This guy is looking for funding - sort of. Actually, what he is looking for is to find out if any of us woodworkers would actually use his invention before he even tries to raise funds to go into production.
Feel free to discuss your thoughts here, but also maybe help the guy out and give him your opinion directly. He seems like a decent enough guy.
What came to mind to me was a simple version - perhaps it already exists - a standard hex in the recessed area and a 1-time "cap" that is forced fit so it's flush. Destroy the cap for removal - it's the cheap part. I'm imagining it fitting as perfect as the back of a watch. ... and could even have a gasket for water resistance .. .. no special tools. John T.
Very slick. He mentioned a hidden drawer as an application. Why not a latch with this feature, rather than a screw? Perhaps a dummy for balance. I'd buy it in (very) low quantities.
Well, I think part of his marketing strategy, in the video, has a few problems. He touts the screw to have a single function, for attaching something together in a hidden fashion. That's appealing to some extent. He later asks, would you design a piece of furniture around this screw/function? Nope, not at all.
It may be a clever or neat idea, but to me it's a novelty, of sorts. I can't envision its wide spread use. I can't see an industry going all out to produce large quantities of it, at least for the general "construction" public. The aerospace or similar industry may use it or some element of the idea, i.e., a specific and limited use/market, but I think that may already be the case to some extent. A large scale market for this application would likely have to be something similar to the 1950s-1960s chrome furniture/appliances "fad". It's too specific/eccentric of a feature requiring a specific tool for the general "construction" public's use.
As to woodworking, I can't see it being widely used in the furniture making industry. Some individuals may try it, but I suspect just randomly used.... initially moderate sales, then interest fades? I wouldn't invest in something I wouldn't use and for my style of woodwork, I wouldn't want any hardware to show. It's not a feature that appeals to me for my consideration to use in/on my projects nor to be important as a part or design feature on something I would purchase. Even if I were interested in the idea, I doubt I would design a project around the screw or its application, besides, that likely would narrow the number of (different?) projects it can be applied to.
As to furniture as a whole, I think a "new" particular style of furniture may need to be created, similarly as chrome furniture/appliances was introduced, for it to be widely used, IF one is to design furniture around this single screw concept.
It's a good first marketing step in asking our opinions. He needs to gather the feedback, then go ask the professionals (Shark Tank- like) before diving into it further.
It seems a bit too fussy to live in the rough and tumble of real life.
The fit between screw head body and spring-loaded filler is very close. I wonder how well that screw will work after the furniture piece is varnished or even waxed.
When I was at Hamilton-Standard that thing would have been great on the C-130 Afterbody. Especially if it could have been made in the form of a captivated screw.
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