Wooden Screw for Swivel Mirror

Dalcassian

Hi, I have an old mirror that belonged to my mother. I remember it in her bedroom when I was a child. (I will be 80 years of age in April). She received it as a wedding present in April 1914.
My problem is that I have been trying to find a swivel screw to fit one side. The attached photo is what it looks like. Sorry about the focus! The shank is a half inch wide and the thread seems to be about 6 to one inch. The scank is 1 inch and 10 16ths. It appears to have been longer.
Also the threads in the hole where it goes seem to be worn as the screw is very loose in the hole.
Has anyone got any suggestions as to where I might get something like it.
I also seem to remember seeing a metal screw with a boss on it that can be inserted into a hole that might do the job.
Any ideas?
Joe

bonzodog2

You might wrap clingfilm or PTFE tape around the screw in your picture, the find some quick-setting product to put in the 'female' counterpart, then screw in the male bit. Hopefully reversing the effect of the wear, and making a functionally tight matching pair. The clingfilm or PTFE tape is to stop the product sticking to the item in your picture. I hope this makes sense!

Dalcassian

Hi Bonzodog2,
Thanks for that PTFE tip. Sounds good. That's one problem solved.
Now, has anybody got any idea where I can get a second one made or buy one?
I love Boards.ie.
Joe

Dalcassian

Hi again,
Any ideas on repairing the reflective surface on the back of the mirror. Someone had used a wrong size metal screw on the swivel and it scratched some of the silvering off the back of the mirror. Any suggestions are welcome.
Joe

recipio

Hi Joe,
a woodturner might be able to replicate your woodscrew - its beyond my skills I'm afraid.
An old tip I occasionally use for the mirror is to stick some aluminium foil on the back with sellotape. Flatten it with a round dowel or wooden spoon before applying the tape. Otherwise re-silvering a mirror is a specialist job.

kadman

You would need someone that has specific tools for the job.

You are correct in that the thread would require a suitable tap to form it. It will be a coarse tap, not neccessarily found in a fitters toolbox, more like an instrument maker maybe.

Thats the piece for forming the thread in the hole. Now the shaft piece thats threaded is formed using a tool called a conover threadbox. Google it.

Basically its a much like a wooden die wrench, but there is no thread cutting die in it. The cutting tool is a single tool piece, much like a metal turning lathe cutting tool.

Very specialised tools, that are expensive to purchase, but can be made.

If the wear is on the thread in the hole, then you could make your own clearing tap from a suitable size bolt, that has a groove cut into the bolt at 90 degrees to the thread pitch. But unless you are careful, you could easily make things worse.

dathi

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VICTORIAN-RECLAIMED-DARK-WOOD-1-1-2-DIA-DRAWER-KNOB-AND-WOODEN-FIXING-SCREW-/151608341643?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234c8fb48b something like this do if you cut off the mushroom