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Fri Dec 05, 2025 7:41 pm

when im putting things together with screws i try to line up the slots . anyone else ? even the light switch screws in the house - i line em up all horizontally ? is it just me , or do you let em fall where they may / feel snug ? i have this thing in me that tries to make things balanced or symmetrical to my brain ? am i alone ?

im prolly weird LOL !!! its just how i see things ??? am i dyslexic , anal or what ?

when i see patterns my brain can see flaws or anything miss matched not Balanced on each side . i am a retired wallpaper hanger , it was my life my livelihood to line things up best i could . but im retired now :-) some things just stick with ya LOL like i cant help it ???

to me - its trying to make something visually look the best it can ?

prolly doesnt even matter with more modern Philips screws ??? the old stuff used these straight slots ??? im just old school !!!

might even look better if i lined em up with the vertical lines up n down in the lens ??? my mind worries about these little things :-)

Fri Dec 05, 2025 11:09 pm

That has been my entire working life, summed up in a nut shell! Grew up working for nothing in a custom cabinet shop. Talk about things lining up! Damn! There is no way to make it fit if it does not line up!!!!

I get ya!

Adding to this, as it hit me yesterday at work. Yes, I do align the screws on most devices that I install. As an electrician, I was taught that all slotted screws should be set top to bottom, so that is what I do, even on the switch or duplex screws under the covers!

In my defense. I have taken note on this attribute during my time in customers homes. If those screw head are aligned, I know someone with a CRAFTMANS abilities most probably worked on the system last. So, there is a chance the workmanship is decent. The real issue is when I am in the same scenario and the screw slots are clocked in every other direction. That screams amateur or home owner! Got to be on guard and work very carefully! Had several situation where a spark has illuminated the space from a loose wire nut or a ground wire was hovering around the hot lugs! Always makes me think of the 4th of July!

I actually train my guys to align the screw heads.If they do not, I typically will jump on their asses! This is the very reason for my edit! I had to “realign” the procedure used by an employee, as the screws were influenced by a level of homeowner level workmanship. Had to teach him how a professional leaves things! In alignment! Straight up, nothing sideways.

Sat Dec 06, 2025 12:30 pm

I will chime in here. I am too a stickler for fit and finish as well. I see the asthetics of screw alignment totally. I will just offfer to say that in some applications, the torque on the screw is most important, alignment no. On a light bezel there may be enough range to still be tight and align.

I have seen other examples of this particularity at car shows where people align all their wheel cap logos in a level position, even on a parked car with no wheels off the ground.

So I will agree it is not just you (the OP) that others do this too. :)

Sat Dec 06, 2025 4:25 pm

I've noticed on some older machined hardware that the screws line up neatly, which I take to mean that the manufacturing crew knew their shit and cared about the finish appearance.
Personally, electrical cover plate screws are set parallel to the long side of the cover.
Fasteners with torque requirements not so much.

Sun Dec 07, 2025 6:39 am

when I was a technical illustrator we were taught to draw screw slot heads at the same angle equivalent to 45 degrees.
these days when doing diy etc I'm just happy if all the fixings match for size, type and finish. :roll:

Wed Dec 10, 2025 8:18 am

You guys are insane :P

Wed Dec 10, 2025 12:13 pm

I see you’re a horizontal guy all of mine especially the outlet covers and light switch covers are vertical.

Wed Dec 10, 2025 5:13 pm

Wood screws for door hinges and hardware are tough. You have to start the screws just right.
Redoing a building facade with visible fasteners, it took a while to get the crew to orient the fasteners. Phillips head oriented to 12,3,6,9 with self tappers are a pita.
I think this is why Allen, star, etc head fasteners were invented, so no one notices. I've not really looked into any conspiracy theories.
PS
I used to do high end interiors where tile grout lines mattered.

Thu Dec 11, 2025 9:25 am

finster wrote: when I was a technical illustrator we were taught to draw screw slot heads at the same angle equivalent to 45 degrees.
these days when doing diy etc I'm just happy if all the fixings match for size, type and finish. :roll:

Sounds like the fixation on 10:09:30 for clock hands.
Or for earlier clock faces with a second dial on top, 8:17 or 3:43.
https://www.naviforce.com/news/why-do-clocks-always-show-nearly-1010-in-ads/