Where to get screws?

[NAFix]

I'm working on a wooden mockup of a new folder design and have hit a snag. I am not a knife maker, but if I get the wood one to work, I can try to get a machinist friend to make a real prototype....To hold the finished wooden thing together (and hell, maybe the eventual finsihed design) I want to use screws and nuts, not pins. But I can't find anything small enough in dimensions I understand. The design, at least as far along as I am on this mockup, requires screws of about 3/64" diameter. I thought the 1-72x1/2" that I found in a local hardware store were smaller than 1/16 diam, but they are larger. The 0-80s they had were smaller but not long enough. When I've gone to miniature screw websites, they list 0-80s, 00-x, 000-x, etc., but none of them show a chart that translates the number of zeros into fractions or decimals of an inch? Knifemaker websites don't go smaller than 0-80 or longer than 1/4". I need smaller diameter of at least 1/2" long???!!! I'll need nuts and drill bits (several because I'll probably break at least a couple), too. The bit I got for the 1-72 screws, is a #49 wire gauge. A wire gauge chart I found shows the decimal/fraction of an inch getting larger as the wire number goes down; i.e., a 0 wire gauge drill bit is much larger than a 0-80 screw. Any sources for understanding these correlations would be much appreciated.
Thanx,
Barry

[Bryan]

Hi Barry,

I'm not sure if this site has what you seek, but they have some explination of bolt sizes etc.

http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener%2Dinformation/

One place that you may want to check is a local archery shop if you have one. I used to work at one, and I had tiny fasteners out the wazoo. I'd like to see your knife when it's finished by the way.

Bryan

[NAFix]

Thanx Bryan,
I bookmarked tha site for future reference. I recognized that site as one I had been to that didn't have the small sizes I need. I have since learned that I need a "00" size screw (that's 3/64" or .0469"). Someone sent me a site that has them, but they don't have any drill bits that will drill a hole that BIG. That's right I said, "that big." I found another site that sells a #54 wire bit (.055"), which should be just about right, but I need the business end of the bit to be at least 1/2" long. Their description tells me the business end diameter is #54 wire gauge, the shank is 1/8", and the overall length is 1.5", but they don't say how long the working part is!!! It's frustrating.

This copy is just a working (I hope) wooden mock-up. If it seems feasible to go to a prototype I will do that. Then if it's really what I think it will be, I'll go for a patent. Once I get that...then I'll post the pics here!!! Well, maybe I'll find a manufacturer before I post the pics. Don't want the Chinese to be first on the streets with my design!!!
Thanx, again, for the info,
Barry

[yerout]

Barry, Check with your local tool dealer that stops at repair shops or dealers such as Snap-On, Mac or Matco these guys can get what you are looking for tell them you want a set of carburator jet drills, hope this helps !

[Demaske]

Hobby shops(Model-Plane, train etc.) are very good for that sort of small stuff. I have had screw and nuts as small as 000-90TPI in Brass ans stainless. Just check your local phone book.

Paul

[knife357]

Why not have your machinist friend make what you need.

Jeff