Be careful with Ace Hardware.

[misfit77]

First of all, i am loyal Ace customer.

When you guys are shopping for nuts and bolts check those head stamps.

Recently I wanted better hardware for my winch install. I go to Ace because they go through the Hillman group. I noticed chinese and taiwan made bolts. One location was in the process of restocking. Some boxes were labeled Made in China.

I was under the impression that Hillman was a manufacturer, but maybe they are distributers. Not sure how the whole business works, but I know the markings indicate foreign made.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

 

[PandaRam2500]

Distributor. You'll see their reps.in the aisles of of the major box stores on restock day. If you have a hardware related question, these are the ones to ask, not the associate that was in the wallpaper section last week. Did it just about an hour ago. Just by looking at the fastner I had in my hand he knew it was automotive in nature. He went straight to the related pull-out (giggle) drawer and I was in luck.

https://www.hillmangroup.com/us/en <----I have no association, just lending a hand to the post.

 

[misfit77]

Thanks Panda.

I didn't bother the associates. They are pretty sharp and helpful but they are not in control of purchasing.
I just fish through the bin for the stuff I want. Most of the time its not critical.
A 70lb winch hanging sideways can be considered critical.

 

[McBroom]

Thanks Panda.

I didn't bother the associates. They are pretty sharp and helpful but they are not in control of purchasing.
I just fish through the bin for the stuff I want. Most of the time its not critical.
A 70lb winch hanging sideways can be considered critical.

Sure nuff. I hung a 3500# winch on my A frame lift and wused grade 8 bolts from tractor supply.
I use that winch regularly helps alot building smokers n grills.

Black 20 Ram

 

[rule18]

Hillman is also found in Lowes and such. Gotta be careful there too, the folks that sort and fill the bins might not have been properly trained...

 

[misfit77]

My Warn Evo VR was supplied with hot dipped galvanized bolts. Google'ing the head stamp...you can get them on Aliexpress.....ech!

 

[chrisbh17]

McMaster.com

I know its not as quick as a run to the store, but they are the one place that is very clear about what grade, quality, etc you are getting.

 

[misfit77]

I've used McMaster, but I have a local Grainger.
Sadly I think both you have to buy in Quantity.

 

[chrisbh17]

I've used McMaster, but I have a local Grainger.
Sadly I think both you have to buy in Quantity.

True, but some of their quantities are pretty normal. 10 of something, etc. The larger stuff especially. Prices are still good even for quantity.

I have a Fastenal in the town I live in but if you walk in without an account number they pretty much condescend until you just want to leave. I also have a small mom and pop nuts/bolts place nearby, but they dont always have the specific stuff (I buy a lot of screws and such for my RC trucks, need metric, 12.9 hex or button cap....most places dont have such specific hardware, nor in smaller sizes like for RC)

 

[Elkman]

Country of origin is meaningless. The grade markings is what matters for applications with bolts as fasteners.

What most Americans do not know is that the highest quality products are made in China but designated 'German quality' and they are sold throughout Europe. Second grade is "Japanese quality' and the bottom grade is what ends up at Harbor Freight and Wal-Mart.

There is also a difference in what is produced in Taiwan as they pay higher wages and the people have free education and healthcare and so they focus on German quality products. Many "German" tools, like Eibinstock, are rebranded and sold in the USA and they are actually being manufactured in Taiwan.

 

[Jeremy Fry]

Country of origin is meaningless. The grade markings is what matters for applications with bolts as fasteners.

Yeah not sure why people are getting hung up on country of origin. If they were not meeting their grades and shearing then it wouldn’t be long before they would have a ban on importing them.

 

[Doug Ram]

On the topic of the quality of fasteners, you can never be too careful. I used to own a nice 2001 19 foot inboard Stingray boat with a Mercruiser inboard engine. After a few years of riding around I noticed a lot of idle vibration. Opened the engine hatch and found the engine rocking more than usual. My dealer found the engine bolts were all either cracked or completely broken. He swapped out the bolts for some he had in stock. Based on "how they looked" he believed the originals were counterfeit. He called the manufacturer (not sure if he called Stingray or Mercury) but they reimbursed him, I never saw a bill. That marina owner is also a Navy officer (retired) who designs nuclear propulsion systems. At about the same time I worked for the Department of Commerce, and saw that my agency's enforcement arm was going after a several companies for importing heavy duty bolts that were fraudulently marked as high strength alloy. These were getting into the supply chain for cars, airplanes, boats, trucks, nuclear plant maintenance parts, etc, etc, etc. This was about 15 years ago.