Stripped Screw Removal thread

I got 12 out of the 13 cover screws out and there's always got to be 1 stripped screw! Should I drill it out or try to cut a flathead?

 

I always wanted to try this stuff.
http://www.nmoa.org/Products/screwgrab.asp

 

I replaced all of the screws in my CF19 using stainless socket heads.

Base screws are M2 x 6mm
GPS screws are M2 x 8mm
Antennae cover screws are M2.5 x 5mm
Lid screws are M2 x 4mm
Hinge screws are M3 x 8mm
Hinge cover screws are M2 x 4mm
Hand strap screws M3 x 8mm
Keyboard holder screws are M2 x 4mm
Door hinge screws are M2.5 x 3 mm

 

I dunno, it's completely rounded out now. Might have to solder something to it? Dam, just one screw left to remove!

 

Get a decent screwdriver and stick it into what's left of the screw. Tap the screwdriver head with a hammer. Sometimes this will loosen a stubborn screw.

 

i wish i would have read this far along into the thread earlier ...
stubborn screws can often be made more *cooperative* by applying heat to them ...
this softens any "loktite" that may be present as well as causing expansion of the surrounding metal and thus releasing some pressure .
the heat of a far sized soldering pencil would provide enough heat in this instance .
i have used that goop that shawn mentioned ... it does work in some intances .
if one cannot find the stuff , use some of that powder that accumulates at a grinding wheel , mixed with a little water to make a paste .

no "soft solder" will have enough strength to hold that screw and will not "wet" or "tin" the screw metal worth a flip .
"hard solder/brazing" involves too much heat ... the work will be destroyed .

about the only option is to carefully drill out the screw ... using a larger bit to make a decent dimple in what remains of the head , making sure it is centered .
from there , select a bit that is slightly larger than the shaft of the screw to slowly drill down through the shaft .
sharp hard bits are required for this ... none of those 2 bucks a pack types .
a drill press is preferable to free-hand .
use a vacuum cleaner to keep the chips and shavings out of the work ... a little light oil (not wd40) will help keep the dross from flying around and help make a better cut .
you should wind up with a fairly smooth "bore" , one can now use a slightly larger self-tapping screw (or make one from a regular screw ... it is easy ... i can write about this if anyone is interested) or , use the appropriate size tap .

 

It's a tiny ass screw

I'll take it to the local iphone guy and see if he can get it out.

 

Anyone ever try these? Blair, Will you split the messages about screw extraction to a thread of it's own? lots of good information I don't want to get lost.

 

"It's a tiny ass screw "

..... * ....
oh . never mind .
and i shall digress .

sure it is small ... but the same principles apply as for big ones or bolts .
yer right ... chances are the fellow you mentioned will have the tools and (most importantly) the experience to do the job .

@ shawn :
yes , i have used those cosmic easy-outs .

 

here is an interesting idea..

2. Super Glue Method – Put a small amount of super glue in the stripped screw. Hold your screwdriver on the screw for about 20 seconds and then try to unscrew it

 

in addition ... and probably obvious to most people ...
do not let the super glue get into the threads .
(talk about chewing on a tough piece of meat and it just gets bigger)

 

I have a set of grabits's but they are for bigger screws and they work very well. Not sure they would work with these as they are too tiny.

 

yep ... they need to be very small ... and you need to drill a hole for the correct sized one to go into ... soooo ...
you are pretty much back to drilling the whole of the screw out .

i have , on occasion , applied a fair amount of heat to the screw and then used a very sharp jewelers flat blade screwchaser at an angle on the side of the screw (as well as one can sometimes) and gave it short sharp raps with a #0 ball-peen hammer .
the screwchaser is positioned so as to apply rotational force to the screw head .
this will sometimes break the screw free .

another possibility is to grind away the head of the screw and then pop the work apart .
there should be enough of the shank sticking out to heat and grab it with a pair of needle nose vise-grips and remove it .
a correct sized drill bit can be carefully used or get one of those small "end mills" for a dremel moto-tool .

 

Which screw are we talking about.....picture

 

Now I know this has happened to all of us. The dreaded stripped / broken screw head. Well this is the thread for you. Please post your ideas , fixes or what ever.

 

CF-30 top,had to drill the head off 2 screws to get it apart.

 

Yep...same here. It was the one in the middle for me. What a pain in the you know what to get out. After that I bought my self a good set of WiHa screw drivers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wiha-26194-...078340?hash=item1c568babc4:g:AQEAAOSwMmBVsFxq
or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Precision-7...821152?hash=item5d3e28d220:g:Z3oAAOSw~gRV27K5

 

This is preventive, but I think it's good advice.
I save my old screws in pill bottles.That way any screw that looks iffy gets tossed in the bin and replaced with a spare.
I also bought a torque screwdriver to prevent me from over tightening.
http://www.tohnichi.com/torque-screwdriver.asp

 

we don't need no stinkin' torque drivers ... we got calibrated fingers !


no doubt about it ... a *real* set of screwchasers is essential to first time success .
maybe there could be a simple list of essential items at the start of the "screw removal" thread ?

the correct size is a big part of not tearing up a screw head ...
in other words , this is a reason for a set of drivers .

 

How do you calibrate you finger....NEVER MIND....I really don't want to know.

Twist, twist SNAP .....Dr I was just calibrating them when my pinky snapped. Can I get a Toughfinger?

 

"all screws will be torqued down until within 1/8 turn of snap-off"
so , how does one accomplish this ?
it is simple ...
run the screw down until the head breaks off and then back it off 1/8 turn .

i have used the expression "two fingers ... no more" .
see how much force you can apply with your thumb and fore-finger .

 

A lot of force if someones nose is between those fingers..

 

and that reminds me of mae west's famous saying about meeting her between the holidays .

 

I have a BD electric screwdriver I use sometimes if I have a top or bottom to remove,problem is the bit is such high quality (hard) that if I'm not careful it will ruin the screw head quick. Need to keep the pressure on it or it drills the head out.

 

Here are the recommended Wiha screwdrivers.

 

I have these and they work great for bigger bolts and screws! I'm well impressed with them!

 

i'll give this a try now and see how we go. why am I not quoting correctly?

 

You need to click on the reply button of the thread you want to quote. That will open the reply window for you.