Help removing stripped screws, advanced techniques.

[Rodion15]

Hi,
I wonder if you could help me find a proper metal glue to help me extract stripped screws from laptop computers.
I guess the best method to try is this: Use an electric drill to try to remove the screw, if that doesn't work and you're destroying the screw tip, try to file the tip of the screw and then use metal epoxy 24h cure as I expose here.

I tried Metal Epoxy and it worked well enough on a screw (although I would have liked a more permanent bond), see picture: I'm trying to remove the screws by dipping the tip of a cheap screwdriver with Metal Epoxy, then putting its tip on the screw and letting it cure for 24 hours.

However, when I tried on another screw, it didn't work. This was a black metal screw. I suspect it had some layer of something non-metal that prevents the adhesion.
I even thought of filing the tip of the screw with some drilling tool to remove this layer.
What's a proper drill tip to file the tip of a small screw? Are there different glues for different metals?

 

[tech-wreck]

try a small screw extractor
http://www.toolstation.com/m/part.html?p=51010
it has a left-hand thread that cuts into the damaged screw and removes it.

 

[aldan]

for the screw extractor to work you would have to drill a hole in the screw itself.pretty much impossible.if its a phillips head screw,nine times out of ten it is a crappy screwdriver that causes it to strip so use a good one.if there is enough of a head on the screw you can sometimes get a small visegrip to get it out.

 

[tech-wreck]

"pretty much impossible"...?

nothing is impossible, short of drinking gravel with a straw.

start with a drill bit just smaller than the head of the screw, and smooth the rough bits off so you can get a smaller drill bit to make a pilot hole without breaking.

then wind the extractor in, it'll tighten up on the screw and remove it.

 

[synphul]

If stripped as in a phillips head that's had the head stripped by a screwdriver slipping, try to find a rubberband slightly wider than the head of the screw. Lay it over the screw head and tightly press the screwdriver into what's left of the slots. The rubber band can help it gain traction instead of slipping out. If the head is completely destroyed only drilling it and using an extractor will work though could be extremely difficult with such small screws as a laptop. May have to use a stationary press for accuracy.

Not sure if the pics are just testing adhesion methods of epoxying a screwdriver to a screw head, but if the screw is already out and stripped I wouldn't attempt to reuse it. If you're desperate you could try some 2 part bond like jb weld or similar. I used to use some stuff from an auto parts store that like a tube of clay with 2 parts one inside the other. You broke a chunk off and kneaded the claylike material together really well to activate it, was supposed to be strong enough to drill and thread it. Forget the name off the top of my head. I think it might have been called quicksteel putty.

Similar to this
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-6004TRI-QuikSteel-Reinforced-Counter/dp/B002UIZPR8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Only problem with something like this or jbweld, hopefully it's a cheap screwdriver as you probably won't get the bonding material off of it.

 

[Rodion15]

Thanks for your answer.
What types of screwdriver tips do you think are best? steel?, chrome vanadium? I use Phillips 000,00,0,1. Pentalobe 1.2 and Torx 4 to 10 screwdrivers.
Thanks

 

[need4speeds]

Stripped screws can leave you literally "screwed".
Getting a screw out is not always easy. Many 4 letter words have been said over this.
THE FIRST THING TO DO IS TO TAKE A BREAK AND NOT GET MAD OR YOU WILL BREAK MORE THINGS AND MAKE THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE.

The reversible easy outs and various backwards drill bits sometimes work.
But...... If they break off in the screw they are made out of the hard brittle steel that drill bits are made out of, so they can't be drilled out. When they work they are so great. When the tip breaks off in the screw you are now so screwed.

If it's a screw you can live without, get a drill bit a size or two bigger than the threads and drill the head off, but leave the threads in. You can drill the threads out and either tap it or use a self tapping screw. MAYBE USE A DRILL STOP, BE CAREFUL NOT TO DRILL TOO FAR AND DAMAGE SOMETHING. (If you don't want the drill stop marking the surface get a plastic container lid and drill a hole in it and use that for a shield when drilling.)(wrapping tape around the drill bit can make a drill stop if you don't have one. )

The blue locktite in the picture doesn't help and seizes them in even more.

Good luck..

 

[Rodion15]

This is a great discussion. I'll get back to you as soon as I do a few experiments. Last week I stripped a screw on an expensive Mac Pro 2013 (trash can). We also had to replace the top case with battery and keyboard on a MacBook air after unsuccessfully trying to drill it out.
I want something definitive.
Cheers

 

[makkem]

Hi
You might want to try these,No drilling.
http://

 

[need4speeds]

Drilling the screw head off with a bit that fits in the screws stripped torx hole is better than replacing the battery, top case and keyboard.

Drill only the head off not the entire screw threads. Check it when your close by prying gently on the item to see if the head pops off. If not drill a little more.

Once it is apart you can drill out the threads with a bit that is a tiny bit smaller than the threads. Then get a tap a make new threads.(Taps often come with a drill bit that is sized exactly a tiny bit smaller than the threads or at least say what the size is) Sometimes you can pick the old threads out or use a extractor tool at this point. Or just use a small self tapping screw like a tiny metal or wood screw. Some of the small computer case screws are tapered and self tapping too so with some pressure you can make them cut new threads.

I am assuming here that you resorted to breaking and destroying the parts to take the laptop apart?

 

[need4speeds]

Be careful not to get or leave any metal filings on the board they may short out the tiny pins on chips.

 

[Rodion15]

Thanks for your answers.

 

[Paperdoc]

Another option not mentioned for a screw head that is exposed is to use a saw blade or cutting disk to cut a SLOT completely across the top of the screw. This converts it to a straight-blade kind of screw head. Use a screwdriver blade WIDER than the head, so make the slot is wide enough to accept the thickness of this wide screwdriver blade. Often that will get you enough torque to turn the screw.

 

[Rodion15]

Another option not mentioned for a screw head that is exposed is to use a saw blade or cutting disk to cut a SLOT completely across the top of the screw. This converts it to a straight-blade kind of screw head. Use a screwdriver blade WIDER than the head, so make the slot is wide enough to accept the thickness of this wide screwdriver blade. Often that will get you enough torque to turn the screw.

I knew that trick although I've never tried it yet, only that the screw head must stick out enough. Thanks for your answer.