rusty screws around sink ?

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-08-2021, 09:53 PM

anyone else have those white panhead screws around their sink get all rusty after a couple years?

I just ordered some of what I *think* are the right size robertson panhead sheet metal screws in stainless. when they get here, if they work, I'll be happy to paste my results.

further, I had to order 100, so I can probably make up 8 or 10 'care bags' of enough to do one trailer and will offer them for nominal S&H, if I can find suitable packaging for 1st class mail. but hold off til I get the screws and succeed at fixing mine.

cpaharley2008 · 10-09-2021, 07:15 AM

There is always Dave's well known blue tarp at any of his rallies available for donations....

Bill and Earline · 10-09-2021, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

anyone else have those white panhead screws around their sink get all rusty after a couple years?

I just ordered some of what I *think* are the right size robertson panhead sheet metal screws in stainless. when they get here, if they work, I'll be happy to paste my results.

further, I had to order 100, so I can probably make up 8 or 10 'care bags' of enough to do one trailer and will offer them for nominal S&H, if I can find suitable packaging for 1st class mail. but hold off til I get the screws and succeed at fixing mine.

We’ll done, John.
I had several of the white Robertson screws showing some rust in the bathroom sink. I thought I had exact replacements. It turns out the replacements were longer than the originals, so I noticed it was the screw shaft/threads that had rust.
I painted the threads of the originals with Rustoleum and reinstalled. A month of camping, and all good.

If your stainless ones work out, maybe you could post their exact size, in case others want to do the same. You shouldn’t have to give yours away.

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-09-2021, 12:40 PM

I'm pretty sure the screws are #6 x 5/8" sheet panhead metal screws, but they could be M4.2 x 15mm, so I won't know until I get the new ones in.

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-17-2021, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

I'm pretty sure the screws are #6 x 5/8" sheet panhead metal screws, but they could be M4.2 x 15mm, so I won't know until I get the new ones in.

oops, wrong.

#6 are way too small.

Iowa Dave · 10-17-2021, 11:17 AM

We have Escape 21 # 6 built. It came with Robertson Stainless Steel screws on the bathroom sink. I believe, unless the previous owner added them. We’ve had it since 2017 and they are still looking like new. If I wasn’t Iowa Dave I’d be Stainless Steel Dave from my days of managing the maintenance on 6 Municipal swimming pools. I had a watchdog old time foreman who was a penny pincher. He “turned me in” to our parks commissioner for “wasting money on stainless steel”. Didn’t take but a few choice words to straighten that situation out. Plenty of nickel and she will last a long time.
Iowa Dave

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-19-2021, 05:43 AM

Fyi, I've got both m4.2 and #8 screws inbound, so I'll report which matches when they get here

skiman · 10-19-2021, 09:01 AM

I have rusty screws in my 2014 21’. Waiting for the correct stainless substitute. Thanks.

CADreamin · 10-19-2021, 12:01 PM

Of the four screws holding "the pole" in our 21', only one has rusted ... badly. Will be waiting to hear the results as well.

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-19-2021, 01:09 PM

looks like #8 x 5/8" but I will await the arrival of the M4.2x15 for final confirmation.

the #8's I got visually look a little bit smaller than the original but that could just be an illusion from stainless vs zinc, and that the original is crusty with rust and paint on the head.

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-19-2021, 03:52 PM

welp, upon measurements, and actually installing a test screw, yup, its a #8 x 5/8" on mine at least.

My stainless replacements are phillips head, I couldn't find #8 robertson, ah well. I only replaced the screws along the curb side of the sink that are vertical, since I'd have to remove the entire faucet fixture to access the ones along the back of the sink (which aren't rusty) nor did I want to replace all the screws around the shower as they aren't rusty, and I'm afraid I'd mess with any sealant.

and the M4.2x16 sheet metal screws I'd also ordered finally arrived. just about the right length and diameter, but the thread pitch is nearly twice as fine as the original, so yes, #8 *is* the right size.

**Donna D.** · 10-19-2021, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

welp, upon measurements, and actually installing a test screw, yup, its a #8 x 5/8" on mine at least.

My stainless replacements are phillips head, I couldn't find #8 robertson, ah well. I only replaced the screws along the curb side of the sink that are vertical, since I'd have to remove the entire faucet fixture to access the ones along the back of the sink (which aren't rusty) nor did I want to replace all the screws around the shower as they aren't rusty, and I'm afraid I'd mess with any sealant.

Picture of the done deal?

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-19-2021, 04:56 PM

yes, I need to clean it up....

TTMartin · 10-19-2021, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

welp, upon measurements, and actually installing a test screw, yup, its a #8 x 5/8" on mine at least.

My stainless replacements are phillips head, I couldn't find #8 robertson, ah well.

I ordered a bag of the Robinson head screws from Fastenere

#8 x 5/8" Square Drive Pan Head Sheet Metal Screws Stainless Steel 18-8 Qty 100
Price per Bag:
$10.19

Has free shipping too!

Bea · 10-19-2021, 06:15 PM

Our bathroom sink screws were painted white by Escape - I had not even noticed that until this thread, so no rust - thanks John! It's our rusty manual jack's nuts that I'd like to replace soon. If we find out what size they are we'll post. -Bea

skiman · 10-19-2021, 06:36 PM

Best way to clean rust stains?

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-19-2021, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiman

Best way to clean rust stains?

my favorite way of stripping rust off stuff is this...

\

but I wouldn't recommend it for plastic surfaces, hah hah.

Bea · 10-19-2021, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiman

Best way to clean rust stains?

This perhaps? https://www.amazon.com/Stain-Remover...4687135&sr=8-8

**John in Santa Cruz** · 10-19-2021, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bea

This perhaps? https://www.amazon.com/Stain-Remover...4687135&sr=8-8

that should work quite nicely. I looked up the MSDS, its mostly Oxalic acid, which "reduces" rust (in chemistry, reduction is the opposite of oxidation, it essentially turns the Iron Oxide into soluable compounds)

Great Eggstrications · 10-19-2021, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bea

Our bathroom sink screws were painted white by Escape - I had not even noticed that until this thread, so no rust - thanks John! It's our rusty manual jack's nuts that I'd like to replace soon. If we find out what size they are we'll post. -Bea

They're 1/4" carriage bolts - maybe had to slightly enlarge the holes but no problem. Bought 'em long and cut 'em to length. Bolts, nuts, flat and lock washers from boltdepot.com. The original ones were looking real ratty after just a couple of years.

You may also like: