Source of American Made Fasteners

[Texas Boater]

I am trying to locate an AMERICAN manufacturer of silicon bronze wood screws. I am not looking for a fastener supplier or retailer, but an actual manufacturer of the silicone bronze screws.

I have contacted several suppliers; however they either will not or can’t divulge the source of their fasteners. This is understandable, since screws are a commodity item and may a supplier’s fasteners pass through several distribution companies or “middle men” before reaching the end customer. YOU.:mad:

Having over 30 years in manufacturing and high volume assembly, I fully understand that most fastener retailers have multiple sources for their fasteners and are constantly switching their suppliers and negotiating lower prices to keep their prices low and profits high – end result you the customer is never really sure where your fasteners are being manufactured. With the criticality of fasteners used in boats and the habitual lack of consistent quality out of Asian manufactured fasteners (currently the largest volumes of fasteners originate out of India and China) it is imperative you be sure of your sources.:eek:

Fasteners manufactured in the states are subjected to much closer scrutiny and often higher standards than those made in third-world counties and are not as easily “bought” into the market place.

So again, does anyone know of American manufacturers for silicone bronze wood screws?:confused:

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Zero Products Inc.
219 Baywood
Houston, TX , 77229
Phone: 713-675-0123
FAX: 713-675-6066
E-Mail: zerofast@zerofast.com

[Thad]

http://www.oemfasteners.net/

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Great link Thad.
I'd have to guess from their website they cater to us Woodenboat nuts eh?
I see they have a booth at The Newport Woodenboat Show too.
I think I'd spend a little more to buy from this company.
From one nut to another.

[Texas Boater]

Zero Products Inc.
219 Baywood
Houston, TX , 77229
Phone: 713-675-0123
FAX: 713-675-6066
E-Mail: zerofast@zerofast.com

I contacted Zero Fasteners and theuy would not quote on silicone bronze cut thread wood screws with robertson/square drive heads.:confused:

OEM seems to be the current winner!:D
Seems hard to beleive that we have only one USA manufacturer to purchase fasteners from! (But that is all I will purchase - too many learned lessons in the manufacturing industry to trust cheap overseas fasteners.)

[Matt J.]

http://www.narragansettscrew.com/

Looks right, sounds right, although I've not yet ordered fastenings from them, I've got a good sized order to place in the next week or two.

Let me know if they are accurate in stating they're US Mfr if you talk to them first?

[Matt J.]

Nevermind.

I requested a quote on miscellaneous fasteners. I explained that I'll be ordering as many as a couple thousand wood screws for a project.

They're website clearly says "No job too small" and "No minimum quantity" etc...

The response to the kindly worded request for a quote at their convenience was:

"Sorry, No Quote, No Stock."

When I spoke with them before sending the request, they said "no problem, we can make them if we don't have them..."

When I spoke with them just now, they said the quantities are too small to deal with! "Call Clark Craft."

So why no stock!? Why say no job too small!?

Narragansett Screw Company will receive no further orders or requests from me. I'll take my money elsewhere, and my recommendations.

No damn wonder nothing's made in this country. :mad:

[Ken Hutchins]

Call StaFast in New Bedford, Ma., buy the phearson phillips head screws which I believe are American made.
I do know that the carriage bolts they sell are American made, there is an imprint of the actual manufacturer on the heads of the carriage bolts. Through some web searching I found the factory where those are made.
Talk to Pete Despres at StaFast.
You will find that prices are a heck of a lot better than anywhere else.

[Matt J.]

On two counts, I like that idea... I prefer phillips head, and prefer American products.

OTOH... is there a better reason to stay with slotted head screws other than because that's how it was originally and seems to have been standard practice?

I've had a beast of a time removing slot-head screws... phillips can strip, too, but it'd be easier to drill out a phillips than a slot (easier to get a true center.

Thanks Ken, I'll be on the phone with them momentarily.

I am so irritated with that Narragansett Screw company. They were as nice as they could be when they said I wasn't worth their time, regardless of what the website says, or how many screws I will need to buy in a few weeks. I might bump this thread once in a while to be sure others know what to expect as well.

[Bob Adams]

Stuff I've bought from Chesapeake Marine Fasteners were marked made in USA. As a matter of fact, there was a manufacturer of silicone bronze screws right here in Baltimore, I'll just be damned if I can recall the name.

[Matt J.]

Yep, CMF is local. If they're in good moods, they're helpful, too.

Problem is, they have NO #12 fasteners in silicon bronze... I'm replacing what's there for some of them, and for others, that's simply what I need.

I'll call them again, too, when I get a chance.

[Texas Boater]

Have you tried Goulet Specialties ?

Their prices seem reasonable and the staff there seems very willing to help boaters.
http://www.oemfasteners.net/flat%20head%20price (http://www.oemfasteners.net/flat%20head%20price)