Main > Main Forum

Sheared-off screw head

Pages: (1/6) > >>

Buddabing:

Hello,

I was tightening a screw on my pinball playfield and the top of the screw sheared off. Of course, it sheared off when the entire screw is embedded in the wood, so it is impossible to grip the screw with pliers or vice grips.

I believe that I will have to get a good fastener in there somehow. How do I remove or drill out the screw?

You should know:
1) The only power tool I have is a Craftsman rotary tool (with dremel-like attachment)
2) I have next to zero woodworking knowledge
3) There are two of these screws, one is in an invisble location on the playfield, and one is visible. So I would like to avoid "collateral damage".
4) Pinball playfields are plywood, 1/2" or maybe 5/8". The screws in question are either plain wood screws or "fasteners".

I am thinking I can rent (or borrow from my next door neighbor who is Mr. Power Tools) a small drill press and a metal drilling bit.

I would appreciate any input from the wookworking gurus.

TIA,
Buddabing

ahofle:

Not sure if this would help, but Sears has 'damaged screw remover' bits that grip the screw with sharp edges.  Not sure if it would work, but I would imagine a small enough bit might be able to get it out?

mccoy178:

Since it is a plywood play field, couldn't you attack it from the bottom where you couldn't see any damage?  From the top, if the head is completely broke off, which it sounds, your best bet may be a drill press, making certain you can hit it dead on straight.  From the bottom, I would remove enough wood around it so that you could get some vice grips on it and twist it out.

krick:

When this happens to bolts in metal, you can center punch and drill a small hole in the center of the broken off bolt.  Then you use a bolt extractor to remove it.

Unless the screw is fairly large, you're probably *screwed*.

I'm not sure but you *might* be able to cut a slot in the top of the screw with a dremmel and use a flat screwdriver blade to remove it.   If it's totally flush with the wood surface, I'm not sure you'll be able to do it without damaging the surface.  You might need to do some repair work on the wood when you're done.



PetitMorte:

one method that may work...

use your rotary tool to carve a small slot in the top of the screw neck, turning the broken screw into a flathead screw.  Then carefully unscrew it

If there's enough clearance, you could use a thin cutoff disk to make the slot.  If there isn't, you may want to get one of those tiny tiny tiny engraving tips to make the groove in it.  A steady hand, and a good deal of patience and you should have a slot deep enough to use.

You may also want to try a drop of liquid soap on it before you start unscrewing.  Hopefully it'll seep in and lube the screw up a bit for extraction without harming the wood or the paint.



Pages: (1/6) > >>

Go to full version