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Best way to remove a stripped screw?

H

hutch1ns

Member
Trying to remove my P5ND2-SLI from my case but I stripped the crap out of the last screw (top left corner.) I've been trying to use some serious muscle with a philips head screwdriver to pry it out but can't get it to budge.

Should I bring the whole thing out to the garage and try the electric drill? Also going to try to find the square headed nut screw driver thing to get a grip around the whole screw.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks
Hutch
 
With an easy out bolt extractor perhaps.
Link.
Search the page for "broken bolt extractors" - the picture there shows you what you'd need. The ones on the right are what you'd be after.

The other option is a set of locking pliers. Lock them onto the screw good, and you might just be able to turn it out.


Then get yourself a variety-pack set of Phillips head screwdrivers. I've found some screwdrivers that are just pathetically designed, unable to grip anything at all. Others are simply excellent. Nicely sharpened, perfectly sized and shaped, etc. I did find some nice ones at Ollies once (surplus type store, maybe try Big Lots, or something of the sort that's local). They have some kind of coating on the tip that makes them extra grippy.
 
If the screw head is where you can get to it with a small file (I use jewelers files), you can easily file a slot so you can use a flat blade screw driver to remove the screw. I have had to do this numerous times -- not just on computers. Of course you can only do this if the screw head is where you can get a file to it to cut a slot. Only takes a couple of minutes to do it you can get to it. Vise grips will problably not be able to grab the head unless it was one of those double duty heads that take both a Phillips or a nut driver. In that case, vise grips are an even easier solution. EZ outs (screw extractors) require drilling a hole in the center of the screw to allow the EZ Out to work -- and in my opinion would be the least preferred solution.
 
Originally posted by: Gustavus
If the screw head is where you can get to it with a small file (I use jewelers files), you can easily file a slot so you can use a flat blade screw driver to remove the screw. I have had to do this numerous times -- not just on computers. Of course you can only do this if the screw head is where you can get a file to it to cut a slot. Only takes a couple of minutes to do it you can get to it. Vise grips will problably not be able to grab the head unless it was one of those double duty heads that take both a Phillips or a nut driver. In that case, vise grips are an even easier solution. EZ outs (screw extractors) require drilling a hole in the center of the screw to allow the EZ Out to work -- and in my opinion would be the least preferred solution.
Click to expand...

Good tip, Gustavus. Unless you have a jeweler's version of an EZ-Out - I agree with your comment on that score, Drilling a hole in the center of a 1/8-in diameter screw ain't easy.

 
corkyg,
The smallest EZ Out in my set is a No. 1 -- rated 5/64". With the V in the stripped Phillips head to guide you, you might just be able to drill a hole for the EZ Out to fit into -- but I agree that it would be delicate and hard to do without cutting to one side or the other. Hope hutch1ns was able to get the screw out using one of the other methods.
 
I have had occasions with this also. Using a different phillips screwdriver or a flat head usually did the trick.
 
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