Removing a damaged screw head

Hello all,

I have a Fujitsu E8020 laptop and I inadvertently used a larger phillips screwdriver on the screw that held down my RAM module cover. I got the correct screwdriver and it couldn't turn the screw because now the grooves are all messed up.

I've searched for ways to get it out including drilling the screw out (too risky), using needle nose pliers (not enough room), or buying some retail kit for removing damaged screws (not sure if it can be used on a laptop). I think even trying to file the screw down to use a flathead screwdriver would be too risky as well with only a few millimeters of plastic between the screw and the motherboard.

Anyone know of how I can get that screw out safely? I'm just glad I didn't buy any RAM yet.

 

Give this a read but note that it was probably for something...less delicate =)

 

if it rasied up you can slot them with cut whell if you carefull with dreamal and i do mean carefullly

 

You can also try using superglue or solder to attached another screw (slightly smaller) into the remains of the old one, and try to back it out. You may need to drill a little into the existing screw to get it in.

 

Speaking of gluing things, what about using crazy or gorilla glue on the screw and attaching an allen wrench? I'm just worried that if it didn't work and I had to remove the wrench forcefully, I'd damage something for sure, if only the cover to the RAM module.

I think I've resigned to the fact that I'll only have 512MB RAM now.

 

I recommended superglue because you only need a little and it bonds instantly - are crazy and gorilla glue the same thing (polyacrimide)? I'd just avoid using a glue that requires anything more than a tiny drop.

Don't worry, this kind of thing happens often. If you're really worried about it, take it to a repair shop - I'm sure they've done this many time before.
Good luck!

 

I have used the technique Cheffy described many times on electronics. It is actually what many repair shops do to remove stripped screws.
I recommend using a (correctly sized) screw driver and gluing it to the screw. I have had to replace a few screw drivers but this is cheaper than trashing a piece of electronics.

 

Hey guys, I've tried used gorilla glue on a correctly sized screwdriver and let it sit for four hours while being held straight taped to a water bottle. I did this twice, but no luck. It appears that both times the glue just formed around the tip of the screwdriver without really bonding to the screw head.

I'm thinking of trying a soldering iron next. Any tips?

 

gently cut away all parts of the laptop until only the screw is left.......done deal.

 

super glue has always worked for me .... sorry

The other bad news is I can only offer 2 more options, niether of which is the best course of action with small and delicate equipment. However, if you are out of options then read on.

I have never found a small one but you might try finding a screw extractor. I don't know if any are made small enough or even if they would work on small screws.

This will work but is a last resort: drill the head. If you have to do this take precautions to insure no metal shavings get into the notebook. Drill out the existing screw with a bit of the same size as the screw's shaft.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions guys.

Circa69, I actually got a Drill Out extractor bit from Sears and amazingly it worked!!

I used the smallest bit, maybe 3mm, and drilled straight into the screw, stopping every few seconds to vacuum up shavings. Towards the end when I thought it wasn't working I increased the speed slightly and used some olive oil and then the screw just came right up, stuck on the end of the bit! I didn't even have to use the other end of the bit which is actually for the extracting part.

Whew! So glad this is out finally. I could easily see some dude charging 40 bucks for this simple procedure.

 

about twice that actually

Good deal, I will have to go pick me up a tiny screw extractor set.

 

Mind if I ask for a picture of your laptop + the dead screw? I just want to see how effective that method was and if there was any real risk of damage that could have been done to the laptop?

 

Well you could drill or chisel out a small groove in the screw, and then use a small screwdriver to gently turn it.

Perhaps a magnet might help a little?

 

Here's the laptop (sorry a little out of focus). I can use another screw and it'll work just fine because there was no damage done to the screw chamber.



And here's the offending screw. I didn't have to drill too deep into the head before the whole screw popped up and out.



This is what the drill out extracting set looks like. I used the smallest one.



No damage seems to have been done thankfully. Actually when starting up the laptop before I could upload those pics, the screen went kind of funny and then nothing showed up, but that cleared up after a hard reboot.

Nevertheless, if you go and try using an extractor drill bit, definitely keep these in mind:

1. Drill at the slowest speed possible, then speed up ever so slightly to go in deeper
2. Always stop every few seconds to vacuum up shavings...especially important if the screw is near any vents or openings
3. Use a little lubricant...I dabbed a little olive oil on a piece of a napkin and then pressed it into the screw head with a screwdriver

Thanks again for all your help guys.

 

Wow, looks alot cleaner than I thought it would be. I imagined the offending screw to look half dead and maybe in pieces.
Great job