Slotting screw heads

[Acer Saccharum]

There are these thin files with teeth only on the edges for filing slots on your blank screw heads, They come in different thicknesses for making thinner/wider slots. get 'em from Brownell's or Grobet, maybe jewelry supply houses.

But here's a neat trick for holding the files straight and true. No wiggle, bending or breaking. The jeweler's saw frame is great for holding the files, and you can put TENSION on the file to help keep it rigid. This really helps to make neater slots, straight and true. Sawframes from Gesswein or Rio Grande and others.

[Michael]

Acer,

Neat idea!!

Michael

[J Shingler]

Great idea! I have broken several of those small files over the years.
I like it!
Jeff

[rich pierce]

Nice trick.  I'm moving toward knife-edged files for slotting screw heads. I could bust off or cut off one of them to fir such a frame.   All the commercially available lock bolts are already slotted with parallel sides.

[J.D.]

Now that is slicker than snot on a swamp. I usually use a hacksaw blade with the Kerf ground off to cut screw slots. The knife edge file is used to open and taper the slots on larger screws, but slots smaller screws are left as is.

Might have to rethink they way I do things. 

[Acer Saccharum]

J. D, you can still use your hacksaw blades. Cut short sections to use in a saw frame like this, grind the set off the blade, and you got yerself s nice lil' slitter.

[Brian Jordan]

That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!!

[Acer Saccharum]

Rich, speaking of knife edge files and screw slits, what do you think about this:

Well, all the original slots I've seen are tapered, as well as the screwdrivers having matching tapers to their blades.

What I'm getting to is this: could the slots have been FORMED with a punch, while the screw head is hot? Much lower tech than a file.

Whaddaya think?

[J.D.]

J. D, you can still use your hacksaw blades. Cut short sections to use in a saw frame like this, grind the set off the blade, and you got yerself s nice lil' slitter.

Yeah, grind off the set. That is the word I was trying to think of, but ended up typing "kerf".

I can see how shorter blades held a jewelers saw would be more controllable than a long hack saw. Gotta try that.

[jerrywh]

   

[Michael]

OK Jerry. Is there any thing you do that isn't over the top???  (BIG GRIN)

Michael

[J Shingler]

TRUMP! Jerry wins. .....  Yet again.

[Don Getz]

Naah,   just not appropriate on a barn gun..............Don

[rich pierce]

What I'm getting to is this: could the slots have been FORMED with a punch, while the screw head is hot? Much lower tech than a file.

Whaddaya think?

If I tried to do it after forming the round head, the head would get deformed enough to require major refinement.  If I tried to do it before the head was nicely rounded, then the slot might not be on center etc.

[Mike Brooks]

Did you guys know you can buy screws already slotted?

[J.D.]

Did you guys know you can buy screws already slotted?

Yeah, but that's no fun.  Some of the locks I work on need screws made with oversize shanks, and that requires slotting the heads. Maybe I need to work on a better grade of locks. 

[Acer Saccharum]

Mike, did you know you can buy screws already  slotted and gold inlayed?

You just gotta buy the gun that goes with the screws. 


Jerry, that background inlay is wicked cool. I have been drooling over this kind of gold background ever since I first saw it. Such contrast between background and raised relief modeled steel. Nice job. Hey, are the screws getting casehardened once you're done with the gold? Thanks for posting.

Acer

[jerrywh]

Acer.
   You have to case harden them or the slots will get deformed. That gold is only .003 thick.  One option is to prepare the screw for the gold overlay, then case harden and then apply the gold. You can do that on a pan liner also.
 Michael.
     I specialize in over the top stuff because it pays over the top and it's more fun.

[dogcreek]

That looks like a real finger saver! Thanks for the tip.

[Leprechaun]

Did you guys know you can buy screws already slotted?

Perhaps, but the difference between a store bought, mass produced screw and a screw made individually by hand is like comparing a CVA to one of your guns. They will both serve the intended purpose, and while some can't see (or won't acknowledge) the distinction, a decerning eye will not be satisfied by the former.

[msblacksmith]

When I make screws,I cut the slot with a hack saw then clean it up using a smooth cut file with a knife edge .this works great no special holding tool  needed just go slow and steady.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

One screw that I always recut with a knife file is the cock top jaw screw.  I've ground my knapper/flint changer screw driver to fit this file's slot.  That screw head can take a beating, and a burr will cut you eventually.  I case harden all lock screws.