r/ElectronicsRepair • u/TheMouse2538 • 2d ago
CLOSED HELP, I screwed up
I tried the rubberband method, superglue and using another tool. Nothing works. It's really tight and in a hole, so pliers won't work. Please please help me🙏
Edit: Thank you all for the replies. For now I will give up, because I don't have a drill or anything. But when I have the time and money I will give your suggestions a try.
I was trying to replace the circle pad, because it's damaged. But it still works fine for now.
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u/PorkAmbassador Hobbyist 2d ago
You can buy small screw extractor bits for this sort of thing; check Amazon, eBay or your local hardware store.
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u/The_Flinx 2d ago
a reverse drill bit used very slowly. either it will come out or you drill the head off and can maybe get it out with needle nose vise grips.
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u/purrfectly-cromulent 2d ago
I think the easiest and fastest way here would be to put a conical soldering iron tip into the centre of the screw for a few seconds, then unscrew with a slightly larger screwdriver. The heat melts the plastic slightly, making the screw easier to turn.
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u/sj42117 1d ago
That's smart. Could damage the plastic though if you are too slow to remove the iron
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u/purrfectly-cromulent 1d ago
It works a treat, and I feel it's less traumatic than many other methods.
Hell is full of stripped screws.
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u/Kraligor 2d ago
lol, that's a nice spot. Search Amazon or Ali for screw extractor set. Make sure it's for tiny screws like yours.
Was the superglue completely cured when you tried it? Accelerator helps.
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u/Horror-Pear 2d ago
You can try drilling with a small left handed drill bit. This alone can sometimes pull the screw out. If not, just make sure to drill to an extractor size and then pull it out with a stubby easy out.
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u/Centurion01GD 2d ago
See you've tried the usual go to things..
A compressed air can sprayed with a little red straw on to the screw, should cool the screw. Might be just enough to loosen its grip, then pair it with the rubber band and a driver
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u/naikrovek 2d ago
You forgot an important point and may not know another.
Turn the can of air upside down to get the cooling liquid to come out.
And, this also freezes the plastic making it EXTRA brittle. That may or may not be desired.
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u/Centurion01GD 2d ago
Had to do a few times before, not had the plastic crack. But then not all plastics are the same. Should be able to glue the plastic together after if it does break. Issue is I've found with similar issues is sometimes the manufacturer uses a glue or lock tight.
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u/ProfileUnited3828 1d ago
Try it with a long flat-head screwdriver—one that is exactly the right size to fit in.
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u/WeirdEngineerDude 2d ago
Left handed drill bit