That bucket of drawer slide screws I thought I was stocking up on cost me $60

Bought a bulk pack of #6 x 5/8 pan head screws from a surplus place last month thinking I was saving big. Every single one stripped out on the first turn with my impact driver. Anyone else had bad luck with mystery hardware bins?

2 comments

2 Comments

avery7212d ago

Did you check if they were actually hardened steel or just cheap zinc ones? I've found soft hardware from mystery bins almost always strips out with power tools.

michaelcoleman2d ago

Haven't you ever considered that the torque specs might matter more than the metal type itself? I mean, I've seen guys crank down on zinc bolts with an impact driver and get mad when they strip, but the same bolts hold fine if you just use a hand tool with the right feel. Also, mystery bins usually come from surplus auctions where stuff gets tossed around, so even good hardware can get damaged from the sorting process. Maybe try testing a few with a manual torque wrench before you blame the material entirely. Worth a shot if you're trying to save those bins for future projects.