Hi Mike, We're going to look seriously at the SS screws for all products.
We've actually been using the current black oxide steel type of screw for the external screws since we started the company with the K2. These are the same type of screw used by Alpha amps and a number of other ham manufacturers.( I just got off the phone earlier today with Alpha confirming this.) While receiving occasional reports of rust from tropical and extremely humid areas, most users have not reported any problems. As an example, I live 1 mile from the ocean here in CA, and the screws on my 12+ year old K2, my K3, KX1, K1 etc are all pristine. We created the K3 SS screwkit for the K3 as a special kit for dxpeditioners etc who were operating in extreme conditions. It consists of all of the exterior screws on the K3 (not just the 4-40 x 3/16 screws) and was bought by us in low volumes, hence the higher price. We're probably breaking even on these after kitting, order entry etc. We're certainly not getting rich selling the SS screw kits. :-) Also, the rust seen on extreme dxpeditions was restricted just to the exterior screws. We haven't seen any serious corrosion with the interior screws. That said, the screw corrosion thread here has prompted us to revisit this and to look at phasing in SS screws across the whole product line. It is certainly happening in more cases than we, our you, would like to see. We are actively looking at sources right now and I'll report back to the list as we get something defined, both for new kits and for mod kits to existing rigs. This is a pretty big project to change it all over. We'll make sure to keep the cost on the SS screw mod kits very low. Our goal is to make sure there is nothing standing in the way of the K2, and or other products, being perceived as high quality products. Also, in the near term, we'll replace any of the existing exterior screws with the same type at no cost for corrosion. Just email [email protected] and let them know which screws you need and the qty etc. 73, Eric WA6HHQ www.elecraft.com On 12/9/2011 7:14 AM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: > Thanks. > > I was curious if the screw kit Elecraft provides is just for cover screws. > > They are working on a SS kit for the KPA 500 too. > > The cost for 100 screws has shown there is no reason other than profit > not to include SS hardware with the kits from the start. > > Mike W0MU > > W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net > > > On 12/9/2011 5:28 AM, Phil& Debbie Salas wrote: >> FWIW - I bought #4x1/4" SS black-oxide covered screws from McMaster Carr. >> Price is $3.91/100. Part number 96640A054. I use them on my K3 and KPA500. >> >> Phil - AD5X >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[email protected] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
