the impetus for my question is that I want to change a grip cap screw from a Philips to a slotted screw. so I really need a wood screw with a head that I can slot.

but I'm also interested in a source for pins / machine screw blanks that could be used to make pins. I figure that machine screw could be made easily enough with a piece of drill rod, but it seems like there is probably a way to bypass making them completely getting scratch.

Jim