VGBUY 500Pcs Stainless Steel Nut and Bolt Assortment Kit, M2 M2.5 M3 M4 M5 Small Metric Machine Screws, Multipurpose Hardware Set for DIY Projects, Repairs, Electronics

Why this little stainless assortment earned a permanent spot on my bench

I keep a handful of hardware kits within arm’s reach for quick fixes and prototyping, and this VGBUY stainless assortment has quietly become the one I reach for most. It’s not flashy. It’s simply a compact, well-matched set of small metric machine screws with captive washers and matching nuts that removes a lot of the usual fiddling from assembly work. If you build or repair electronics, small mechanisms, brackets, or anything that lives with vibration, the convenience adds up fast.

What’s included and how it’s configured

This is a 500-piece kit, but the count makes more sense when you realize each “set” is four pieces: a screw with two integrated washers (a flat washer and a lock washer) plus a matching nut. The sizes skew toward the small end—exactly the range I use for enclosures, fans, brackets, and standoffs:

• M2 x 6 mm — 15 sets
• M2.5 x 8 mm — 15 sets
• M2.5 x 12 mm — 15 sets
• M3 x 8 mm — 20 sets
• M3 x 12 mm — 20 sets
• M4 x 8 mm — 13 sets
• M4 x 16 mm — 12 sets
• M5 x 8 mm — 8 sets
• M5 x 16 mm — 7 sets

That distribution is sensible: you get more M3 (the workhorse for small projects), a healthy amount of M2.5 and M4, and enough M5 for occasional heavier brackets.

All of the screws are cross-recessed pan head and made from 304 stainless steel. The washers are permanently captured under the head via thread rolling—so they don’t fall off, can’t be moved, and can’t be lost.

Fit, finish, and machining quality

The first thing I check on budget-friendly hardware is thread quality and head consistency. On my kit, threads were clean and consistent across sizes; nuts spun on easily by hand and snugged up smoothly without gritty spots. The recesses are well-centered, and a PH1 driver fit the M2–M3 heads snugly while a PH2 fit M4–M5.

The captive washer stack is the main differentiator here. The flat washer spreads the load nicely on thin panels, and the lock washer (it’s a split style) adds bite that noticeably resists loosening. Because they’re fixed under the head, you get repeatable clamping without hunting for the right washer combo. That’s a bigger time saver than it sounds if you assemble more than a few fasteners in a session.

As you’d expect from 304 stainless, corrosion resistance is solid. I used a few of these for a bracket in a damp basement workspace and saw no discoloration or surface rust after a couple of weeks. If you’re near salt spray or outdoors long-term, 316 would be better, but for general shop and indoor use, 304 hits the right balance of strength, corrosion resistance, and price.

In use: where they shine

• Electronics enclosures and panels: M3 x 8 and 12 mm handled most of my enclosure builds. The larger bearing surface from the captive washers is perfect for thin ABS and aluminum panels. I didn’t need separate fender washers, and the lock washer spared me from adding threadlocker in low-vibration setups.

• Small machinery and brackets: I used the M4 x 16 to mount a stepper-motor bracket to a test jig. After several hours of intermittent operation, everything stayed tight. The lock washer’s bite is modest but effective for this scale of hardware.

• 3D printer and hobby fixes: The M2.5 sizes are handy for fans, control boards, and standoffs. Not having to chase tiny washers around the bench felt like cheating—in the best way.

• Light automotive and electrical: For interior panels and small accessory mounts, the M5 sets were enough to do the job. Again, the captive washers made it easier to get a nut started in awkward spaces.

Assembly is efficient: insert screw, align parts, hold nut, tighten. The washers stay put and self-align under the head, so you’re not juggling four separate parts. I tend to tighten by hand until seated, then finish with a driver. On stainless fasteners, it’s easy to overdo it and risk galling; I didn’t run into galling here, but it’s never a bad idea to use a dab of anti-seize if you expect to loosen and retighten frequently.

Practical notes and limitations

• Permanent washer placement is a blessing and a curse. Because the lock and flat washers are fixed under the head, you can’t relocate a lock washer to the nut side if that’s your preference. In most cases this didn’t matter, but on a deep channel where the head had limited clearance, I wished I could run the lock washer at the nut end.

• Clearance under the head: The captive washer stack adds thickness under the head. It spreads load well, but if you’re recessing the head into a pocket or working near a raised lip, check that you have enough clearance.

• Head style and drive: Pan head only, cross-recessed. If you prefer hex socket or Torx for higher torque and less cam-out, this kit won’t replace those for you. For this size range and typical torque levels, Phillips works fine.

• Length range tops out at 16 mm. That covers most thin-panel and small-bracket work, but if you routinely go through thicker laminations or need long standoffs, you’ll want supplementary lengths.

• Magnetism: 304 stainless is generally nonmagnetic. In practice, some pieces are only weakly attracted to magnetic tips (likely due to cold working), so don’t count on a magnetized bit to hold every screw on the way to a tight spot.

• Count balance: The kit leans toward M3, which is perfect for me. If you burn through M5 regularly, the limited number of M5 sets may feel light.

Durability and holding power

For their size, clamping force is predictable and repeatable. The captive washers distribute load better than a bare pan head and reduce the risk of crushing soft materials. In vibration-prone tests—a small fan mount and a motor bracket—the hardware stayed put without threadlocker. I still use threadlocker for anything safety-critical, but for general assemblies, the split washer’s friction has been enough.

The nuts are a standard hex without nylon inserts. If you want belt-and-suspenders security on the nut side, you’ll need separate locknuts or a drop of medium threadlocker. Given the kit’s goal—fast, organized small fasteners—I like that it sticks to the essentials and avoids oddball parts.

Who it’s for

• Makers, tinkerers, and repair techs who constantly need M2 to M5 on hand
• People who value speed and consistency over ultimate configurability of washer placement
• Anyone working around thin panels where load distribution matters
• Light automotive, appliance, and electrical work where stainless and vibration resistance help

If you’re looking for structural fasteners, longer lengths, countersunk/flat heads, or hex/Torx drives, this isn’t the right kit. It’s a small-machine-screw set focused on efficiency and corrosion resistance in the most common sizes.

Tips for best results

• Match driver size: PH1 for M2–M3, PH2 for M4–M5. A correct fit reduces cam-out and preserves the recess.
• Don’t over-torque stainless: snug, then a quarter-turn is often enough at these sizes.
• Use anti-seize if you expect frequent disassembly, especially on M4 and M5.
• Keep a few plain washers on hand if you need washer contact on the nut side; you can’t move the captive ones.

Bottom line

The VGBUY assortment is a thoughtfully curated, stainless, small-metric kit that prioritizes speed, repeatability, and reliability at the sizes most of us actually use. The machining is clean, the captive washer design saves real time, and the spread of lengths is well-judged for electronics and small assemblies. The compromises—fixed washer placement, pan head only, limited maximum length—are reasonable and transparent.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit for anyone who regularly works in the M2–M5 range and wants an organized, corrosion-resistant, ready-to-go fastener solution. It won’t replace specialty hardware, but as an everyday bench kit for DIY projects, repairs, and light machinery, it’s excellent value and has proven dependable in my builds.