2023General Discussion forum
Damaged screw threads in PRO arm socket block and vest socket blocks
What the thread found
- The threaded ends of socket screws can become mushroomed and damaged over time due to repeated tightening pressure, making them difficult to remove from socket blocks.
- Burrs inside the female socket block threads should be cleared out using a tap and die set to prevent further screw damage.
- Damaged screws should be replaced rather than reused.
- If a screw cannot be removed, it can be carefully cut off using a rotary tool with a diamond-coated cutting wheel rather than a hacksaw to avoid damaging the socket block itself.
- After cutting a screw, the mushroomed end can be turned out by hand and will separate from the threaded portion.
- This thread damage is a wear pattern from normal use rather than a manufacturing defect.
Depends on
- The issue was observed on both WK and ARRI vests but the underlying cause may vary by equipment generation.
- One user mentioned seeing custom hardened screws with cupped tips designed to resist thread damage, but this solution was not fully detailed or evaluated.
- The exact frequency or conditions that accelerate thread mushrooming were not thoroughly characterized.