M3.5 x 50mm Long Flat Head Electrical Machine Screws for Flat Plate Sockets Switches Plugs, Steel, Countersunk, Slotted, Brass, Pack of 20

Good

Does what it says on the tin. Great for sockets that are buried deeper into the wall. Bought a couple of packets of different sizes to keep some on hand for other sockets as and when we decorate. Great price.

When you are fitting a new socket or switch, the screws that are supplied usually suffice. However, when you have an existing socket box and the wall has been skimmed and re-tiled, the distance to the screw tabs is increased substantially and the original screws no longer reach. That's where these screws become invaluable, not just the correct specification (M3.5) but much longer than standard at 50mm. Depending on the over-all depth to the bottom of the socket box, they can be used as-is or you can easily cut them to the length you need. A good feature is the flat countersunk head - this permits the use of flush screw caps to hide them, which looks much better - see my video which shows an example with a "screw less" socket converter. You can also use these screws for other entirely different purposes, replacing other mechanical screws for example - do not replace bolts though, there is a big difference in strength under shear loads. To sum-up, these screws are well made - everyone should keep some of these handy in their toolbox! Video: On a PC, left mouse click the maximise symbol, bottom right corner, to view the video full-screen. Tap ESC (Escape) key to leave full-screen mode. On a Smartphone, tap the video and pinch in-out to adjust the video size.

I recently found myself in a situation where the standard screws for a socket installation were insufficient due to additional wall skimming and tiling. That's when I turned to the Evoges M3.5 x 50mm Long Flat Head Electrical Machine Screws, and they were a perfect solution. These screws are not only the right specification for such tasks (M3.5) but also offer an extended length of 50mm, which is significantly longer than standard screws. This extra length proved invaluable in bridging the increased distance to the screw tabs in the socket box. One of the great features of these screws is their adaptability. Depending on the depth to the bottom of the socket box, they can be used as they are or easily cut down to the required length. This flexibility makes them an essential item in any DIY toolkit, especially for those dealing with electrical installations in renovated spaces. They're a reliable and convenient solution for ensuring secure and proper fittings of sockets and switches.

Planning to do some retiling in my kitchen I was in need of some electrical screw that were longer than the present ones and when I saw the listing for these brass plated 50 mm screws by Evoges and also a listing for some black nickel plated 75 mm screws, also by Evoges, it was an opportunity to cover all eventualities. When the screws arrived I first took a look at the 75 mm screws and found half to have a screwdriver slot that was too shallow and narrow to allow the screw driver to engage properly. The driver kept slipping off rendering those screw useless. I feared the worst for the 50 mm screws but to my surprise they were quite a bit better and all the screws seem usable. These brass plated screws also had a decent thread with no burrs or poor areas as far as I could see and they screwed into my test electrical box with no issues. Value wise I think these represent an OK deal but a better deal can be had at my local DIY superstore.

Another one of those items you don't know you might need until you start doing some redecorating and realise one of the wall sockets is held together by paint remnants as the previous occupier didn't have screws long enough !! They are pretty long and not every wall socket is recessed an extra 50mm but they are easy to cut with a junior hacksaw or, if you have a strong grip and a hefty pair of pliers, you can cut them this way also and then file the tips if needed. They do look better in brass as opposed to the longer black ones.

Advertised as electrical screws, these are brass-effect mild steel (probably brass plated, as stated only on the packet) and being 50mm long are good where a longer length is required, which is quite often. Most electrical screws in my experience are nickel-plated brass. Unfortunately, there are 2 or 3 negative points. Firstly, electrical screws usually, if not always, have a non-threaded tip to make it easier to get it started in the hole when you can't see, especially for the second screw in a standard switch or socket. These however are threaded all the way. Being longer, at 50mm, the lack of the non-threaded tip may be less important (unless 50mm is borderline for the purpose) as you can probably more easily see where it's going. Secondly (though I knew this from the website) they are flat-headed, which don't look good if exposed. You really want slightly convex screw heads. However, these are fine where a decorative plate clips on or for other purposes, including non-electrical. Finally, at 28p each these are very expensive, about twice the price they should be, though delivery costs are included.

These 3.5mm x 50mm screws are marketed for electrical fixture attachment rather than general use. With that in mind the lack of a non-threaded area at the end of the screw for easier installation and the flat shaped head aren't ideal. The finish on the head is also variable and some of the pack had marks across the head which wouldn't look great when matching with nicely brushed/polished brash plates. Overall they're good for general use but for use with brass electrical fixtures they're not the ideal choice.