Chicago Screws
145 Sets Chicago Screws, Gunmetal Black
$8.99★★★★★ 4.6 (62)
290 (145 sets) pieces · Carbon steel, gunmetal black
Chicago screws for leather
Chicago screws for leather and straps
Chicago screws, also called binding posts or screw posts, make a removable joint through leather, canvas and card. We pack 145 sets in seven M5 lengths, carbon steel in gunmetal black or bright silver, sorted by length in a clear reinforced case.
Chicago Screws
Chicago Screws
145 Sets Chicago Screws, Silver
$8.99$9.99★★★★★ 4.6 (62)
290 (145 sets) pieces · Carbon steel, silver plated
Chicago screws for leatherworking projects
A Chicago screw is a flat-headed post and a matching screw that meet inside the hole. Unlike rivets it comes apart again with a screwdriver, which is why belts, watch straps, dog collars, menu covers, albums and bag straps use it: the strap stays adjustable, the pages can be swapped, the buckle replaced. Our sets run from 4 to 15 mm in post length so the joint fits two layers of thin leather or a stack of heavy strap; pick the size by the thickness of the hole, and if it is between sizes take the shorter post.
Where many leather shops sell solid brass posts in antique or nickel finishes, ours are carbon steel: harder than brass, with a smooth burr-free surface under a gunmetal black or silver plating that resists water. The flat head takes a standard Phillips screwdriver, no special tool, and the clear case keeps each length in its own row so a leather bench or a repair kit can see at a glance which hardware is left. Specifications: M5 thread, 145 sets, seven lengths, 290 pieces.
Post length against leather thickness
Measure the stack you are joining and pick the post that matches or runs one millimetre short; the screw head takes up the rest.
| Post | Stack thickness | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 4 mm | 3–4 mm | Wallet, watch strap, single layer |
| 5 mm | 4–5 mm | Thin belt, card holder |
| 6 mm | 5–6 mm | Belt, collar, two layers |
| 8 mm | 7–8 mm | Heavy belt, bag strap |
| 10 mm | 9–10 mm | Saddle strap, menu cover |
| 12 mm | 11–12 mm | Album, thick binder |
| 15 mm | 13–15 mm | Stacked leather, boot binding |
Posts are M5 with a 4 mm Phillips screw; drill or punch a 5 mm hole.
At the counter
Questions about chicago screws
Are Chicago screws removable?
Yes. That is the point of them: a screwdriver opens the joint so a belt can be shortened or a strap replaced, and the same post and screw go back in. A drop of removable thread locker keeps them from loosening on a strap that flexes.
Why are they called Chicago screws?
The name comes from the American binding-post trade; the same part is sold as a screw post, binding post or sex bolt. Whatever the name, it is a post and a screw that meet inside the hole.
How do I measure the post length?
Stack the layers you are joining and measure the thickness. Pick the post that matches or is one millimetre shorter; the screw head takes up the rest.
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Not sure which case?
Send us the machine or the fixture and we will name the compartment.