Stubborn Screws

[studio]

Hi,

 

I've got a Toshiba laptop that I want to get into, but the back has never been removed since it was purchased around 3 years ago.

 

Now I've got some stubborn screws which didn't want to come out and now have crap heads as a result. What do you recommend? A friend told me to get a tiny drill bit and drill the head off the screws.

 

Oh BTW, they are the ones that are in a hole, but I don't think that should matter.

 

Cheers.

[ICT_GUY]

Drilling is a last resort., no really.

 

You could try a soldering iron on the head, it will free them up the heat will be similar to drilling.

[superfletch]

Try a pair of pliers with a long nose (and a thin end). If you can use those to twist the screw or indeed hold it whilst you use a decent tool then you may be in business.

 

Otherwise if the screws hold a panel to the main body of the laptop can you remove (or even break) the panel and replace the component then either buy or find another panel?

Edited June 30, 2009 by superfletch

[BTCC_Fan]

I often find that using a flat headed screwdriver often works on stuck screws, sometimes even with broken heads.

[Martin]

How big are the screws (and hole).

 

Maybe something like the JML Screw Extractor or the ScrewFix Screw Extractor Set could do the job?

 

mb

[Martin]

If you do decide to drill, get yourself a Left Hand Drill Bit (such as the Phantom HSS Left Hand Jobber Drill Bit), plus a reversing low-speed drill so that as it starts to bite it may well extract the screw anyway

 

mb

[synaesthesia]

If you do either drill or set a soldering iron on it (the latter is my favourite) also get yourself a hot glue gun to repair if you damage the plastic lugs through which the screws fit.

 

What I used to sometimes be able to do was find an old flathead screwdriver that's about the right size, decent blob of solder on the end of it. Place on the screw, heat the 'driver up so the solder melts and attaches to the screw. Unscrew. Often works without damaging anything, but I believe you need a very decent quality solder & flux.

[superfletch]

That JML screw extractor looks awesome.

[JJonas]

6-Piece Damaged Screw and Bolt Remover > Maplin

 

this set has a 2mm bit

[tech_guy]

I have made a range of custom screwdrivers for problems like this. I bought a cheapy set of small screwdrivers from Focus and filed them down into the sizes / shapes required.

 

Another trick is to push down on the screwdriver with a fair bit of weight and use a pair of pliers to rotate the screwdriver to shift stubborn screws.

[CyberNerd]

armoury for motorcycle fixing, maybe not so good for laptops

 

spanner/screwdriver

impact driver

wd40 soak + heat impact driver

mole grips

weld a bold to the offending thread

stud extractor

helicoil

drill out