Never did have a "good" answer to this question about screw slots.

[Larry (Omaha)]

What is the process to make machine or wood screws bottom out tight, with the screw slot ending up in the desired direction?
Still learning
Flintlocklar

 

[Black Hand]

The easy answer is: try, drill/countersink a little deeper and try again.
One can make (buy?) bolts with a thick head and once run in tight, the head can be shaped and the slot cut in the desired orientation.

The even easier answer is: don't bother.

 

[bang]

Use phillips and it won't matter. LOL

 

[dave_person]

Hi Larry,
I use screws and bolts with over sized heads such that the screw slot will be filed completely away when I turn the head down to be flush with the countersunk or counter bored hole. I counter sink the hole, tighten down the screw and mark on the head the direction I want the slot to go. Then I remove the screw, cut the slot deeper than the original slot, and turn the head down until the old slot is gone. I may deepen the new slot a little then screw it in place to make sure it fits in the hole as it should. You can also use the depth of the counter sink or counter bore to adjust the slot position but only to a limited extent of the counter sink will be too deep. Having said all that, Larry, it really is somewhat of a fools errand because the slots may become misaligned as wood shrinks or inlet mortices get compressed over time. I do it when making my version of a high-end British gun because the better makers did align the slots with the barrel but I don't worry about it for most other projects, particularly long rifles. I also do it if I am going to engrave the screw head and the slot must be in sync with the surrounding engraving.

dave

 

[Phil Coffins]

Dave, now that’s a good answer! Sometimes just trying a few other screws can turn to where they clock right.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I make no attempt to orient screw slots. I have bigger fish to fry.

 

[Darkhorse]

I use/used Blackhand's method and built a rifle with all the slots pointing oriented butt to bore. It was a long aggravating process. Now 20 years later hardly any remain in alignment due to wood compression etc. I have learned to really like a rifle when the screw slots are misaligned, and that's a good thing because I won't attempt it again.

 

[54ball]

The Builder Mike Brooks made this comment.....

If it so happens that all my screws line up and clock together, I turn them some more because, "It makes me nervous."

Honestly, the clocked screws are a contemporary or more modern thing. As Mr. Person said you will find it on high grade European work. It's very very seldom seen on American longrifles.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

All my slots are aligned. Either by deepening the countersink or carefully filling back the tip of the lead thread.

 

[necchi]

The easy answer is: try, drill/countersink a little deeper and try again.,,
The even easier answer is: don't bother.

That's the answer, but if you want to do it,, it is a bother.

All my slots are aligned.

Ya missed "alignment" with several in that photo.
(you posted it)
They are for sure in the general direction,, but not aligned.

 

[fleener]

Long rifles are hit or miss, depending on the builder. Dave is 100% correct on a high end English gun they simply do not look right if they are not clocked right.

I have a few original English guns and there are some small things you can do to make sure they stay clocked right as the gun ages.

On one the hole had some lead at the bottom to take up the excess.

Fleener

 

[Vaino]

Never bothered to align the screw slots except for the cheek star.....don't think that hardly anyone notices if the screw slots align and it surely doesn't indicate the maker's skills......Fred

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
As several of those who posted indicated, most of the time makers don't worry about screw slot alignment. However, there are times when it is necessary as I mentioned. If the screw head is a seamless part of an engraving, the slot matters and it also mattered to many high-end makers. The question to do it or not depends on your objectives. If I am making a Jacob Dickert rifle, I don't worry about it but if I am trying to make a John Manton, you bet I do.

dave

 

[Pete G]

Look at pictures of old guns; they are not aligned, especialy on the box.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Thanks to all who posted replies. The phillips screw seems like the way to go. (LOL)
The methods described to make screw slots end up in the desired direction make sense. I am pleased to know that the opinions expressed say that slot direction is usually not a biggie. If a feller wanted to do a button head, how would that work? Ha, that is a different potato! No countersinking there, right? I would assume the screw, or at least the head would have to made blank and the slot added later.
Flintlocklar

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Look at pictures of old guns; they are not aligned, especialy on the box.

No telling how many times old guns have been taken apart and put back together with what ever screws going where ever.

 

[Pete G]

No telling how many times old guns have been taken apart and put back together with what ever screws going where ever.

Tang screws, yes; box screws, not so much.

 

[Metalshaper]

Builder friend of mine, makes his own screws and 'clocks' the screw heads on his final set of them. Think he said he goes through three full sets of screws to finish his guns?? I'm not that patient..

Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Never bothered to align the screw slots except for the cheek star.....don't think that hardly anyone notices if the screw slots align and it surely doesn't indicate the maker's skills......Fred

View attachment 5436

Outstanding detail in the carving. You should make a "How to" video.

 

[bptactical]

For an "Artsy Fartsy" rifle it is a nice touch that shows pride in your work and attention to detail.
For a working gun?
Nope