So here I was racking my brain on where to get 5mm posts. I googled, called hobby shops, but the largest Plastistruct styrene posts was 4mm. So I got out my calipers and went shopping, measuring products off the shelf. In Walmart's soda aisle I came upon Silly Straws. They're exactly 5mm and only a $1.50 a package. These are solid, really strong straws made of ABS/acrylic or something similar that won't bend or squish.

To cut them roll the straw on the table while rolling the edge of your knife along the top the same way you'd cut a Styrene rod, then snap at the score to make a perfect break. They're hollow and octagonal inside so you can insert a screw/post into the weapon for added strength. I recommend prepping them with Loctite's Plastic 2-part Superglue system. Just drill a hole in the weapon you want to add the post to, use the primer, then glue! Now anything can fit into a mech-tech port or hand, our search for 5mm posts is over!

Oh, nice. I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the heads up.

Hm, and they're hollow, so they might also work for adding minicon posts to stuff, no?

I imagine you could glue them into place and then fill their interior with liquid plastic of some kind for a completely solid post.

I have found a 5mm rod supplier in the U.S., Hobbytown USA carries them. They're listed as .156" x .197" tube (inner and outer diameters), made by Raboesch Super Styrene. Imported by Midwest Products. The white tubes are item 523-57.

---Dave

Mini con ports. Mini con ports everywhere.

Think these Silly Straws are still available? I have a possible project for which I would like to have some 5mm posts.

Or has anyone seen them at other stores?

If you have a nearby Dollar Tree, check that out as well.

I spotted a bunch at the one here in Cove, but my measuring tape isn't marked for metric.