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This is my first time posting here, so I apologize in advance if I'm not doing it correctly.

One of my metal electrical outlet back boxes keep stripping the threads from the screw whenever I tried to screw in the outlet (see link below). I'm not sure why it's doing that, but I suspect it's because there's a burr in the threaded hole that's removing the threads on the screw. I'm not sure how to address this and hoping someone had a recommendation.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

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    To fix a threaded hole you usually use a tap and die set. How are you starting the screw? You usually want to start by hand to make sure it is going in straight. A power driver to start will strip most screws if not in straight. Commented 9 hours ago
  • I'm doing it all by hand. No power driver. Commented 9 hours ago

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The screw thread is 6-32. You can either buy a 6-32 tap and tap handle to clean up the threads, or you can buy a small bag of 6-32 self-tapping screws with a hex head.

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Put some oil (any kind) on the tap or the self-tapping screw, press it into the offending hole with steady pressure, and turn clockwise until the tap or screw penetrates the hole. Then back it out.

The hole should stop chewing up your screws after it's properly tapped.

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