Do you know how to thread in a screw?

[Joelk]

Most people here, probably do, but I bet there are some that don't.

I would guess that the great majority of the general public does not.

If you remove a screw from something and then go to put it back in, do you just start turning the screwdriver clockwise?

That works fine in some materials, but not so well in others. When trying to reinstall a screw into plastic, and similar materials, I initially turn the screw counter clockwise, until I feel it "drop into the thread" and then I turn CW until it is seated.

On soft materials, if you turn CW from the get go, there is a very good chance the screw will try to cut a new set of threads. This will make it turn harder, but more importantly, it will dramatically weaken the threads and will probably eventually result in stripped threads.

I have been using that technique for decades. I don't recall if I read it somewhere(probably), or just figured it out on my own.

I am the primary carpenter/mechanic in my clan, and I instruct all of my mentees to do this. I don't recall any of them ever saying that they already knew this technique, so I don't think it is widely known in the general public.

I am posting about this now, because I just got done doing disassembly/reassembly of a plastic battery charger case and the concept was fresh in my mind.

 

[lilredex]

Yes, I have always done that too. On peanut butter jars, it is significant.

https://www.nofrills.ca/Food/Pantry...utters/Peanut-Butter,-Smooth/p/20296985001_EA

 

[wood02]

This will also work for coarse thread wood screws that need to be removed and then replaced.

 

[rlitman]

And on delicate musical instruments.

Anyway, it is the best way to avoid cross threading.

 

[Aquamoose]

(raising hand)

Me too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MikeF2316]

Lots of places on new cars have a coarse thread screw threading into a plastic plug. This technique is important for this situation. Generally you can start them by hand, that way you know you've got the screw in the old threads.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I pass this tip along every chance I get.

 

[Robbie B]

This was something I just figured out along the way. Once you realize it, it makes life so much easier.

 

[GrantCee]

Just about the first thing I learned in watchmaker's school. It's a habit I didn't even think about until I saw this discussion.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

The OP technique works good on the workbench; not so much in tight spaces. In the rare time I'm using hand tools, I just apply basically zero down-pressure until the screw starts. Same idea.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Didn't think about it either, but it's something I do out of practice. Anything where you have more than one starting point on a screw you have to do that. Also on some really old car stuff (where they used to use some insanely fine threads) or gunsmithing (same situation), if you don't, you've just x-threaded a part made of unobtanium...

 

[Bannik254]

I use this method when using a tap to clean up old threads in a rebuild. Instead of plastic threads, they are steel or brass but since the tap is harder, well, same concept n stuff.

 

[Outlander]

My Dad taught me this when I was too young to touch his screwdrivers. Great trick, has made many a chore easier.

He also told me to chew peanuts 7 times before swallowing. Darn it all, I still count when I eat nuts!

 

[m151]

Wow, when I saw the title I thought that you were some kind of know-it-all. Turns out I did not know this! Thanks for posting.

 

[Bsmb62519]

Yup. Think I was 5 when my dad taught me that.

 

[The Cobbler]

can't remember not doing it

 

[2oolhound]

Yes, I have always done that too. On peanut butter jars, it is significant.

Even worse is getting the lid off the peanut butter jar after it's been screwed on incorrectly really tightly by an older brother . If you have to wait an hour or more before your mom comes home it can be traumatic.

 

[ChefRex]

Even worse is getting the lid off the peanut butter jar after it's been screwed on incorrectly really tightly by an older brother . If you have to wait an hour or more before your mom comes home it can be traumatic.

No loss, PB is the worst.

 

[ZRX61]

As a highly trained, experienced & respected aircraft mechanic, I usually start them with a hammer

 

[Honda guy]

ZR61, you might have trained a couple guys that I've worked with. They're motorcycle mechanics, but similar technique.

 

[Citation]

I've been doing this for years. Some of the stuff I messed with as a teen had a lot of screws into plastic. After a while I realized it was too easy to rethread and strip out the plastic. Hence I started doing this on my own.

However, I have heard this same technique as away to avoid cross threading spark plugs.

 

[bpjr]

I think it's a common practice for anyone but supreme newbies.

 

[94yj]

i do it all the time and goes for nuts as well

 

[snorky18]

On soft materials, if you turn CW from the get go, there is a very good chance the screw will try to cut a new set of threads. This will make it turn harder, but more importantly, it will dramatically weaken the threads and will probably eventually result in stripped threads.

How soft a material are you starting a screw into? Jello?

Unless it's a super coarse thread pitch I pretty well always start counterclockwise, feel the drop, eyeball to make sure I'm holding it perpendicular to the hole, then drive it in clockwise. The junior mechanics at my house (elementary age) have been taught to do the same.

I've never had problems with accidentally rethreading in materials as soft as aluminum, but I don't ever apply any real force unless absolutely necessary (big fastener, rusty threads, etc).

 

[Qualitytools]

Thanks for sharing OP, I learned it the hard way but glad you shared it as I am sure there are a few that need to read it so it can help them out

 

[bpjr]

Speaking of nuts...how common is it known to turn the nut and not the bolt?

 

[dutchgray]

As a highly trained, experienced & respected aircraft mechanic, I usually start them with a hammer

Every carpenter who was on piece work in the days before cordless drills, Yankee screwdrivers were too slow so they just hammered most screws in.

 

[Al Borland]

If you get Snap-On screwdrivers, the screws install themselves.
Perfectly.
Every single time.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

As a highly trained, experienced & respected aircraft mechanic, I usually start them with a hammer

And finish with an impact once it's driven it about 1/3rd of an inch into the material right? Don't want it coming loose.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

If you get Snap-On screwdrivers, the screws install themselves.
Perfectly.
Every single time.

You could say they just... Snap on.

 

[Speleo]

Well, What I learned, is that when you do cross thead a screw, make sure you torque it down to specs.
Speleo

 

[Nick Danger]

My dad didn't teach me much useful knowledge about tools, but he told me to always do that with spark plugs.