On Sun, 21 Mar 2004, Gary Teller wrote:
> I need help with removing a base plate screw that has a stripped/rounded
> head? Apparently a previous owner had attempted to loosen the screw
> without success.
>
> I'm not able to bite into the head and get a turning grip with the small
> phillips or flat head (slotted) screwdrivers I have.
>
> Does anyone have any surefire solutions for removing the screw? Or should
> I leave it to a professional repair person.
If there's nothing left to grab on to, then there's really very little choice,
it'll need to be drilled out. That's the only guaranteed way of getting it
out. I usually pick a drill bit that's 1/2 to 2/3 the size of the head and
using a drill press I'll drill just enough to "break" the screw head from the
screw shaft. Once the head pops off the remaining part of the screw usually
comes out easily using a pair of pliers. If it doesn't, well, keep drilling
and then re-tap the hole, all the time praying that all goes well :-)
An alternative, which I don't really recommend, is to try and hammer an old
screwdriver into the screw. With a soft screw you can sometimes re-form it
just enough to get the screwdriver to grab.
-mark
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