Where can I find premium knurled thumb screws for server racks?
Asked by
MellowCedar47
I'm looking for rack screws with a chrome-like finish and a wide, finely knurled thumb-grip section. The ones I've seen are exceptionally smooth and can be tightened securely by hand without needing a screwdriver. I haven't had much luck finding screws with the same polished quality. Does anyone know who manufactures them or where I could buy compatible replacements?
Answers
There are plenty of generic thumb rack screws available, though the finish and grip quality vary. Hammond makes a black-oxide thumb screw that’s a decent alternative if the bright chrome appearance isn’t essential.
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You might also consider rack studs instead of screws and cage nuts. They install by hand, are much easier on your fingers, and avoid the sharp edges of ordinary cage nuts. They’re rated for substantial equipment loads, though you should still follow the manufacturer’s installation and load guidelines.
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Those may have been supplied with older Cisco Meraki switches. Similar unopened bags occasionally show up through resale marketplaces, although you’d need a lot of them to outfit an entire rack.
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If you’re sticking with standard cage nuts, a dedicated cage-nut insertion tool makes installation much less painful. It’s probably more practical than replacing a large collection of perfectly usable cage nuts.
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Before ordering, check the thread size and length. Most rack hardware uses a small number of common standards, such as M6 x 1 or 1/4-20, but measuring the screw or checking with a thread-pitch gauge will prevent ordering the wrong ones. Once you know the size, search for knurled thumb rack screws or thumb screws in that specification.
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