@mackenzieh It looks like you did the tutorial correctly. It's amazing what a difference the text color makes to this effect.

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Alpha-To-Selection on your original text layer, Bucket Fill whole selection with a bright color (#829DBF used here), Select None, Lower layer opacity to +/- 75% ... Also works with other bright colors.

Just a quick tip on making screw heads easily.
Create a new doc and then a new transparent layer. Select the new transparent layer.
Using the ellipse selection tool create a perfect circle any size (smaller looks more realistic IMOH). Select to PATH but keep the selection.
Using the gradient tool, apply a radial gradient (reversed) from about 10:00 down to 4:00 (according to clock numbers) to the selection
That's the head. Now just use a black pencil line across it and another 50% gray line right next to the black one.You can add an optional white line in the center if you wish (very thin).
Now select the PATH and do right click path to selection then select invert and select the line layer and hit delete.
Set the lines layer to 50% opacity.

Results
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Not one to give up, I gave it a couple of other tries. The first is from somewhere I don't recall where and the second is Rod's tutorial. I really like your tut Rod over the other.