Plastic screws and other plastic fasteners have a few advantages over their metal counterparts. The fact that they’re not conductive makes them ideal in electrical applications, and their resistance to corrosion is useful in a variety of situations. They also tend to be lighter and cheaper than metal screws of the same design. Plastic screws come engineered to the same specifications (dimensions, thread count and so on) as metal screws do. Unlike some metal screws, plastic screws must be used in a pre-threaded hole to avoid deforming the screw threads.
- Peek into a pre-threaded hole to make sure there’s no debris, like sawdust, fouling the threads. If there is any debris, use hooked tweezers to pick large pieces out, or close your eyes and blow a quick puff of air into the hole to get rid of small debris.
- Place the tip of the screw into the hole and gently thread it into the hole, turning it clockwise with your fingers. If you feel it catching but then it’s suddenly hard to turn, you may have gotten the threads crossed; twist it out counter-clockwise, then try twisting it in again until you feel it settling in smoothly.
- Use a screwdriver to tighten the screw to the desired torque. If you use an electric screwdriver, work cautiously and conservatively to be sure you do not overtorque the screw.
Lovely