# Stupid Q With A Point: Is Always Righty Tighty? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802 "2019-03-09T01:35:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/21 "2019-03-09T17:35:21Z")
I hate to break it to you, but the lug nuts on Plymouth cars (at least those of a certain vintage) are threaded backwards on the right side of the car, in order to reduce the likelihood that road vibration and the constant spinning of the tire to the right would loosen the lug nuts. [cite](https://forums.aaca.org/topic/281558-vehicles-with-left-handed-lug-nuts/) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/22 "2019-03-09T18:52:15Z")
My brain hurts. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/23 "2019-03-10T04:07:24Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My brain hurts. I actually have a little box of stainless steel 1/4-20 hex nuts on my desk, just for special occasions. They have a left-hand thread. True story. ---
**Author:** ![Littleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Littleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Littleman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/24 "2019-03-10T04:17:07Z")
I much prefer the term sinister, it’s just so much easier than left-handed. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/25 "2019-03-10T04:22:14Z")
Let’s not forget the flush handle on your toilet. It only takes one time cracking your toilet tank for you to learn that it’s a left-hand thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/26 "2019-03-10T04:46:42Z")
Some older automobiles had reverse threads on the lug nuts or lug bolts. Old VWs and some others had this. The idea was that on the left side of the car, righty-tighty would help keep the nuts/bolts tight, due to the direction of the wheel travel. And on the right side they might loosen up. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/27 "2019-03-10T07:29:06Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yeah, I was gonna ask what to do, if like me you’re a lefty? The whole world is backwards to start with. I don’t understand the ‘right hand rule’, at all. I’m a lefty too, and I didn’t really understand his explanation either - perhaps because my first question is why would I be doing it with my right hand… Generally speaking, clockwise tightens and counter-clockwise loosens, though. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/28 "2019-03-10T15:17:30Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > There are a few things that work left-handed. There are nuts and screws in situations where right-handed threads would work loose such as the left side pedal on a bicycle, or on the left side of a grinder or buffing machine. There are also objects that do this for the sake of security, such as light bulbs in some public places which would be prone to theft if they could be used at home. A third category is screw-on connections that are designed to be incompatible, so they don’t get connected by mistake. That’s why gas tanks for flammable gases use left-handed screws on their connectors, while inert gases have right-handed connectors. It would be rather dangerous if you tried to do inert-gas welding, and used a bottle of acetylene instead. Yet another place you see reverse threads is on [turnbuckes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnbuckle). One side has a reverse thread, so when you rotate the buckle, the two screws move in opposite directions. Interesting thing about bicycle pedals is, if you look at how the pedal rotates relative to the crank, the left side pedal rotates clockwise, and the right side pedal rotates counter-clockwise. So why is it the left pedal that has the reverse thread? [Precession](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_%28mechanical%29). (Just look at the animation on that page, I can’t describe that with words.) ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/29 "2019-03-10T17:19:59Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Interesting thing about bicycle pedals is, if you look at how the pedal rotates relative to the crank, the left side pedal rotates clockwise, and the right side pedal rotates counter-clockwise. So why is it the left pedal that has the reverse thread? [Precession](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_%28mechanical%29). (Just look at the animation on that page, I can’t describe that with words.) That’s pretty interesting (I had to stare at that animation for about 18 hours until it sunk in). ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/30 "2019-03-10T17:37:53Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > A third category is screw-on connections that are designed to be incompatible, so they don’t get connected by mistake. That’s why gas tanks for flammable gases use left-handed screws on their connectors, while inert gases have right-handed connectors. It would be rather dangerous if you tried to do inert-gas welding, and used a bottle of acetylene instead. > > Yet another place you see reverse threads is on [turnbuckes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnbuckle). One side has a reverse thread, so when you rotate the buckle, the two screws move in opposite directions. > > Interesting thing about bicycle pedals is, if you look at how the pedal rotates relative to the crank, the left side pedal rotates clockwise, and the right side pedal rotates counter-clockwise. So why is it the left pedal that has the reverse thread? [Precession](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_%28mechanical%29). (Just look at the animation on that page, I can’t describe that with words.) Great examples! I didn’t know the gas tank one. Turnbuckles, yes, and a few related devices, such as jackscrews. I think there are such devices with narrow curved saddles on each end which one can use to force pulleys further apart, to tighten the belt. The threaded rod on some scissor jacks does this (though some only have one set of threads). I wonder, do automobile tie rods do this to allow wheel alignment? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/31 "2019-03-11T00:43:59Z")
I have a take-down putter much like this > **[Personalized Wedding Gifts and Unique Party Favors - HansonEllis](https://www.hansonellis.com/wood-grain-golf-putter-set.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhsPeme344AIVRR6GCh1TkweMEAQYBSABEgLIavD_BwE)** > > Shop from the Best Wedding Party Favors and Personalized Wedding Gifts available online at HansonEllis. that is reversed threaded since a right-handed person using it would cause it to unscrew as he/she hit the ball. (I spend way too much time around amusement parks with mini-golf courses) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/32 "2019-03-11T02:39:28Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > … I wonder, do automobile tie rods do this to allow wheel alignment? Yes, many cars do. Just imagine the buckle on a turnbuckle being a sleeve with interior threads. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/33 "2019-03-11T03:19:33Z")
> [@Littleman](#): > > I much prefer the term sinister, it’s just so much easier than left-handed. As everyone knows, the preferred terms here are deasil and widdershins. ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/34 "2019-03-11T12:12:58Z")
Imagine you are holding a bottle of Coke and you want to take the cap off…what direction do you turn? If you’re like most Americans your hand already knows how to do this without your conscience input. Simply rotate your imaginary bottle of Coke so that the threads line up with whatever you are trying to (un)screw ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/35 "2019-03-11T13:38:06Z")
The problem with left threaded screws is finding a left handed screwdriver. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/36 "2019-03-11T13:47:12Z")
I don’t like the whole “righty tighty” thing, because if I’m tightening a nut or bolt more often than not I’m going to place the wrench horizontally and push _down_ to tighten. If the bolt is above my head I’m going to have the handle pointing down and push left to tighten. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/37 "2019-03-11T14:40:13Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > As everyone knows, the preferred terms here are deasil and widdershins. I thought you were pulling our legs with some obscure joke but nope. I’m guessing I probably won’t learn two more words today so thanks for increasing my vocabulary today more than everyone else in the world put together! ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/38 "2019-03-11T14:56:35Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > You can always use the _right hand rule_: Make a “thumbs up” sign with your right hand. Rotate your hand so your thumb points in the direction you want the object to move. Your fingers indicate the rotation direction you need. [Obligatory XKCD cartoon.](https://xkcd.com/199/) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/39 "2019-03-11T18:14:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The problem with left threaded screws is finding a left handed screwdriver. I keep those in the vertical drawer, right next to the metric crescent-wrench. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802/40 "2019-03-11T18:59:11Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > You, I’m guessing know this, but I learned not that long ago. Your typical gas grill type LP tank has typical right handed threads. You can see them when you look at the valve. However, if you inside the part where you make the connection (on the tank) for a grill, there’s a set of internal, left handed threads. I learned from my grandfather that the LP threads on a trailer are left-handed so you can’t accidently thread them to the water lines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-q-with-a-point-is-always-righty-tighty/830802.md?page=3)