While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.

On Sunday, 4 December 2016 21:45:03 UTC, Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.

Reminds me of the screws used in GPO phones. Post a pic.


NT

Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it?

We'll share a picture of it and maybe I'll be tempted to hazard a guess.
;-)

Definitely a case of a picture being worth a thousand words....

Tim


--
Please don't feed the trolls

On 04/12/2016 21:41, Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.


You have described a drawer runner screw, most flat pack furniture uses
them for drawers a google search for drawer runner screw brings them up
first. They come in several sizes. Also used to secure fans in
computer cases. Screwfix used to sell them and still do, but their
catalogue is crap, look up online 89259 . I have used them in awkward
situations with hinges and odd jobs. Ikea would have some.

On 04/12/2016 21:41, Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.


here are some on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/18235...7291931&crdt=0

On 04/12/2016 21:41, Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.
The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.
What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.

Some sort of self-drilling screw?

A La :-
http://www.screwfix.com/p/easydrive-...200-pack/2022h

MrCheerful wrote
Julian Bradfield wrote

While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had been
(inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that I've
never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm of
cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.

You have described a drawer runner screw,

None of these have any smooth shank
https://www.google.com/search?q=draw...screw&tbm=isch
and given that they are deliberately short so they can be screwed into
the sides of drawers, they wouldn’t have any smooth shank.

No unthreaded tip either.

most flat pack furniture uses them for drawers a google search for drawer
runner screw brings them up first. They come in several sizes. Also used
to secure fans in computer cases. Screwfix used to sell them and still
do, but their catalogue is crap, look up online 89259 . I have used them
in awkward situations with hinges and odd jobs. Ikea would have some.

"MrCheerful" wrote in message
...
On 04/12/2016 21:41, Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.


here are some on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/18235...7291931&crdt=0

That is nothing like his description, no smooth shank, no unthreaded tip.

Sounds like a custom design to me. Can you not modify the catch so it can
take a 'normal' screw and a nut?
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Julian Bradfield" wrote in message
...
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.

On 2016-12-04, Tim+ wrote:
Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it?

We'll share a picture of it and maybe I'll be tempted to hazard a guess.
;-)

OK, there's a picture at

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jcb/IM...205_101039.jpg

Just for clarity, I have no wish to obtain such a screw - I replaced it
with a plain old wood screw which does the job properly. I'm just
curious as to what it is, and why anyone would use it to try to screw
into wood!

On 04/12/2016 21:41, Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.

You give no dimensions, but it sounds like it's some sort of pivot
where the conical part locates it accurately and the smooth part is used
as a bearing surface. Maybe it's used as a pivot joining the two door
closer arms. Maybe it's bronze. Maybe it's Maybelline. Clearly it's
not for use in securing the door closer, but it's all the fitter had and
he wanted to go home.

Cheers
--
Syd

Julian Bradfield wrote:
On 2016-12-04, Tim+ wrote:
Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it?

We'll share a picture of it and maybe I'll be tempted to hazard a guess.
;-)

OK, there's a picture at

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jcb/IM...205_101039.jpg

Just for clarity, I have no wish to obtain such a screw - I replaced it
with a plain old wood screw which does the job properly. I'm just
curious as to what it is, and why anyone would use it to try to screw
into wood!


Looks like a screw left over from a "frame fixing" like this.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-fr...-10-pack/19356

Tim
--
Please don't feed the trolls

On 05/12/2016 10:35, Julian Bradfield wrote:
On 2016-12-04, Tim+ wrote:
Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it?

We'll share a picture of it and maybe I'll be tempted to hazard a guess.
;-)

OK, there's a picture at

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jcb/IM...205_101039.jpg

Just for clarity, I have no wish to obtain such a screw - I replaced it
with a plain old wood screw which does the job properly. I'm just
curious as to what it is, and why anyone would use it to try to screw
into wood!


That is a hammer in screw, usually used as a frame fixing.

On 05/12/16 10:48, MrCheerful wrote:
On 05/12/2016 10:35, Julian Bradfield wrote:
On 2016-12-04, Tim+ wrote:
Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it?

We'll share a picture of it and maybe I'll be tempted to hazard a guess.
;-)

OK, there's a picture at

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jcb/IM...205_101039.jpg

Just for clarity, I have no wish to obtain such a screw - I replaced it
with a plain old wood screw which does the job properly. I'm just
curious as to what it is, and why anyone would use it to try to screw
into wood!


That is a hammer in screw, usually used as a frame fixing.

Yup. And probably not brass, but zinc and passivated steel


--
"Corbyn talks about equality, justice, opportunity, health care, peace,
community, compassion, investment, security, housing...."
"What kind of person is not interested in those things?"

"Jeremy Corbyn?"

On 05/12/2016 10:39, Syd Rumpo wrote:
On 04/12/2016 21:41, Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it? I haven't even managed to google up any pictures of such a
screw.

You give no dimensions, but it sounds like it's some sort of pivot where
the conical part locates it accurately and the smooth part is used as a
bearing surface. Maybe it's used as a pivot joining the two door closer
arms. Maybe it's bronze. Maybe it's Maybelline. Clearly it's not for
use in securing the door closer, but it's all the fitter had and he
wanted to go home.

Cheers

Just seen the picture, clearly nothing like I thought.

Cheers
--
Syd

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 05/12/16 10:48, MrCheerful wrote:
On 05/12/2016 10:35, Julian Bradfield wrote:
On 2016-12-04, Tim+ wrote:
Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer had
been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of screw that
I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has a
partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about 1.5mm
of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it?

We'll share a picture of it and maybe I'll be tempted to hazard a guess.
;-)

OK, there's a picture at

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jcb/IM...205_101039.jpg

Just for clarity, I have no wish to obtain such a screw - I replaced it
with a plain old wood screw which does the job properly. I'm just
curious as to what it is, and why anyone would use it to try to screw
into wood!


That is a hammer in screw, usually used as a frame fixing.

Yup. And probably not brass, but zinc and passivated steel

If it was screwed straight into wood it was inappropriate, and
ineffective as the OP found. It was either used by accident by someone
who was wearing the wrong glasses, or deliberately by someone without a
proper screw who didn't care about it failing. Or perhaps used by
someone who didn't know what they were doing.

--

Roger Hayter

On Mon, 05 Dec 2016 13:20:16 +0000, Roger Hayter wrote:

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 05/12/16 10:48, MrCheerful wrote:
On 05/12/2016 10:35, Julian Bradfield wrote:
On 2016-12-04, Tim+ wrote:
Julian Bradfield wrote:
While fixing the stair door today, I found that the door closer
had been (inadequately) fastened to the frame using a type of
screw that I've never seen before.

The screw is a straight cylinder, with a fairly low profile thread
(bit more than a bolt, but less than a wood screw thread); it has
a partly smooth shank; but unusually, part of the tip is also
unthreaded, and the tip is formed in a precise sharp conical
point. The unthreaded tip portion comprises the point and about
1.5mm of cylindrical shank before the point.
It has a Pozidrive head, and is made of brass, if that's relevant.

What is it?

We'll share a picture of it and maybe I'll be tempted to hazard a
guess.
;-)

OK, there's a picture at

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/jcb/IM...205_101039.jpg

Just for clarity, I have no wish to obtain such a screw - I replaced
it with a plain old wood screw which does the job properly. I'm just
curious as to what it is, and why anyone would use it to try to
screw into wood!


That is a hammer in screw, usually used as a frame fixing.

Yup. And probably not brass, but zinc and passivated steel

If it was screwed straight into wood it was inappropriate, and
ineffective as the OP found. It was either used by accident by someone
who was wearing the wrong glasses, or deliberately by someone without a
proper screw who didn't care about it failing. Or perhaps used by
someone who didn't know what they were doing.

As in "Oh, look, this screw comes with a wall plug. I don't need that for
wood, so I'll remove it and just use the screw"


--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
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