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September 3rd, 2004 19:00

How do you remove a totally, completely stripped screw?

I have a screw that I need to remove to replace a keyboard on a CPX. The screw (after much work on my part) is now comptletely flat and shiny. I even got desperate enough to try super glue. I probably only succeeded in futher securing the screw. Any ideas. I guess it couldn't get much worse.

7 Posts

September 9th, 2004 21:00

Is the screw rounded on top or hexagonal/square? Could try needle nose pliers?

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47K Posts

September 11th, 2004 23:00

Drilling out the Screw is one way but its tricky.

Remove a stripped screw by drilling through its head with a drill bit that is slightly larger than the head.

Or you drill into the screw with a smaller drill and then force a stainless screw into the hole and then remove.

A screw extractor is a very hard reverse-thread bit. You drill a hole into the screw, then carefully tap the proper extractor (which has a smaller initial diameter than the hole, and quickly flares out) into the hole, and use it to twist out what is left of the screw. The reverse flutes on the extractor cause it to bite harder into the metal of the screw as you put more force on it. Screw extractor bits are made of very hard metal, so they are very brittle. It is very easy to break one off inside the screw. When that happens you are really in trouble. The extractor metal is harder than any drill bit, so you can't drill it out. To turn the extractor you should use a tap handle.

44 Posts

September 12th, 2004 00:00

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I decided to take the safe route and break off the keyboard. It was a shame since it was like new. Ironically, the keyboard broke off, and the pin and the screw remained in the laptop and I still had the same problem. Apparently my super glue idea was a stupid one since a small amount must have gotten around the threads of the screw. I managed to break off the pin that was left in the motherboard. Funny thing, the screw was sticking up as securely as could be. I took a large flat head screwdriver and a hammer and had to hammer the heck out of it before if fell out. I guess that superglue stuff really works. My suggestion to all - don't over-tighten screws!
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