Hard Drive Mounting Screws

Hi everyone,
a true hardware issue, no electronics involved.

Where can I get screws to mount a hard drive that are the correct length ?

I know the appropriate threads, but they are all specified or look too long in the pictures.

For 3.5" disks WD specify a depth into the disk of 0.188" (4.8mm) and Seagate only give 0.15" (3.81mm). Add on 1 mm at the most for the disk cage/frame in my Presario S5160UK and that gives something less than 5mm for Seagate disks, or at the very most 5 [just under in fact] turns. (one turn of 6 is not used, for getting through the disk cage or whatever the name for it is). Some claim the length, actually stated, that they are 5 or 6mm long, which is too long for Barracudas, others look to long (5 or 6 threads-I've counted them) and these are on the verge of being too longg, and I'd rather be certain not to damage my HDs. Does anyone know where I can get some suitable ones (for less than the HP rate) ?

Dumb_Question
14.September.2014

 

I think the screws are a 6-32 thread available at most home improvement stores in 1/2 to 1" 20 packs. Too long but in the electrical section you can find cheap wire strippers with threaded holes used to cut these small bolt to any length. If you know an electrician he/she should have extra of these screws and the hand tool to set you up. Also some places like Radio Shack or a hardware store may have smaller ones ready to go.

Here's a jpg of one common type wire stripper.

 

Hi, and thank you for your answer. 6-32UNC is thread used to mount 3.5" hard drives.

I didn't know wire strippers were threaded (?), nor did I know that they were able to cut through screws that thick !

Dumb_Question
14.September.2014

 

The holes in the body just behind the stripper edge has one threaded hole which matches with a blank hole on the backside. Srew the bolt into the threaded hole to the depth you want, squeeze the handles together. When you unscrew it back out it cleans the threads up. Think 10-32 probably largest hole.

 

sounds good

Dumb_Question
14.September.2014

 

You can order all PC screws through eBay, here's the sites I use.

http://stores.ebay.ca/B-D-Hardware-House Canada
http://stores.ebay.com/B-D-Hardware-House U.S.

http://stores.ebay.com/PC-Traders-UK?_trksid=p2047675.l2563 U.K.