24 Sep
2010
24 Sep
'10
1:59 p.m.
On 2010 Sep 24, at 11:24 AM, Fred Cisin wrote:
On Fri, 24 Sep 2010, Charlie Carothers wrote:
There is experience and mentoring, and there is disposition. Some
people are sensitive in material/tool handling and some are not.
For example, back to the original topic, plastic (and less so wood)
threads will last for many, many cycles, IF they aren't over-tightened.
Obvious to many, but anything past snug, or the point where the turning
force required begins to increase, is doing damage. Some simply try to
tighten them as one would a metal thread. I find even many experienced
people will tend to over-tighten, although not to that degree.
On reflecting back, I don't believe anyone
ever taught me (in any
manner) the "turn in reverse to find the start of the thread"
technique.
I've done it so long now, I usually do it without even thinking
about
it. I suspect that I discovered the technique for myself shortly
after
I thoroughly cross threaded some fastener in my youth.
I did get the chance to pass it on to my 42 year old daughter recently
when I was helping her assemble a small computer desk. In that case
the
"nuts" were plastic inserts in the wood of the bottom side of the desk
top, and I was unusually concerned about the possibility of cross
threading one of those. She saw the advantage of the technique right
away once I pointed it out. Maybe what the world needs is more/better
mentors ("Elmers" as I recall in the ham radio world).
Ah Ha!
The new generation didn't have Erector sets as kids (the snap-together
plastic stuff without a plug-in motor don't count)
Any significant amount of play or work with screw fasteners will
eventually make it clear. Lack of adequate experience means that one
will
have to be TOLD such basics. Presumably the same with clockwise v
counter-clockwise threads, in an almost counter-productive form. The
experienced person will be assuming clockwise, whereas the totally
inexperienced are more likely to try both directions. Will the loss of
analog clocks have a significant effect on learning CW V CCW?