Thanks for the tip Rik, you are not the only one who struggles with small nuts.

Thor

You can get nut starters for small nuts. They fit in quite tight places, though not, obviously, those with zero clearance. (If length is a problem, you can always cut them in half).

Heathkit used to give these (red ones) away with all their kits. I still have a few of those but they are mostly worn out by now.

Edited By Peter Greene on 28/03/2021 18:56:57

A blob of blue tack on the end of a terminal driver works well also.

I have big arthritic fingers, and when I modified the new 100mm four jaw chuck to fit my 7 X 12 lathe, I turned the first few threads off the mounting bolts to make life easier.

I would find a young child and use that

Brian

I've overcome this problem sometimes by winding the nut half-depth against a lock-nutted back-nut on the end of a suitable screw (squared-off as a rounded end will be in the way).

It's usually enough to get the nut started, then use a spanner to ease it from the holder to the work-piece.

Hi all, +1 for clutch pencil collet for this problem, from schooldays onwards always had them to hand, leads for their original purpose ie writing & drawing available in various colours & if you can believe this back in the day the planning, design & drawing offices where I worked used the leads in such enormous quantities that the pencils came free! If you remove the pushbutton there is a cutter inside for reforming the point & to bring it bang up to date, 60 years later I just consulted the large mug next to me on the desk & yes theres still one in there, made by Staedler Mars & of course leads for all the instruments in drawing sets fit.

PS people say I never throw anything away

BobH

I solved the problem by making some miniature nut runners for 8, 10 and 12 BA sizes. Drill a hole the same size as the AF nut or bolt size and then knock in the end of a suitably sized hex key as a crude broach.

Edited By Anthony Knights on 29/03/2021 12:37:45

I suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand. One’s sense of touch in the thumb and first two fingers is masked by the noise from the trapped nerve.

I manage to manipulate nuts down to 12BA using nut runners, tweezers, shanks of small drills and, particularly, jewellers’ screwdrivers. However patience is the most important tool. Without practice it took me an hour to fit six 10 BA nuts and screws holding two flanges together with poor access.

JA

Small magnet glued to a stick. I did have a bit of a breakdown the other day building up and dismantling 100+ 6BA nuts with man sized hands, and had a think about how to dress it up as a fun task to get my 6 year old nephew to do it.

Hi I use a lot of BA nuts, mostly 5,6, and 8, and even down to 10 & 12. .. (Yes 10 & 12 are a little harder, but OK)

So what I do, is I lick my finger, and add the washer on, then link my finger again and add the nut on, then roll my my finger over the nut. It usually works OK, then tighten with a tube spanner, but don't use too much pressure when tightening.

Leslie.

PS.  Just think of watch makers they go from 12 downwards?   …   BA  is the Thury Thread, and they go right down to No.25

Edited By Leslie Williams 1 on 26/06/2021 14:22:06

Edited By Leslie Williams 1 on 26/06/2021 14:44:28