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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread


I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.



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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

On Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:22:33 +0100, john royce wrote:

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread?



Sounds like a gentle squish of the end cap will do the job...
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread


"PCPaul" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:22:33 +0100, john royce wrote:

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread?



Sounds like a gentle squish of the end cap will do the job...


Thanks. could you explain to a novish 'squish' ? would i need to do a
degree course?


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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.



run a rough file over the threads
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

All forwarded text?

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"john royce" wrote in message
...

I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight).
To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end
to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit
and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove
compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread,
without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to
work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread?
Thanks for
any
advice.






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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

Stormin Mormon wrote:
All forwarded text?


I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight).
To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end
to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit
and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove
compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread,
without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to
work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread?
Thanks for
any
advice.


wrap a bit of foil around the threads.


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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

On Fri, 5 Jun 2009 17:15:21 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

All forwarded text?


He's got a screw loose. Didn't you read the post?
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

On Fri, 5 Jun 2009 21:22:33 +0100, "john royce"
wrote:


I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.


If this is a typical Maglite then trash it. The switch mechanism will
never be trouble free after the light is a few years old.
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

"Blah" wrote in message
...
john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it
on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.



run a rough file over the threads


Wrap a few turns of Teflon pipe thread tape around the male threads so that
the looseness is removed. You might have to rewrap frequently, depending on
how much use the flashlight gets.
Another suggestion is to cut a gasket out of a sheet of very thin rubber or
vinyl sheet, lube it with silicone grease and wrap the gasket around the
threads.

--
Dave M
masondg44 at comcast dot net

One good thing about Alzheimer's; you get to meet new people every day.



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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

Blah wrote in
:

john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn
it on and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to
compress the contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends
to 'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment
for a while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread?
Thanks for any
advice.



run a rough file over the threads


or tap the threads with a hammer to ding them up a bit,just enough to make
the screw go in tightly.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net


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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

Dave M wrote:
"Blah" wrote in message
...
john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it
on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.

run a rough file over the threads


Wrap a few turns of Teflon pipe thread tape around the male threads so that
the looseness is removed. You might have to rewrap frequently, depending on
how much use the flashlight gets.
Another suggestion is to cut a gasket out of a sheet of very thin rubber or
vinyl sheet, lube it with silicone grease and wrap the gasket around the
threads.

won't that insulate it? ...
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

"Blah" wrote in message
...
Dave M wrote:
"Blah" wrote in message
...
john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it
on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress
the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks
for any
advice.

run a rough file over the threads


Wrap a few turns of Teflon pipe thread tape around the male threads so
that the looseness is removed. You might have to rewrap frequently,
depending on how much use the flashlight gets.
Another suggestion is to cut a gasket out of a sheet of very thin rubber
or vinyl sheet, lube it with silicone grease and wrap the gasket around
the threads.

won't that insulate it? ...


Actually, no. The contact between the lens housing and the body of the unit
is actually made by the end of the body and a mating surface on the lens
housing. If the Teflon tape is confined to the threads, the contact should
be good. Also, the Teflon tape is extremely thin and is easily torn by the
threads; providing more contact surface.
The idea I was trying to suggest is to fill the gaps in the threads,
reducing the tendency for it to unscrew itself.
--
Dave M
masondg44 at comcast dot net

One good thing about Alzheimer's; you get to meet new people every day.



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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

Blah wrote:
Dave M wrote:
"Blah" wrote in message
...
john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn
it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to
compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for
a while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so
I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks
for any
advice.

run a rough file over the threads


Wrap a few turns of Teflon pipe thread tape around the male threads so
that the looseness is removed. You might have to rewrap frequently,
depending on how much use the flashlight gets.
Another suggestion is to cut a gasket out of a sheet of very thin
rubber or vinyl sheet, lube it with silicone grease and wrap the
gasket around the threads.

won't that insulate it? ...

If it IS a real MagLite, OP is mistaken about it being part of the
circuit. You can actually take the nose off and use it as a base, and
use the flashlight as a candle. (leastways, on the pre-LED versions) I
suppose there are some knockoffs that use it as part of the circuit, but
I have never seen any. Flickery light is almost always due to an
internal spring getting wimpy.

(Note- even on a full-size Mag, the side switch is repairable. A pain to
get it out, but repairable.)

--
aem sends...
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On Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:37:14 GMT, aemeijers wrote:

Blah wrote:
Dave M wrote:
"Blah" wrote in message
...
john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn
it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to
compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for
a while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so
I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks
for any
advice.

run a rough file over the threads

Wrap a few turns of Teflon pipe thread tape around the male threads so
that the looseness is removed. You might have to rewrap frequently,
depending on how much use the flashlight gets.
Another suggestion is to cut a gasket out of a sheet of very thin
rubber or vinyl sheet, lube it with silicone grease and wrap the
gasket around the threads.

won't that insulate it? ...

If it IS a real MagLite, OP is mistaken about it being part of the
circuit.


FWIW, the OP didn't say it was a MagLite. (It helps to keep track of
this stuff when I come in late and read the whole thread at once.)


You can actually take the nose off and use it as a base, and
use the flashlight as a candle. (leastways, on the pre-LED versions) I
suppose there are some knockoffs that use it as part of the circuit, but
I have never seen any. Flickery light is almost always due to an
internal spring getting wimpy.

(Note- even on a full-size Mag, the side switch is repairable. A pain to
get it out, but repairable.)


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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

On Fri, 5 Jun 2009 21:22:33 +0100, "john royce"
wrote:


I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?


Bend one of the threads a little bit. Not one at the open end. One 3
threads back, so that you can still use the good threads to start
screwing it on, and they will be enough to pull it on when it gets to
the bad thread.

If you don't do it enough, you can do it more later. (make sure it is
meant to screw on that far.)

If you do it too much, you should be able to clean up the bad thread a
bit by twisting a screwdriver in the groove.

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.



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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

Blah wrote:
john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn
it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks
for any
advice.



run a rough file over the threads

Hi,
I'd try a piece of Al. ducp tape.
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.




Most of these torches have an o'ring on the bit you turn them on
with.Get a new o'ring or one a trifle bigger.


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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

On Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:04:28 -0400, wrote:
On Fri, 5 Jun 2009 17:15:21 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

All forwarded text?


He's got a screw loose. Didn't you read the post?


Probably hi-jacked some other thread in one of the cross-posted ng's.
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.



Screw the cap over a strip of paper along one side.
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On Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:30:06 -0400, E Z Peaces
wrote:

john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks for
any
advice.



Screw the cap over a strip of paper along one side.


That sounds good too.
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

Blah wrote:
john royce wrote:
I have one of those small LED pocket torches (flashlight). To turn
it on
and off, I have to screw the end up towards the bulb end to compress the
contacts against the battery.

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess
that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread? Thanks
for any
advice.



run a rough file over the threads


Or insert a piece of dowel, then crush the threads a little with a hammer.

--
W
. | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because
\|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est
---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------
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Default keeping electrical conductivity on screw thread

On Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:29:54 +0100, john royce wrote:

"PCPaul" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:22:33 +0100, john royce wrote:

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends to
'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment for a
while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so I
guess that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread?



Sounds like a gentle squish of the end cap will do the job...


Thanks. could you explain to a novish 'squish' ? would i need to do a
degree course?


Depends how sturdy it is. If it's an AA-battery sized torch then probably
just a quick 'bite' or a gentle tap with a block of wood would do the
job. If it's more solid then a (padded) hammer could do it.

The intention is just to make it very slightly out of round, so it makes
a good solid connection and can't rattle loose.


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PCPaul wrote in
om:

On Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:29:54 +0100, john royce wrote:

"PCPaul" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:22:33 +0100, john royce wrote:

The thread in the screw end is an extremely 'loose' fit and tends
to 'unscrew or scew up' when it sits in the car glove compartment
for a while.

Is there a way to *stiffen* this 'loosness' in the thread, without
reducing
the electrical conductivity?

It needs to make good electrical contact for the torch to work, so
I guess that rules out putting a dab of wood glue on the thread?


Sounds like a gentle squish of the end cap will do the job...


Thanks. could you explain to a novish 'squish' ? would i need to do
a degree course?


Depends how sturdy it is. If it's an AA-battery sized torch then
probably just a quick 'bite' or a gentle tap with a block of wood
would do the job. If it's more solid then a (padded) hammer could do
it.

The intention is just to make it very slightly out of round, so it
makes a good solid connection and can't rattle loose.


just ding the threads slightly and it will be tight and electrically
connected.
It's SO simple. just a tap with a hammer.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net
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Wrap a single strand of very thin wire around the threads.
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