locking a fastener on a kitchen pot handle

[pizza]

locking a fastener on a wobbly kitchen pot handle

my kitchen pot handles keep getting wobbly. i'm tired of tightening the screws every month.

each handle is fastened with a stainless slotted screw and split lock washer.
the fastener screws into metal. machine thread.

clearly the split lock washer isn't good enough. what would you suggest as an upgrade?

some other kind of lock washer maybe? thread locker goop?

keep in mind that it has to be dishwasher safe. also, nothing that gets noxious when heated.

can someone please school me? thanks

picture: https://i.imgur.com/fLQXnaw.jpg

 

[gte718p]

Nordlock

 

[pizza]

nordlock looks pretty sweet, but so far i haven't found stainless ones in small quantity. i'll keep searching.

 

[gte718p]

McMaster sells or sold them. I think 5 of 10 to a package. They are $2-$4 a set so even a small amount adds up quick.

Still do: https://www.mcmaster.com/nord-lock-washers

 

[bonneyman]

The wife and I bought a Farberware frying pan many years ago, and the handle was held on by 4 spot welds. Of course within about a year the welds began to break. Nothing lasts forever I know, but geez the welds going so quick on a $60 name brand frying pan?
So I punched them out with a Whitney punch and re-attached the handle with SS nuts and bolts from Ace Hardware. I figured with the nuts and bolts both being SS there wouldn't be any galvanic reaction with the pan and acidic foods, and thermal expansion shouldn't be a factor either. Had to slightly round the hex flats on the bolts so the SS pan sheath would fit over it but 20 years later it's never leaked or loosened and still working.
Not exactly the situation you have but just an FYI that a local solution might just work for ya.

 

[pizza]

nice fix, bonneyman!

these pots i have are 'amway queen' stainless steel. i attached a pic of what they look like for fun.

https://i.imgur.com/hXf32Qo.jpg

these are over 30 years old had have been our main pots all that time.
i've had to replace the plastic handles once, but none of the stainless stuff has broken so far, not even the spot welds.

i don't want to do that fix on mine though because i'm concerned about it not being liquid tight, and also i like having only a smooth interior surface for easy cleaning.

-----

thanks, gte718p. yeah, those suckers aren't cheap, but i guess it's still worth it to me. i should use plain SS washers with them too, right? so first a plain washer, then the nordlock washer, and lastly insert the screw?

i wonder if there's an inexpensive, offbrand nordlock

 

[gte718p]

You don't need another washer, but you can could. Unscrew the screw, take out the washer that is in there. Install nordlock, screw in and be done.

You could use and manner of lock washers. Nordlocks are kind of the high end if you want to be done with it. Belville washers similar and cheaper.

 

[danielbuck]

Loctite does make a food-grade thread locker, if you want to go that route. I believe it's release temperature is around 400f, so it should hold up in dishwashers.

Might be expensive just for 1 screw, haha

 

[Bondo]

nice fix, bonneyman!

these pots i have are 'amway queen' stainless steel. i attached a pic of what they look like for fun.

https://i.imgur.com/hXf32Qo.jpg

these are over 30 years old had have been our main pots all that time.
i've had to replace the plastic handles once, but none of the stainless stuff has broken so far, not even the spot welds.

i don't want to do that fix on mine though because i'm concerned about it not being liquid tight, and also i like having only a smooth interior surface for easy cleaning.

-----

thanks, gte718p. yeah, those suckers aren't cheap, but i guess it's still worth it to me. i should use plain SS washers with them too, right? so first a plain washer, then the nordlock washer, and lastly insert the screw?

i wonder if there's an inexpensive, offbrand nordlock

Ayuh,..... You can fix it,....... for Free,......

Take the screw out, figure out exactly where on the screw the pot's threads lie, 'n slightly smash the threads in that spot,......

The mashed threads will act like thread-locker, with no chemicals involved,....

 

[pizza]

interesting idea.

another thought just came to me. i wonder if i could wrap some sewing thread (cotton maybe?) around the screw for a similar effect. i'll try it out.

also i'll try widening the split of the lock washer more.

 

[Bert_]

Ayuh,..... You can fix it,....... for Free,......

Take the screw out, figure out exactly where on the screw the pot's threads lie, 'n slightly smash the threads in that spot,......

The mashed threads will act like thread-locker, with no chemicals involved,....

This^

Just tap the threads with a hammer until it threads in with enough resistance.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Yup.. ****** up the threads a bit up from the end so you can still start it easily.

 

[pizza]

thanks everyone

some cotton string applied to the screw thread definitely increased the resistance. i guess i'll find out in a week or two if that was a good enough fix. if not, i'll try deforming the threads or buying nordlock washers or something.

 

[BillK]

We have a couple that do the same thing. I just tighten them up every once in a while. I dont think its a big deal. We have a phillips and straight blade screwdriver in one of the kitchen drawers anyway. 30 seconds and it is good for another 6 months.

I would not deform the threads on the bolt. What happens if that screws up the threads in the pot ?

 

[welder4956]

What happens if that screws up the threads in the pot ?

The screw won't come out?