where to buy specialty bolts individually?
 

Im building my own serpentine kit and want to buy some socket head bolts or possibly button head to make everything look nice and clean. Only problem is to find plain or stainless finish bolts I have to buy boxes!

Maybe I should powdercoat the brackets black to make getting the bolts easier?

Thought I'd reach out to everyone here and see what they suggest. my Local hardware store and the Local Fastenal I use are a no go on this.

if your curious, I need to get the following:

5/16-18 x 6.5" long x 2 pcs.
5/16-18 x 3.25 or 3.5 x 3 pcs.
7/16-18 x 4.5 x 1pc.
7/16-18 x 4.25 ( or get some 4.5 to chop down) x 3pcs.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

McMastercarr.com

Depending on the fastener, sometimes you have to buy a box of 25 or 50, but they are still often times pretty cheap.

Arp?

Gardner-westcott.com

Allensfasteners.com

www.fastenal.com
Some of the stores want to sell box quantities. Online I believe you can get what you need.

Also try totallystainless.com

a local ace hardware store by me stocks tons of hardware,not sure if they all do .great in a pinch when you need a specific bolt.i usually buy from mcmaster carr when i can wait.

This is a place I use quite often as well as the others mentioned.

http://www.dmpfasteners.com/

Jake

ACE has the Best Hardware selection of any Hardware Chain!

this is true, thats my go to!

This time around no luck.

My Ace hardware is a last resort supplier for me. I needed some metric fasteners once went down to buy the 10mmx35mm and when I looked at the pricing.....I couldn't do it! Went home fired up the PC and logged onto McMaster Carr.....cheaper....better quality and 20 pieces extra for less than Ace wanted for their crap. If you want real special bolts.....Coast Fabrication has AN stuff and Specialty Fasteners has 12 point headed stuff.

I live in the SF Bay Area we used to have many military surplus places around....not many left Bonanza in Oakland, Allen Steel in RWC and Olander fastener supply/Hal Tech Electronics in Santa Clara, Bowlin Bolt in Berkeley are good spots. There used to be 20 places around...not many left....I use Allen Steel ( RWC) Alco Iron/Steel (San Leandro) and Simms Metals (San Jose) for raw materials.

My local hardware store carries stainless & chrome bolts of all kinds. (Tampa Hardware) they have a website too. DMP in Chatsworth Ca is also a good source

Used to be a Ace in the Bay Area the had 2 full aisles of bolts from metric to sae, normall or socket caps, closed up about 3 years ago. I miss them for all the specialty bolts they stocked.

All of your stainless bolts from hardware stores are coming from China. Sears, ACE, etc. All the same supplier of bolts. I broke one a grade 8 bolt from Sears, and that was the last time that I bought a cheap bolt.

Here is a good chart that explains the different grades, but all stainless bolts are grade 2 from those stores. http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-in...materials.aspx In your application you want at least grade 5 for the serpentine belt. Totally Stainless sells ARP, but they also sell stainless grade 2. Arp website gives you some good information on the metallurgy of their fasteners. http://arp-bolts.com/p/technical.php#p7TPMc1_4

Jeff