As an (old?) aircraft mech, if you're ever having trouble getting a threaded fastener to "take" that first thread, do you ever close your eyes so that you can "feel" the threads better? I still remember some activities where we had to work "blind", reaching back into a void to set a washer, start a nut, tighten and then torque the nut that could only be seen with a light and mirror.... I often closed my eyes to kick the other senses up a notch.