Vented screw conversion

[qalfja]

Would it be possible to create a vented screw with a hole down the center from a titaniumhttps://askknife.com/product/hardware-set-1/ screw? I have an American service knife and I think it would be really cool to have one of the screws have a hole in the center to thread a thin cord through.

 

[jjg6319]

I think it would be hard to get the hole straight and you risk ruining the fastener.

 

[UncleBoots]

I've done something similar, drilling a pilot hole all the way through a screw, so that I could get a screw extractor in there. It worked out well, but of course I did not care at all whether the screw had any remaining structural strength, so I can't speak to that part.

What I did learn is that you want to have the screw in something that can be clamped firmly, and perfectly level in all directions. I suppose you'd want to build a jig. Also, a drill press is a much better tool for this than a freehand drill. My dad can do it with a freehand drill, but he's experienced and gifted in this area.

I'd have a spare screw or two handy, in case there's some learning curve.

 

[RustyIron]

Yeah, it would be no big deal to chuck it up in the lathe and drill a hole down the center. If your lathe is big and it's inconvenient to work on parts that small, you can drill in on your mill.

 

[tiguy7]

Put the screw in the chuck and spin it against a clamped stationary drill. Makes it self centering. Align the chuck on the clamped drill before placing the screw in the chuck.