Pluggers by Rick McKee for November 12, 2016

flippin’ manufacturers

Loosen up a bunch of other screws and with some pushing and shoving the holes can be made to align.

While you’re assembling, don’t torque down fasteners until they’re all installed.

I remember one christmas eve many a year ago putting toether a bicycle at 1:AM. There were at least 4 misaligned holes and five or six missing parts!! Great experience!!

Don’t force it, get a bigger hammer.

Just as bad is an “extra” part when done. Just hoping it wasn’t all that important.

And five screws, which need four different screw drivers.

People are right; don’t tighten any of the fasteners until they’re all started. With that said… I needed a new desk chair and I started all the bolts but the last; it wouldn’t start. I think the receiver wasn’t tapped but I was able to get it to tap itself.

We put a shed together this summer and the entire roof was out of alignment! I disconnected some bracing and pushed the whole roof over a cm until the holes lined up.

After working at two different chain big box home improvement stores, I have this advice. Always ask the store if they assemble products “in house”. If they do, don’t pay the money to have it assembled by the store. What this usually means is that the guys pushing carts in the lot was the same guys who assembles the 100+ piece grill you just bought. Not good. I had one assembled because I didn’t have time and not only was it missing parts it was dangerous (gas connections weren’t lined up properly). I even knew better. Some places use professional assembler companies they are your best bet if not doing it yourself.

The job’s not done right if you don’t have leftover parts.

Put the screws in, but don’t tighten them all the way to allow a little wiggle room. Then, tighten then working in pairs from outside in.

The key to ensuring that all screws and holes align, is not to tighten the screws until all of them are installed.

Thanks for your service Chief!

or a drill