Little screw

[Richard R]

Evening  chums!

I have a TS100 soldering iron bought a while back. Changing the tip this evening and somehow dropped the little countersunk screw that holds the tip onto the body. I have searched for ages trying to find it -  the workshop is now absolutely spotless! -  but I still can't find the blessed screw.

 

Anyone happen to know what thread the screw is, or know where I could get a replacement? It's less than M3.5, but I have nothing smaller I can try.

 

 

[Aidan63]

what size allen key does it take, if its a 1.5mm then its probably M3 like most metric saddle screws

[Richard R]

It's a slotted countersunk screw.

[Richard R]

Maybe not countersunk. 

 

[stevel]

It should be an M2 x 2.5mm slotted cheese head screw. Closest I can find is 3mm long rather than 2.5.... on the up side, you'll have 19 spare ones though.  Mind you, the postage will probably cost more than the screws...

 

https://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/Bolts-Screws-Metric/Machine-Screw-Slotted-Cheese-M2x3-A2-Stainless.html

[Geek99]

Try waving a magnet around, particularly in corners 

[itu]

If there's a lot of metallic powder around, put the magnet to a plastic box. Everything sticks to the surface, and when you remove the magnet, well, you got the idea. 

[Richard R]

10 hours ago, stevel said:

It should be an M2 x 2.5mm slotted cheese head screw. Closest I can find is 3mm long rather than 2.5.... on the up side, you'll have 19 spare ones though.  Mind you, the postage will probably cost more than the screws...

 

https://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/Bolts-Screws-Metric/Machine-Screw-Slotted-Cheese-M2x3-A2-Stainless.html

I've not heard the term "cheese head screw" before. I shall now attempt to use it in polite conversation as soon as possible. 

 

 Postage is more than the screws, but the total is under £8 so I'll probably get some.

 

[Richard R]

10 hours ago, Geek99 said:

Try waving a magnet around, particularly in corners 

 

I've swept everywhere, it's gorne. 

 

2 hours ago, itu said:

If there's a lot of metallic powder around, put the magnet to a plastic box. Everything sticks to the surface, and when you remove the magnet, well, you got the idea. 

 

Thankfully no magnetic powder or swarf around.  Good tip for cleaning up though.

 

[Geek99]

5 hours ago, itu said:

If there's a lot of metallic powder around, put the magnet to a plastic box. Everything sticks to the surface, and when you remove the magnet, well, you got the idea. 

Or a cloth 

[tauzero]

4 hours ago, Richard R said:

I've swept everywhere, it's gorne. 

 

It'll turn up as soon as the replacement arrives.

[lemmywinks]

9 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

It'll turn up as soon as the replacement arrives.

 

 

I lost one of the bell plate screws from my old Sire once, eventually found it days later stuck to one of the pickup pole pieces. Felt like a proper idiot.

 

 

 

These are 2.5mm long and M2 size:

https://www.accu.co.uk/large-slotted-pan-head-screws/611742-SFPL-M2-2-5-A1-BL

 

 

 

It's a common size for NVME SSDs so you may have more luck sourcing some that way, some here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Screws-60pcs-Mounting-Screwdrivers-Laptop/dp/B0F8VWV9LH?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&psc=1&smid=A1EWA2C6OH3Y0Q

[Richard R]

8 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

 

It's a common size for NVME SSDs so you may have more luck sourcing some that way, some here:

 

Now I might be able to lay my hands on one of those. In the first instance I can just take one out of the PC and see if it fits.

 

[lemmywinks]

1 hour ago, Richard R said:

 

Now I might be able to lay my hands on one of those. In the first instance I can just take one out of the PC and see if it fits.

 

 

I might have a spare, I also have a TS100 so can do a test fit. Should have something that works as I still have a big bag of random screws from when I used to refurb laptops.

[Richard R]

Mine's a TS101, but I expect the screws are identical as the tips are.

[lemmywinks]

I found one that's fits the TS100 anyway if you want it sticking in the post although the TS101 does look different, my TS100 has a little hex screw holding the tip in.

[Richard R]

Found one!

Sticks out a bit but who cares.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate it. 😀

 

[dmccombe7]

Take it to a local ironmongers and see if they can help find what you need. You roughly know the size.

Dave

[Richard R]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

Take it to a local ironmongers

Sadly these are virtually extinct in England.

 

Now I have a functional work-round, and I know it's M2, there isn't so much urgency so I can try different places.

 

 

[nekomatic]

We have a local ironmongers, and they even still sell individual screws (I think)… but not M2 ones!