Hello all,
I am the person who listed the "screw-modded" SSK. Actually, I think of it as a "bolt mod" because the miniature screws used are in fact NOT self-tapping screws, but rather they are miniature precision machine screws that are used in the same manner as self-tapping screws, i.e., they form their own threads when driven into pilot holes in the plastic. The threads thus formed are tight and grip the screws extremely well, thus allowing for fine adjustment of the tightening torque without any chance of loosening further on their own, unlike the nuts used in the traditional "nut and bolt" method. While the nuts can be Loctite'd to prevent loosening, doing so greatly complicates their removal if this becomes necessary. Without Loctite they can loosen up, especially if backed off a bit to optimize tightening torque.
In terms of strength, the screws (2-56) I use are actually a bit larger in diameter than the M4's that everyone else uses. And I have tried unsuccessfully to pull out any of these screws in a test-case, using needle-nose pliers just under their heads and pulling as hard as I could. Additionally, these screws can be torque-adjusted without fear of loosening further. In this application, the screws behave as if they were "self-locking" screws due to the tight and very precise dense thread pattern they form in the plastic.
Is it a "bolt mod" or a "screw mod"? Putting a nut on a machine screw doesn't transform it into a "bolt". Actually "bolt" is a way overblown description of the tiny screws used in this process, but it does sound better than "screw" -- which has, of course, some unintended slang meanings, doesn't it?
The apparently high price of this item is due to the higher cost of acquiring top-condition SSK's, supplying a new IBM-made cable, a new active USB converter, approximately $15 worth of USA-made (more expensive than imports, but higher quality) SS low-profile Torx-head screws, about 4 hours of meticulous labor, a custom-made heavy duty double-wall corrugated box (the cardboard is over 1/4" thick), paying about $50 to eBay and PayPal in final value fees, and offering a very generous return policy which even includes return shipping. The profit on this item is actually very low and mostly comprises payment of about $12-15/hour for the labor involved with no profit on the items themselves, or vice-versa, depending on how you want to analyze it.
