Screws
 

Does FLM include all the needed hardware for their parts? Should I buy a screw set(suggestions please)?

I just got a pair of hybrids and they were complete with all the screws and hinge pins (been warned hinge pins are soft) to install skids, put the hybrids cases together and a few extra.

The flm extended chassis had an antenna mount, batt straps, two pieces for the steering posts and enough screws to install the chassis braces. Nothing for mounting the bulks or towers.

I would get a screw kit - especially if what you're converting has the orig OEM screws. I hate the OEM screws and the 1st thing I do when I get a new rc is to replace all screws with alloy steel hex heads. I've been buying kits from Tony -

http://www.tonysscrews.com/main.sc

Don't buy stainless ones, they are weaker and the heads will round out after you've used them a few times.

You haven't broke or stripped one of them yet?

I use Tony's as well. All his stuff is class 12.9 alloy. The best around.

Anyone use these? How do they stack up to Tony's?

I'd look at RC Screwz.

I was told not to get stainless. Why?

The AP Hexheads look pretty good IMO.

You should stay away from stainless, its softer than steel, and it strips very easily.

I have a few assorted stainless and haven't had a problem, to be honest.

But compared to steel, stainless is weaker.

Screwing,
A subject near and deer to my heart.
All 3 companies put out a great product.

Fact is if you bend a screw put out by any of these 3 companies chances are the screw is the least of your concerns.

9 of of 10 times a head is stripped on a screw from any of these 3 companies its not the screws fault. Its normally the tool or the gorilla operating the tool.

Screw sizes on most of the RCs are over kill and well engineered to be that way. Just think how large the screws would be on 1:1 if they were to scale.

There are a lot of garbage garage screw companies selling on E-Bay and on the net in general and is best to go with one of the top 3 people listed. They have all been around for a while and are dialed in to what we need.

Im fond of RCScrewz.
Sure SS is softer (Not weaker) then the steel screws but as I stated above if Im bending a screw it the least of my worries. I like the fact that that they also have a plastic case that I can toss in my pit box and they have MANY extra screws in the kit.

Im new to this forum. Many of the names here are familiar to me and Im sure that several users here know that Im an RC ScrewZ distributor. I just wanted to disclose that to those that dont know. Im not plugging nor trying to sell them here, just adding my opinion on the thread and being honest as how my opinion is based.

Thanks for the input Eddy. Honesty is always apperciated.

Yea, I think I'm gonna get a couple of the RCScrewz kits. $26 for 270+ screws isn't bad when the other kits that are from $25-35 only have about 180 screws...

I don't want to be stepping on toes, but stainless steel screws are not as strong as 12.9 alloy steel.

You can easily look up the specs online typical stainless tensile strength -100-120,000psi (the specs on SS list a range, not a given number). Grade 12.9 alloy steel tensile strength is 175,000psi.

When I got back into rc from a long absence, I came to hate those phillips headed wood screw things that rtrs used to always come with. I bought several SS kits and got rid of those things. Taking stuff apart to upgrade and maintain, I was running into heads that were rounding out using my Thorp drivers after 5 or 6 cycles. I don't have that problem with 12.9 grade fastners.

The prices look pretty close to me if you compare kits for the same rc, the numbers of screws looks similar too. I do like the box idea, but its not a deal maker given the other differences.