fotec.co.uk/mehs/items/index.html [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have had nothing but excellent, friendly service, low prices, and fast delivery from them. They stock over 300 different sizes of BA screws in steel, brass, bronze, stainless, plastic... hex, cheese, grub, slot, nuts, washers - whatever you like. Rivets, taps, dies, small cotter pins, etc. as well. They sell hex head bolts with one size smaller head, so they look good. They denote in their catalogue cut thread vs. rolled thread (rolled threads stink, but they are very cheap... I use them instead of rivets to hold parts for soldering or brazing... then I file off their little heads). E-mail them and request a catalogue... they will e-mail it to you in a printable file. You can call them to place your order (I do), or you can e-mail your order to them with a credit card number. Credit cards make paying easy. Let me elaborate on 'fast delivery'... I have called and placed an order and received it seven days later. A week to a week and a half is typical. Now, security after Sept. 11 may have increased that time a little, but remember... the anthrax letters were mailed from 'New' Jersey, not 'Old' Jersey. The screws are sent in a padded envelope... faster than parcel post. As to mixing threads - It is my personal opinion that for our live steamers, it does not matter what thread series you use... so long as you are consistent! Metric, BA, American... any ONE is perfectly fine for all fasteners. Boiler bushes and fittings usually use the ME series, and it is considered acceptable to mix these threads with the fasteners used. What I would consider HEINOUS, however, would be the use of American fasteners, ME fittings, and then to thread your piston rod 5 BA (use 5-44 UNF!). Regards, -Jon
