Tapping PA Series Rad

FallenCow · Jan 26, 2007

How many here have tapped (sp?) their PA 120/130 series rad?

I'm having a hard time finding perfect fitting long screws that fit my PA120 rad. I'd like to use metric sized bolts w/ hex tops (to use w/ an allen wrenches) as I've seen some people do w/ their setups.

Where or how can I get the screw holes on this rad tapped? I live in California. Any advice would be appreciated!

[O-CuK]Marci · Jan 26, 2007

Just buy a tap that matches the thread of the screw you wanna use, and tap it... s'all I do...

clocker2 · Jan 26, 2007

I tapped mine to 6-32 and don't think I even had to bore the stock holes to do so.

voigts · Jan 26, 2007

Same 6-32 here. Just go to a hardware store and ask for this thread tap. It costs a few bucks and you don't have to do any hole drilling. I used just plain old machine screws. You should be able to get 6-32 screws with allen tops. I know my local ACE hardware carries them.

UmHelp · Jan 26, 2007

I drilled/tapped the side holes with 8/32 and used a shroud. I put threaded rod through the side holes and put nuts on each side to hold the shroud on. I tapped the shroud with 6/32 and used 1/2 screws to screw the fans to the shroud and 1/2 8/32 scews to hold the fans to the top of the case. I ran out of 8/32 screws so I had to use 6/32 in the middle.

If you are looking for hex topped standard screws look at mcmasters. I had a hard time finding metric screws in the US. At McMasters you can get 100 screws for like 6 bucks. You can also buy the taps there also.

SiGfever · Jan 26, 2007

6/32 here also. The tap is well worth the money.

FallenCow · Jan 27, 2007

Great advice guys. I brought the rad to my local Ace Hardware the last time I redid my loop and the guy said he couldn't tap it for me. Guess I'll have to go and pick up a self tapping thing or water that is. It seems 6/32 is a popular choice among people. It'll probably come down to whatever screws I can find.

Captain Slug · Jan 27, 2007

FallenCow said:
It seems 6/32 is a popular choice among people.

UNC #6-32 is the standard machine screw for cases. It's the thread on the PCI slots, hard drives, and power supplies. Optical drives however use Metric 3.

Most radiators were designed to use #6 self-tapping sheet metal screws, so the included holes are already drilled to the correct size for any thread count of #6.

To drill a hole to be tapped to #6-32 use a 7/64" drill bit. For a through-holes use 5/32".

FallenCow · Jan 27, 2007

I remember people saying that #6 screws are the correct ones for the PA rads but I still can't get those to fit. If I remember correctly, they were too large.

Mycobacteria · Jan 28, 2007

I use 6G 10 mm self tapping sheet metal screws (6G denotes the width of the screw in Australia) (10mm denotes the length).

After using them for a while taking the rad in and out of my case several times. The holes in the rad get worn out a bit and the screws no longer have the "bite" they used to.

Tapping PA Series Rad

FallenCow

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