Flossing action

By Staff -- Plant Engineering, 9/1/1998

Problem: When replacing a screw that protrudes from inside a machine, and the space does not allow you to insert a hand or tool, the only option seems to be disassembly of the machine. But is it?

Solution: Push a long piece of waxed dental floss through from the outside of the hole, grab the floss from the inside with tweezers or needle nose pliers, and pull it through far enough to tie a noose around the last thread of the screw. Carefully drawing the floss back through the hole pulls the screw into the desired location from the inside out.

In addition, you may be able to slide the nut over the dental floss from the outside and capture the screw so that it does not fall back into the machine before the nut is put on.

Contributor: Perry Pattiz, Senior Project Engineer, Sunline Brands, St. Louis, MO; 314-638-5770 x 271; e-mail Perry.Pattiz@Sunmark.Nestle. com