Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey Paul,

What sort of screws should I purchase for the old wavy Grovers on a 1972 4001?

Anything available at a hardware store? I mean, purchasing screws by mail order is just embarrassing.

OK, Mark, looking at just the title of this thread at first I was VERY worried.....

Now I am relieved that you are just looking for Grover screws

I am certain that Paul would know, but if either of you want confirmation I could pull one for you and post a photo. If you don't mind buying in quantity I could remove a screw here and match it to the "book" for mail-order. I doubt that ordering online would be nearly as embarrassing as ordering by phone....

Thought I'd logged onto the wrong forum, eh?

Authenticity is not my main concern, just a perfect fit.

Mix with Sloe Gin for a Sloe Screw!

Guys, guys, say no to innuendo!

I always do, Sérgio. I never drink Innuendo when out at a bar. I Just Say No!

Mark, I am measuring an actual original screw from the back of a wavy-grover equipped July 1973 JG right now. The width of the smooth cylindrical (NOT tapered) shoulder at the top is 0.0983 inches, it is 0.4563 from the tip of the thread to the top of the phillips cap, it is a round-head wood screw with a flat flange, and the width of the cap is 0.1755 inches. Now, I am off to see what the approximate US wood screw size is that matches this screw. It appears to be either nickel-plated or zinc-plated, not sure, probably standard bright zinc originally.

Here is a drawing I created of the exact screw, except that it is Phillips, and not Slotted head as this image shows.

Charts say it is a #6 phillips round-head wood screw, Mark Easy to get at your nearest Home Despot....

You do not want zinc-plated. It would look wrong...

You want either stainless or nickel-plated. These have a warm cast to them, whereas zinc has a hardware-store bluish cast to it.

Four decimal places, huh, Elys? You should be able to find those at your local Space Shuttle supplier! They'll have them in unobtanium, undoubtedly.

Elys Rand, you are one high-functioning dude.

But, see, I'm just waiting for Paul to read this, press the Easy button, and say: "It's a number # blah blah stainless steel oval head, not a wood screw incidentally, available on sale at Lowe's until Thursday at 6:15 pm."

And Sergio, quit talking about my endo.

AHA!

These would be # 92407A096 at McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com). $3.75 for a box of 100.

These are brass, not stainless or nickel, and slotted as opposed to phillips head. But they're the closest you can get easily.

Thank you Paul. A nice screw for a good price!

What would you expect with my background? I used a Starrett engineering micrometer, good to five decimals at least

Nickel-plated would give the exact appearance of this 34 year old screw these days. Size-wise it is a #3 x 7/16 round-head phillips wood screw. Not an uncommon size.

However, since you won't find nickel-plate at Home Depot, and very slim chance of stainless in this size, buy the standard bright zing and dip the screws in strong vinegar (or if you want a quick change use battery acid solution) until it turns the shade of gray that you want is probably a good idea.

Afterwards, dissolve baking soda in water and dip the screws to neutralize the acid. Wash thoroughly in running water in a colander for five minutes, then dry and spray a little WD-40 on them.. FInally, wipe dry very thoroughly any excess, and you now have a perfectly-toned and conditioned screw for use with your wavy Grovers

You are a Good Fellow, Paul! That is the exact screw, and in stainless it is the perfect alternative to aging your own bright zinc. The only difference will be the thread, which may be a finer pitch for stainless than the original and if it is, will need a little pre-drilling maybe to place the holes before screwing it in, I would guess. The McMasters site did not show the pitch, and hopefully it will not differ from the original.