Question Screws won't turn, can't open case!

[NewSilkTurtle]

I will wait and see what aigomorla has to say.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

Even that is somewhat meaningless...depending on the refill, it could be widely different.

I know... but it's the best I can do at the moment. If I was a knitter I could maybe relate it to knitting needle sizes. I think nails could be compared in terms of their "D" rating, too, but those are just as confusing to me as the other stuff.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

Is this helpful, BoomerD? It's the one that's too small.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

Now I see that the shadow makes it hard to see the shaft clearly. I will try again.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

Again... this is the one that's too small. It was adequate for my laptop screws though.

Can you tell by this picture what size it is?

 

[aigomorla]

I will wait and see what aigomorla has to say.

That vessel will remove that screw on your mini pc.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

That vessel will remove that screw on your mini pc.

Is it one size larger than the one in my photo in post #55?

 

[BoomerD]

View attachment 84656

Again... this is the one that's too small. It was adequate for my laptop screws though.

That looks like a

View attachment 84656

Again... this is the one that's too small. It was adequate for my laptop screws though.

Can you tell by this picture what size it is?

My BEST guess would be that it's a #1 or #2 phillips...

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

My BEST guess would be that it's a #1 or #2 phillips...

View attachment 84658

Are you referring to the two heads in the center, labeled PH1 and PH2?

 

[BoomerD]

Are you referring to the two heads in the center, labeled PH1 and PH2?

Yes. PH means Phillips Head. (or just Phillips...often labeled as just "P1, P2, etc.")

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

Yes. PH means Phillips Head. (or just Phillips...often labeled as just "P1, P2, etc.")

I am guessing that the JIS driver aigomorla is recommending is the size equivalent of a PH2 because of the two's in its model number, 220 +2x100. But that's just a guess!

 

[BoomerD]

I am guessing that the JIS driver aigomorla is recommending is the size equivalent of a PH2 because of the two's in its model number, 220 +2x100. But that's just a guess!

I'm pretty sure that phillips #2 and JIS #2 are very close to the same size...just cut differently.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

I just realized your a super lurker...

Actually I am even more of that than you know. Before this profile I had another much older profile that I somehow got permanently locked out of.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

I haven't seen how the problematic screw is situated, but a tactic I've used on occasion with computers is to wedge a flat-blade screwdriver beneath the head of the screw (usually if the head can spin then there's normally a gap that can be leveraged). Keep screwdriver wedged, applying pressure so the head moves away from the case, then with your other hand try to unscrew it again.

That will be possible in this instance. Good idea, except I can't imagine how I would manage it with only two hands -- I'd need one to hold and apply pressure to the flat driver, one to drive the other screwdriver, and another to hold the box in place while I do those other tasks.

The only type of problematic screw that I haven't yet succeeded against is the type that's overtightened so much that one risks mangling the head of the screw even with the most correctly sized screwdriver.

I'm afraid that may be what I am dealing with.

I've been told that the final resort is to drill the screw head off, but I've never tried it.

It might come tto that, and if it does, how on earth would I reassemble this box (assuming I don't destroy it with the drill) once I have installed the storage and memory??

 

[mikeymikec]

I'm wondering how I read the OP to mean the screw just continually turns. It's the kind of thing that I would have expected from one of my early morning posts. Sorry...

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

I'm wondering how I read the OP to mean the screw just continually turns.

I wasn't aware that you had done that.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

You could end up with some small dents to fix. In that case, use a dolly or something heavy steel to back up the sheet metal and hammer out the dent, like an auto body mechanic.

It's mostly made of hard plastic.

In the end game, if the case has only scrap metal value since it can't be opened, there is nothing to loose by giving it a mighty blow to crack the screws loose.

 

[sdifox]

Example, not recommendation

Amazon.ca

Standard nvme screw is M2x2.5mm.

if you need more torque, hold the screwdriver still and rotate the computer.

 

[mindless1]

View attachment 84656

Again... this is the one that's too small. It was adequate for my laptop screws though.

Can you tell by this picture what size it is?

Based on shank diameter (# pixels), shank not machined down to s smaller tip diameter, relative to known coin diameters, what you have pictured is either a 00 or 000 size.

I estimate it's about 2.5mm #00 while a size 0 is 3mm diameter, size 1, 4mm, size 2, 5-6mm.

That is also consistent with BoomerD's picture of coins vs phillips bit tips, except the tips in that pic are rotated slightly to appear slightly narrower in the pic than their true tip diameter.

Scaled 1 grid line per mm:

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

Based on shank diameter (# pixels), shank not machined down to s smaller tip diameter, relative to known coin diameters, that is either a 00 or 000 size.

I estimate it's about 2.5mm #00 while a size 0 is 3mm diameter, size 1, 4-5mm, size 2, 5-6mm.

Well then. Unless JIS screwdriver sizes are way different and smaller than Phillips sizes, I have the wrong tool on the way from Amazon. I ordered the one that aigomorla recommended in posts #9, 27, 29, 34, 38 and 56. Because the PH I photographed is a little too small for the screws that are stuck.

 

[mindless1]

If the tip is machined well, you can often get away with using a size larger or smaller than the ideal, but the smaller the screw, the more it matters. Also I added a scaled pic to my last post that you probably didn't see based on time of last post.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

To my eye, the screws holding my laptop case together look identical to the screws on the ASRock box I need to remove. And the tool I photographed is what I used on the laptop screws over the years, but it was too small for the ASRock screws.

 

[mindless1]

It could be that the screw head slot is slightly larger, or it could also/instead be that you have worn away the tip on the pictured screwdriver a bit, as your first pic did show some wear like it might have fit the laptop screws better if it had the pointed end of the tip filed off so it had deeper purchase on the screw.

If it is a #00, what I would do is use a file, with it in a vice to get more precision, and true up the tip and then consider it a #0... and it might work, or might not, for the miniPC. I mean file each lobe at 90' to the face of the lobe, until the deepest worn lobe is no longer concave but flat like it started out, and then file the other 3 lobes to the same depth, then file the end of the tip flatter.

Below is a zoom in on your first pic showing area on one lobe to true up and take some off the tip. If you don't have a good sized, fine toothed file (or completely flat sanding block) and a vice, or patience and great attention to detail and a knife sharpening stone, it probably won't turn out precise enough.

It may not be worth the bother, but the more worn the tip gets, the more risk of screw head damage and further tip wear trying to use it on *anything* in the future. I'm not necessarily even suggesting that filing the screwdriver you have will be enough. If it still doesn't seem to fit well, not worth the risk to try too hard with it instead of getting a new screwdriver to try first, especially one with a proper handle so you can get more grip and leverage.

 

[NewSilkTurtle]

I finally got to speak with someone at ASRock. They say the screws are normal phillips head ones but if I can't open the case I can send it to California and they will open it for me if I pay for shipping in both directions. Not sure if this is a good option or not....

 

[sdifox]

I finally got to speak with someone at ASRock. They say the screws are normal phillips head ones but if I can't open the case I can send it to California and they will open it for me if I pay for shipping in both directions. Not sure if this is a good option or not....

or get one of the screwdriver sets mentioned here. probably cheaper.