Who clocks their grip screws? & bonus ?

Hal · May 31, 2020, 09:00 AM

I admit it - Mr. Superanal here, is a diehard screw clocker.

That's a given.

The real question - is the bonus - which is:
12 & 6
or

3 and 9?

hammie · May 31, 2020, 09:17 AM

@Hal: No, I don't time my grip screws. But...this begs another question: How do you time your screws? Do you shim the screw head? Do you grind off a small amount of the screw? Some of my grip screws are pretty short and there's not a lot to work with. Plus on some aftermarket wood grips, the screw hole thickness is not uniform, either top to bottom or right to left grip panel. Each screw would have to be unique for that hole. I'm not doubting you, I just don't know how it's done. I always enjoy learning things here.

Jim Watson · May 31, 2020, 10:05 AM

London Best screws have thick heads and shallow slots for assembly. Heads are thinned to contour and slotted in line as the action is filed up.
One of the big bucks 1911 builders offers timed screws but I don't know how he does it.

The answer is 17 degrees, aligned with the grip frame.

Hal · May 31, 2020, 12:59 PM

@ Hammie - There's usually enough flex in the grip panels that the screws can be snugged to the same positions.

Mike38 · May 31, 2020, 02:31 PM

Over torqueing to achieve aligned screw slots may not be the best idea. Some pistols have very thin frames, example the Ruger Mk series .22's. Stripping the screw hole may be the result.

DaleA · June 1, 2020, 12:48 AM

Ya think maybe we over think these things once in a while?

**Aguila Blanca** · June 1, 2020, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal

I admit it - Mr. Superanal here, is a diehard screw clocker.

That's a given.

I can be a bit obsessive-compulsive myself. For which reason it would never occur to me to try to "clock" the grip screws, because that would mean they won't be set to the same torque.

kozak6 · June 1, 2020, 03:09 AM

No.

I don't have the tools for it and I don't have any sufficiently fancy firearms for that sort of thing anyways.

cptjack · June 1, 2020, 04:37 AM

was taught by and old German cabinet maker screwing in a piano hinge to align all the screws to be parallel to hinge...shin screws ,ergo in a boat all screws go 12 ,,,6 o'clock so water drips through,,,and electrician told me on an outlet cover 12 n 6 also. sign of a professional

Kreyzhorse · June 1, 2020, 05:31 AM

I like the look of clocked screw heads, but it is never anything that I intentally set out to go after. I'd rather them just be tight and not cause any issues with over torque.

kenny53 · June 1, 2020, 07:26 AM

I never thought of clocking the screws until now. After pondering this for better part of a minute I don't think I'll do much clocking of my screws. But I bet it looks nice.

rodfac · June 5, 2020, 08:50 PM

To each his own...not for me the 'clocking' of the screws...YMMv Rod

dyl · June 5, 2020, 11:16 PM

oh no, I wish you hadn't mentioned clocking screw heads. Now I won't be able to help but notice the screw heads on my outlets when I pass by. I see why some go to hex head screws, they stand out less visually.

Hal · June 6, 2020, 03:30 AM

Quote:

oh no, I wish you hadn't mentioned clocking screw heads. Now I won't be able to help but notice the screw heads on my outlets when I pass by.

LOL!
Just yesterday, my wife and I were at one of our rentals.
My wife had taken care of repainting the whole place & just as I'd taught her...she had removed all the outlet covers & switchplates to paint the walls.

I just smiled as I noticed - she had clocked all the screws on every single one - through the whole house @ 12/6

.

( I really shouldn't tease her like that.....she's become a fair shot over the 39 years we've been married)

peacefulgary · June 7, 2020, 07:14 AM

I have never even heard of such a thing as "clocking your screws".
So many more important things to worry about.

AirForceShooter · June 7, 2020, 07:16 AM

I use hex head screws so.........

AFS

Hal · June 8, 2020, 05:21 AM

Quote:

I use hex head screws so.........

That's what's on my Kimber. But, even those have an orientation...

( I know because I just checked them out )

dahermit · June 8, 2020, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cptjack

was taught by and old German cabinet maker screwing in a piano hinge to align all the screws to be parallel to hinge...shin screws ,ergo in a boat all screws go 12 ,,,6 o'clock so water drips through,,,and electrician told me on an outlet cover 12 n 6 also. sign of a professional

Quote:

,,,6 o'clock so water drips through,,,

What does ",,," mean?

peacefulgary · June 8, 2020, 08:09 AM

I don't buy this stuff at all.
Metal screws have a very small amount of variation due to the elements.
Yes, contraction in extreme cold, and expansion in extreme heat.
But wood is much more effected by the temperature, the humidity, the type of wood...
To say "all metal screws, in wood, should be at 6 o'clock, regardless of all other factors is nonsense.

Ever had a door that sticks when the humidity is high...but it works fine with just a small adjustment of one or two screws...and all the hinge screws are not perfectly in sync?
It happens every day.

If a gun maker tried to use the notion of "all of our grip screws are clocked to perfection", I would walk away.

Sharkbite · June 8, 2020, 09:42 AM

Ive looked at all my M&Ps and Glocks....i cant find these grip screws you speak of��

Hal · June 8, 2020, 09:58 AM

Quote:

If a gun maker tried to use the notion of "all of our grip screws are clocked to perfection", I would walk away.

Reid Coffield thinks it's a great idea.

He even wrote a "how to" on it.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editor...cial%20shotgun.

May 31, 2020, 09:00 AM	#1
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Who clocks their grip screws? & bonus ? I admit it - Mr. Superanal here, is a diehard screw clocker. That's a given. The real question - is the bonus - which is: 12 & 6 or 3 and 9?

June 1, 2020, 05:31 AM	#10
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	I like the look of clocked screw heads, but it is never anything that I intentally set out to go after. I'd rather them just be tight and not cause any issues with over torque. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

June 5, 2020, 08:50 PM	#12
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,624	To each his own...not for me the 'clocking' of the screws...YMMv Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

June 7, 2020, 07:16 AM	#16
AirForceShooter Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Location: Sarasota (sort of) Florida Posts: 1,296	I use hex head screws so......... AFS __________________ 'Qui tacet consentit': To remain silent is to consent.

May 31, 2020, 09:17 AM	#2
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 959	@Hal: No, I don't time my grip screws. But...this begs another question: How do you time your screws? Do you shim the screw head? Do you grind off a small amount of the screw? Some of my grip screws are pretty short and there's not a lot to work with. Plus on some aftermarket wood grips, the screw hole thickness is not uniform, either top to bottom or right to left grip panel. Each screw would have to be unique for that hole. I'm not doubting you, I just don't know how it's done. I always enjoy learning things here.

May 31, 2020, 10:05 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	London Best screws have thick heads and shallow slots for assembly. Heads are thinned to contour and slotted in line as the action is filed up. One of the big bucks 1911 builders offers timed screws but I don't know how he does it. The answer is 17 degrees, aligned with the grip frame.

May 31, 2020, 12:59 PM	#4
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	@ Hammie - There's usually enough flex in the grip panels that the screws can be snugged to the same positions.

May 31, 2020, 02:31 PM	#5
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Over torqueing to achieve aligned screw slots may not be the best idea. Some pistols have very thin frames, example the Ruger Mk series .22's. Stripping the screw hole may be the result.

June 1, 2020, 12:48 AM	#6
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	Ya think maybe we over think these things once in a while?

June 1, 2020, 03:09 AM	#8
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	No. I don't have the tools for it and I don't have any sufficiently fancy firearms for that sort of thing anyways.

June 1, 2020, 04:37 AM	#9
cptjack Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2014 Posts: 314	was taught by and old German cabinet maker screwing in a piano hinge to align all the screws to be parallel to hinge...shin screws ,ergo in a boat all screws go 12 ,,,6 o'clock so water drips through,,,and electrician told me on an outlet cover 12 n 6 also. sign of a professional

June 1, 2020, 07:26 AM	#11
kenny53 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2015 Location: My back yard Posts: 971	I never thought of clocking the screws until now. After pondering this for better part of a minute I don't think I'll do much clocking of my screws. But I bet it looks nice.

June 5, 2020, 11:16 PM	#13
dyl Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,310	oh no, I wish you hadn't mentioned clocking screw heads. Now I won't be able to help but notice the screw heads on my outlets when I pass by. I see why some go to hex head screws, they stand out less visually.

June 7, 2020, 07:14 AM	#15
peacefulgary Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 714	I have never even heard of such a thing as "clocking your screws". So many more important things to worry about.

June 8, 2020, 08:09 AM	#19
peacefulgary Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 714	I don't buy this stuff at all. Metal screws have a very small amount of variation due to the elements. Yes, contraction in extreme cold, and expansion in extreme heat. But wood is much more effected by the temperature, the humidity, the type of wood... To say "all metal screws, in wood, should be at 6 o'clock, regardless of all other factors is nonsense. Ever had a door that sticks when the humidity is high...but it works fine with just a small adjustment of one or two screws...and all the hinge screws are not perfectly in sync? It happens every day. If a gun maker tried to use the notion of "all of our grip screws are clocked to perfection", I would walk away.

June 8, 2020, 09:42 AM	#20
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	Ive looked at all my M&Ps and Glocks....i cant find these grip screws you speak of��