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I don't ride particularly fancy bikes, but I do ride in New York City, so I'm interested in securing the components on my bikes without using a ton of locks. Most security bolts products cost a bunch of money, though.
Anyone know of affordable sources for security button-head or socket-head M5 and M6 bolts, or M10x1mm nuts, especially in stainless steel? McMaster-Carr only has them in English thread.
If you can find some ball bearings that just fit into the allen key sockets, then you lube them up with thick grease, it's quite difficult to remove them. Use a magnet to get them out. Although I imagine a good bike thief would carry a magnet because this trick is quite common. You can also replace your quick release skewers with allen key skewers. They wouldn't be the most secure solution, but they would work better than quick release skewers.
If you use nutted wheels, you can pick up some security nuts for a lot cheaper than you can buy security skewers. Check you local professional tool supply store and you can probably buy them by the piece for a couple bucks each.
They also sell security skewers which are cheaper than pitlock. The disadvantage over pitlock is that they all use the same specialized tool to remove whereas pitlock has 256 differently shaped pits available. So they would be safer than quick release, allen key or hex nut, but less so that pitlock. And almost definitely safer than the bike next to yours.
I just did a little more digging myself, and found a promising source for bike-sized stainless security Torx bolts: http://www.bicyclebolts.com/collections/bicycle_bolts
I figure putting a security bolt on one side of each of my racks, in the binder bolt and seat bolt, and in the headset bolt would be pretty good deterrence while still making the bike easy enough to adjust. Security Torx aren't the hardest driver bits for a thief to get their hands on, but a bike thief isn't that likely to carry them around, and my parts aren't fancy enough to be worth a trip to Home Depot.
I've also found what looks to be a very small British manufacturer of security axle nuts: http://www.seclock.co.uk/Seclock/Bicycle_Nuts_1.html
They don't look easy to get a grip on with vice grips, and if the tool needs to be ordered from abroad, it's probably not going to be common on the street.
In researching the Pinhead skewers, they are apparently relatively simple to defeat with a "Gator Grip" tool, and this is supposedly known to thieves at least in the SF area. I have seen it claimed that newer ones come with a security washer as a countermeasure to this attack.
Assess the risk for the single parts, and start with the most risky ones:
Pitlock skewers work very well and will outlive a couple of bicycles. In comparison to wheels interesting enough for a bike parts thieve, they are cheap. There are cheaper replacement skewers which are not as safe (basically variations of allen key bolts).
The second most stolen part seems to be saddle and seat post. You can attach the saddle rail(s) to the frame using a piece of an old chain, without a chain lock of course. Nicer looking options include, of course, Pitlock (a seat post clamp bold and a cover for the seat clamping bolt). Alternatively use a separate lock cable through the seat rails.
Now it gets harder. An ahead stem can be fixed using a Pitlock insert. Still, the stem/handlebars connection is there, too. Maybe the bearing ball option mentioned in another answer is the way to go here, and even for the bolts of the precious shifting and brake levers.
This is hard. A lot of simple bolts, and potentially valuable parts. I would instead use cheap derailleurs (with good cables and proper assembly they will work very well). A cheap crank set upgraded with good quality chainrings when the first set is worn out does not look attractive for thieves either.
The cheapest option, and working very well: Don't let the bike look good. Stickers, tape, dirt, rust, weird colors all have their place. Be creative! In Germany we call it Boruttisieren (translated by Google), after the guy who brought the concept to perfection.
As long as there is are enough more attractive victims nearby, your bike is pretty safe. Take that into account when leaving the bike somewhere. If it still is attractive to a thieve, it will help if you don't leave your bike in a predictable manner, e.g. not at the same place during work time monday to friday etc. That makes it pointless for the thieve to prepare (e.g. by taking a magnet).
A wide range of security bolts and nuts, together with technical information and videos are displayed on this site: www.securityfasteners.net. You mentioned socket button screws in your post - the site has information on the security pinned versions as well as other security screws. Hopefully you'll find it useful for making a decision.
Sphyke.com has a system where you can use any normal cap screw that you like (up to M9).
Then a Stainless steel/ Alloy 'security cover' is placed over the head so it cant be accessed.
Only with your personalized combination lock code can this security cover be removed.
They also have the M10x1 nut version you ask about using the same system.
