Replacement Thumb Screws?

[talksr]

Hi there, I am sure I can't be the only one...

 

We have a lot of these DELL MFS18 stands with Optiplex 3060s inside and a 22inch Dell Monitor.

 

The monitors slot onto the stand and are secured at the bottom of the VESA with one thumb screw.

Someone (maybe more than one suspect) is deliberately reaching round and stealing the thumb screws. This means that when other users use the computers and attempt to raise the monitor up to suit their height, the entire monitor is falling off of the stand and falling towards their faces. As this is a primary school, the users are often short and small, particularly the really young children and I am quite worried that one of these 22inch monitors is going to end up really hurting a child.

 

Has anyone managed to source replacement thumb screws or other screws? I don't yet have an image of where the screw goes but just wondered if anyone else had similar issues. We have over 10 devices now in this state where the monitor is literally hanging by one small piece of metal as someone has had the screws away.

 

 

 

[Rob_D]

They'll probably be a metric size, so you just need one that hasn't been nicked, then you can measure the thread diameter and buy those thumbscrews (or not thumbscrews) from pretty much anywhere. The M number on things like M4 is the outer thread diameter in mm (see image below).

 

I'd expect them to be M4 (4mm thread diameter) like most monitor screws.

[Andrew_C]

VESA mount are M4.

 

Use some threadlock to hold them in! Probably medium strength, especially if you change them to something without "thumbage".

[3s-gtech]

Probably M4 or M3 coarse thread like a case screw. I have some Lenovo ones that are similar. See if you can find a small nut that fits them, then use that as reference for a replacement. Our Tech department is good for this!

[Koldov]

Dammit, I clicked on this thread because I was hoping someone had just actually worn out their set of thumbscrews which were being regularly used to dissuade children from fiddling with the equipment in the ICT suites...

 

 

Anyway I suggest you invest in a set to deter the little darlings!

[talksr]

Dammit, I clicked on this thread because I was hoping someone had just actually worn out their set of thumbscrews which were being regularly used to dissuade children from fiddling with the equipment in the ICT suites...

 

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Anyway I suggest you invest in a set to deter the little darlings!

 

 

 

Where can I buy these? Was wondering if they did ones with barbed wire on hehe

[Chris_Cook]

Looking at a YT video, It looks like its m4 or maybe m5. You might have M5 screws in your rack mount bits pot. You could take one of the bottom screws out the monitor if its m4, as a temporary measure or at least to check the fit. Amazon is good for buying this sort of thing.

 

You can get threadlock as already mentioned. I'd replace with Allen, hex bolt or torx type if possible.

[Brixy]

Ebay can supply screws at a decent price - unfortunately the days of popping down to Maplin or Tandy are long gone.

[talksr]

Thanks everyone.

The site manager is super and has a set of M3, M4 etc screws. We have worked out that it seems to be M4. We have ordered from Amazon some 4mmx8mm M4s. Waiting for the finance department to actually put the order through. 2 weeks and counting.