In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
James Hanley wrote:

Where in the uk can I order a steel scale to measure my screws
accurately from below the head?
like this one http://tinyurl.com/6lgmj

Machine Mart and Screwfix (to name but a few) both have various measuring
devices which will do what you want.


How would I go about cutting screws to make them shorter, would a saw
ruin the screw?

Are you talking about woodscrews, or parallel-sided machine screws? If the
latter, the trick is to screw a nut onto the screw *before* shortening it.
Then cut it to length with a hacksaw. Then file the end as flat as you can.
Finally unscrew and remove the nut. As it passes the cut end, it will clean
up the threads.

Woodscrews need a point on the end - and are never the same again once you
start chopping them.


what screw is best for screwing into steel? alu, brass, steel? It'd
be good if the screw didn't conduct electricity.

Are you talking about screwing into solid blocks of material, or thin
sheets?

If thin sheets, use self-tapping screws. You need to drill a pilot hole
which is just a bit smaller than the screw. These screws are made of steel
and *will* conduct electricity.

For solid material, you will need to drill a pilot hole and use a tap to cut
a thread in the material, in order to use machine screws. You can get
machine screws in various materials - steel, brass, etc. - or even plastic
if you want it to be non-conducting. A lot depends on what it has to hold -
plastic screws are not as strong as steel ones.
--
Cheers,
Set Square
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