I need help with a soft screw

Discö Rice · April 05, 2012, 02:25:36 PM

and I knew to come here first. Whaddya say, boys? Penis? Butthole?

Also, I am actually looking for advice on how to remove a screw from something when the act of unscrewing it seems to turn the phillips-shaped slot into laffy taffy. If I can't get it out I have to buy a new double pedal, and I have other things I need to spend that money on.

VOLVO))) · April 05, 2012, 02:27:58 PM

Which pedal? Pics or it didn't happen.

RacerX · April 05, 2012, 02:40:44 PM

You can try notching it with a dremel tool & use a regular screwdriver to remove it.

Alternatively, you gotta drill the head off & try to remove the shaft. If that doesn't work, gotta drill that out, too, then retap or use a helicoil.

bitter · April 05, 2012, 02:41:49 PM

^ Racer beat me to it.

Metal and Beer · April 05, 2012, 02:42:42 PM

Pic of the rounded culprit, gotta assess the sitch to determine action (is there any sticking up/out? Severity o' the damage? That kinda thing..). If there's none stickin' out and/or access is limited, you may need an EZ-Out* and a drill w/ smaller-than-stripper* bit. Simply bore the offender*, insert EZ-Out and staaaaaat removin', Norton

* That's What She Said

Editista: I was a-typin' when the other replies came in

Discö Rice · April 05, 2012, 02:42:59 PM

The screws (there's more than one of the bastards) are in the bottom of the heel plate on the left pedal. The hinge is broken and I can't replace it unless I can get those screws out. I won't be at my practice space until later tonight, but I'll snag some pictures when I get there.

RAGER · April 05, 2012, 02:43:45 PM

I would use my Matco screw extractor set. Do you have any decent tools like a Dremel like Racer said?

RacerX · April 05, 2012, 02:46:31 PM

Quote from: Discö Rice on April 05, 2012, 02:42:59 PM
The screws (there's more than one of the bastards) are in the bottom of the heel plate on the left pedal. The hinge is broken and I can't replace it unless I can get those screws out. I won't be at my practice space until later tonight, but I'll snag some pictures when I get there.

Try some penetrating oil on it first: after applying it, tap the area sharply a few times to encourage penetration, then leave for a few hours/overnight before trying to remove.

grimniggzy · April 05, 2012, 02:48:38 PM

huhhuh, that's what she said @ this entire thread.

RacerX · April 05, 2012, 03:00:32 PM

True, dat.

VOLVO))) · April 05, 2012, 03:04:10 PM

Drill it oot.

bloodofkings · April 05, 2012, 03:21:20 PM

Try the screw extractor first. Ever try to drill a #8 or a #6? Even drilling a #10 is a monstrous pain in the ass. A little oil and a screw extractor have been far more effective than an easy out ever has for me. I've snapped easy outs on the small diameter screws more than I care to mention. Drilling tapping or throwing a helicoil in is the absolute last thing I go for. Drilling small diameter screws takes an element of skill and depending on the grade of the screw could be a pain in the ass I've found. This is assuming it's a small diameter screw. With a diameter smaller than a 1/4". They're pretty small and don't typically have as much torque on them as 1/4" or wider diameter screws have.

RacerX · April 05, 2012, 03:24:53 PM

Quote from: bloodofkings on April 05, 2012, 03:21:20 PM
Try the screw extractor first. Ever try to drill a #8 or a #6? Even drilling a #10 is a monstrous pain in the ass. A little oil and a screw extractor have been far more effective than an easy out ever has for me. I've snapped easy outs on the small diameter screws more than I care to mention. Drilling tapping or throwing a helicoil in is the absolute last thing I go for. Drilling small diameter screws takes an element of skill and depending on the grade of the screw could be a pain in the ass I've found. This is assuming it's a small diameter screw. With a diameter smaller than a 1/4". They're pretty small and don't typically have as much torque on them as 1/4" or wider diameter screws have.

Agreed. Drilling/helicoil is the final option after exhausting all other options. Hell, if you try the oil, you may not even need a screw extractor. Depends on how fucked up the screw head is, tho.

Discö Rice · April 05, 2012, 04:04:25 PM

I stopped before it got too out of hand, so the oil might do the trick. Time to lay a sacrificial offering of cocaine and ball sweat at the altar of the drum gods.

grimniggzy · April 05, 2012, 04:05:11 PM

Quote from: Discö Rice on April 05, 2012, 04:04:25 PM
I stopped before it got too out of hand, so the oil might do the trick. Time to lay a sacrificial offering of cocaine and ball sweat at the altar of the drum gods.

haha, applauded.

Chovie D · April 05, 2012, 04:46:51 PM

sorry , I can only help you with a brootal force fucking.

RacerX · April 05, 2012, 05:19:49 PM

^^^^^^^^^^
Rape Technician

Hemisaurus · April 05, 2012, 05:46:58 PM

If any of the screw is accessible, ie. not in the hole, a set of wire cutters can be used to get a grip on accessible portion, and remove the whole screw.

Ayek · April 05, 2012, 09:51:15 PM

Maybe try an impact driver, depending on the screw size. Those things do wonders, I never believed till I saw one in action. My Panasonic is fuckin ace

Discö Rice · April 06, 2012, 12:03:34 PM

Here they are.

RAGER · April 06, 2012, 12:25:38 PM

Those don;t look that bad to me but I tear RV's apart and rebuild them for a living so i encounter much worse. Hose them down with PB Blaster let sit for an hour or so, make sure you've got a really good #2 phillips screw driver with a precision tip (like my Matco/Witte ones) and lean into it with slow even pressure. The heads don't seem so bunged up that you'd have to Dremel a slot in them. But if that doesn't sork you could Dremel the sides of the screw head flat and get a small pair of vise grips on them and slowly work it out. This is easy for me to say because I have all the tools necessary for this stuff. No screw has ever beaten me because that's not an option in my work.

Good luck.

Hemisaurus · April 06, 2012, 03:41:03 PM

Diesel works as a penetrating oil, but I guess in the throbbing metropolis you don't have easy access to that either.

Lumpy · April 06, 2012, 05:20:07 PM

Quote from: Hemisaurus on April 06, 2012, 03:41:03 PM
Diesel works as a penetrating oil, but I guess in the throbbing metropolis you don't have easy access to that either.

Nah, he can get diesel about 2 blocks away at the BP station. I don't know if you can buy a quarter-cup though

Gabe I have vice grips. Since there's big head on that screw, maybe that would work? Let me know if you want to use 'em.

I have some solvents here too... Goo Gone? Lighter Fluid? Maybe some turpentine. I don't know if that's what you need?

Ayek · April 06, 2012, 05:21:02 PM

It is a boon that they're not countersunk. Take your time, you'll be ok.

Hemisaurus · April 06, 2012, 06:12:09 PM

You can buy as little from a pump as you like, I bought 4c worth of gas this week, as the pump was broken, and that's all it could put out. If they're not paying attention, just put some in a jelly jar, don't worry diesel isn't flammable like gas is.

If you don't own, or can't get a grip with vise grips, try a nice pair of wire cutters, especially on those countersunk heads in non-countersunk holes, should be a piece of piss.

Of course you will bollocks up the screw head, so don't do it if you want to re-use the same screws.