On Fri, 24 Sep 2010, Charlie Carothers wrote:
  On reflecting back, I don't believe anyone ever
taught me (in any
 manner) the "turn in reverse to find the start of the thread" technique.
   I've done it so long now, I usually do it without even thinking about
 it.  I suspect that I discovered the technique for myself shortly after
 I thoroughly cross threaded some fastener in my youth.
 I did get the chance to pass it on to my 42 year old daughter recently
 when I was helping her assemble a small computer desk.  In that case the
 "nuts" were plastic inserts in the wood of the bottom side of the desk
 top, and I was unusually concerned about the possibility of cross
 threading one of those.  She saw the advantage of the technique right
 away once I pointed it out.  Maybe what the world needs is more/better
 mentors ("Elmers" as I recall in the ham radio world). 
Ah Ha!
The new generation didn't have Erector sets as kids (the snap-together
plastic stuff without a plug-in motor don't count)
Any significant amount of play or work with screw fasteners will
eventually make it clear.  Lack of adequate experience means that one will
have to be TOLD such basics.  Presumably the same with clockwise v
counter-clockwise threads, in an almost counter-productive form.  The
experienced person will be assuming clockwise, whereas the totally
inexperienced are more likely to try both directions.  Will the loss of
analog clocks have a significant effect on learning CW V CCW?
   I made a
license plate frame that says "UC Berkeley Aluminum"  (I also
 made a slightly variant one in case I ever have another British car) 
 Heh! I love
it...  I assume the frames are made of aluminum/aluminium. 
 
Of course!   
billetframes.com can make some if anybody else is similarly
inclined
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred                     cisin at 
xenosoft.com