How to fit an M1.6 x 4mm screw into it's location?

[Old Sparky]

In case anyone is puzzled by the thread title, I am having great difficulty locating and threading a screw of the dimesions mentioned into the PU head of an AG2101D Car record player, where it is used to secure the cartridge to the head.  This isn't helped by the fact that my workshop is in a cellar, so, of neccessity I'm using artificial light, nor by the fact that at over 73 years of age, my eyes aren't as good as they once were.  Having dropped and lost the original screw, I've no wish to lose others.  I  could attach the screw to the end of a screwdriver blade with blu-tak or similar, and maybe that is the way to go.  The screws I have, btw, are slotted.

[Mike Watterson]

I use grease or Vaseline normally, but for really tricking ones I use a blob of impact adhesive on screw and driver and join after a few minutes. It's more flexible than other glues.

[Keithstv]

On occasions when I've had to do something similar I've put the unit in a dish or bowl before trying to fit the screw. In this way if the screw falls off the end of the screwdriver or drops out of its hole then it will be contained in the dish and not fall to the floor where it is virtually impossible to find.

Keith

[Old Sparky]

A bit difficult to put an AG2101D into a bowl, Keith., though a large plastic box might accomodate it. Wish I'd thought of that before I lost the original screw!!. I have, on occasion, use a blob of something like UHU to hold a screw on the end of a screwdriver blade, though. If the screw is steel and I have a small-enough bit for my magnetic screwdrivers, I might try that option, although the PU arm of a 2101D is metal, and may also be magnetic. The cartridge is ceramic or crystal, so no problems due to magnetic fields there.

[Craig]

The last time I lost a critical screw, I looked for ages. Eventually found it in the turnup of my trouser legs. Who would have thought. I've tried working on a large white sheet, kind of the equivalent of the bowl, and found that it doesn't work. Parts that escape don't helpfully just drop - they go ping! and fly across the room.

Awkward screws I tend to use the BluTak trick.

[Diabolical Artificer]

Bluetak etc works as does magnetizing the screwdriver, you can little magnet/demagnets for the purpose. I use a normal magnet and a degaussing iron. You can also get a little plastic
"sleeve" that fits on your screwdriver that holds the screw in place, it has little jaws that hold the head tight- see pic. Looking through a CPC or Screwfix catalogue in idle moments throws up loads of these handy gadgets.

Slotted screws are trickier than Philips/Posi types, the only other thing I can think of to help is to do the  operation in a clear plastic bag sealed under the cartridge by a bag tie,  if it falls off the bag will catch it. You'll have to make a hole for the cartridge to pop through. That and get a file and chamfer the screw a tad so it goes in easier.

Good luck, Andy.

[Alistair D]

I have a couple of these in different sizes.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/screwdrivers/0547969/

They are excellent especially for small or short screws. The one thing you have to remember is not to fully tighten the screw with one as it is all too easy to twist and damage the blades.

Al

[Refugee]

Going on from what Craig says in post # 5 there is the mathematics of the lost screw to be calculated.

Measure the distance from the floor to the point the screw fell from and multiply it by 2.5.
Starting from the calculated distance looking in the shadows of all table legs and other floor standing items begin your search in the darkest and most awkward place you can find.

You will be amazed at the amount of time mathematics can save when recovering a dropped screw.

[Crackle]

I have a little pot of wax (similar consistency to bees wax) which was melted out of some old paper box capacitors, it is very useful on the repair bench. I use it to hold screws on the screwdriver, to keep drive cord located on a pulley and the main drum whilst you thread it around the others. I use it to lubricate the spindles of controls where the knobs are difficult to push on and off, its even good to hold a knob on a spindle when it keeps falling off, hold a nut in the nut spinner whilst you try and locate it over an awkward thread. I have used it to protect the threads of nuts and screws when applying glue near them.
Very useful stuff, and there is a plentiful supply in old radios.
Going back to the original post, it is important to make sure the fit of the screwdriver is nice and tight in the slot of the screw, file the end tip off the screwdriver blade a bit if it is too loose, so it is a tight fit, then use a bit of wax.
Mike

[Craig]

Yup - screwdriver fit is a big thing, and certainly worth adjusting the fit to suit the screw slot.

I like the wax trick - I hadn't thought of that.

Craig