Thanks,
 
I was looking up some of the types of nuts we buy (like M8) and I found that the 8 mm thick cost 14 � a piece and the 6.5 mm is only about 2.7 �.  We may be buying something special or more then what we need.  I need to research this further.  But thanks for the lead, you may have saved me days of research.
 
Euric
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, 2004-08-18 23:09
Subject: [USMA:30800] Re: Metric Fasteners are Expensive

> A quick tour of McMaster-Carr turns up the following prices for socket
> cap screws.  From this it looks like the difference in price for small
> quantities isn't very large.  Note that the metric 316 CRES fasteners
> are cheaper than "standard!"  I didn't check any other styles or sizes.
>
> M3x0.5 12 mm
>      316 CRES $5.30 for 50
>     18-8 stainless $6.73 per 100
>     class 12.9   $4.05 for 100
>
> #4-40 1/2"
>     316 CRES $8.42 per 50
>     8-18 stainless $3.97 per 100
>     A286  $1.09 each
>
> My line of work is the opposite of yours - very expensive fasteners in
> small quantities.  For us, a few cents one way or the other is irrelevant.
>
> John
>
> Euric wrote:
>
> >The company I work for uses a variety of fasteners.  Both inch and metric
> >series.  Every so often someone asks why we use both and can't use just
> >"standard".  We use both because some of our outside purchased assemblies
> >mount using metric fasteners.  Some of these fasteners we buy, others some
> >with the assemblies.
> >
> >I would love to see the mess end and have us use only metric fasteners.  But
> >there is one big problem:  They are much more expensive.  Not just a little
> >bit, but a lot.  Sometimes 10 times more.  I was looking to see what we pay
> >for a "basket" of both inch and metric fasteners and was shocked at how much
> >more they cost.  Whereas inch fasteners may cost 1~2 cents a piece, metric
> >fasteners can be about 8~10 cents for the equivalent.
> >
> >I checked internet sources and saw what we are paying is somewhat of an
> >average, even though some companies sell for a few cents less.  Yet, I have
> >not seen one of the fasteners we buy in the same price range as the inch
> >ones.
> >
> >Does anyone here also use metric fasteners in their work?  How do they
> >justify the high cost?  With the high cost of metric fasteners, what is the
> >incentive for any American company to convert?  If the costs were at least
> >comparable, metric could have a chance.  But with metric much more
> >expensive, there is no chance.
> >
> >Even when speaking with vendors, just the mention of the millimetre even as
> >vaguely as saying "I need to shorten this length by about a millimetre",
> >results in a lecture on how metric will double the cost.
> >
> >So, has anyone else ever experienced this and if so, how does one handle it?
> >
> >
> > 
> >
>

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