Metric titanium screws

Made to order in Baoji, Shaanxi. Mill test certificate supplied with every batch.

A screw has one job: hold two things together without being noticed. When it's made of titanium, it does that job lighter and for longer, because there's nothing on it to rust. The questions below are the ones buyers ask us most, so we've answered them in the order they usually come up.

Which titanium screws do you actually need?

Start with what the screw has to do, not what it looks like. Titanium screws fall into a few families, and each one solves a different problem:

Set screws lock one part to another from the inside, such as a collar on a shaft.
Machine screws thread into a tapped hole or a nut and clamp parts together.
Torx-drive screws carry more torque through the head without the bit slipping out.
Bicycle-specific screws fit the threads and spaces found on frames, stems and components.

If you can tell us where the screw sits and what it holds, we can usually point you to the right family in one reply.

What's the difference between titanium set screws and grub screws?

There isn't one, really. Titanium set screws and titanium grub screws are two names for the same part: a fully threaded screw with no head. It sits flush or below the surface and presses its tip against a shaft or a mating part to stop it moving.

The tip shape matters more than the name. A flat point spreads the load and suits parts you'll adjust often. A cone point bites into the shaft for a firmer hold. A cup point sits somewhere in between. Tell us which one your design needs, or describe the job and we'll suggest one.

Titanium makes sense here because these screws often sit in places that are hard to reach and easy to forget. A steel grub screw can corrode in place. A titanium one comes out years later just as it went in.

When should you choose titanium machine screws?

Choose titanium machine screws when weight or corrosion is the reason you're replacing steel. They're used on electronics housings, instrument panels, marine hardware and lightweight frames. In all of these, a few grams saved per screw add up and rust would be a real problem.

Machine screws are fully threaded and usually shorter than bolts. Head styles include pan, countersunk, cheese and button. Pick the head by how the screw has to sit: flush with the surface, raised for grip, or wide to spread the load on a soft panel.

Why do Torx heads matter so much in titanium?

Titanium is strong but less forgiving than steel when a tool slips. A cammed-out drive can damage the head and leave you drilling it out. Titanium torx screws avoid that. The star-shaped recess spreads the turning force across six contact points, so the bit stays seated even at higher torque.

That's why Torx is popular on parts that are tightened and loosened often. It's also why many builders switch to it the first time they round off a hex recess.

What makes titanium screws good for cycling?

Grams and weather. Titanium screws cycling enthusiasts fit to their bikes save a little weight on every fixing, and none of them corrode after a winter of rain and road salt. Typical spots include stems, handlebar clamps, bottle cages, derailleur fixings and brake mounts.

Titanium bicycle screws are often anodised as well. Some riders choose colours to match a frame. Others use one colour for each tightening torque, so they know at a glance which screw needs which setting. Either way, the finish is part of the metal and won't chip off like paint.

How are metric titanium screws sized?

Metric titanium screws are described by diameter, thread pitch and length. For example, M5 x 0.8 x 16 means a 5 mm diameter, a 0.8 mm pitch and a 16 mm length. Most screws use the standard coarse pitch. Fine pitches are available when the mating thread calls for them.

Measure length the way the standard does. For most heads it's taken from under the head to the tip. For countersunk heads, it's the overall length, because the head sits inside the part. If you're unsure, send a photo of the old screw next to a ruler. We'll take it from there.

Why work with a titanium screw manufacturer directly?

Because the details are where screws go wrong, and a titanium screw manufacturer controls every one of them. That covers the grade of the bar, the thread form, the head shape, the finish and the inspection. When something has to change, there's no one else to wait for.

We're both the maker and the titanium screw supplier, so you get one contact from the first question to the delivery. Every lot is checked against the drawing before it's packed, and the material paperwork travels with it.